The Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 offers an impressive zoom range, making it a solid choice if you’re looking for a single lens that can cover a lot of ground. Its compact and lightweight design makes it an easy choice for everyday use. But like any all-in-one lens, it comes with important trade-offs to understand before making a decision.
Coming to you from Stefan MallochThis in-depth video explores Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD. One of its main strengths is its 10x zoom range, which allows you to capture wide landscapes and zoom in for detailed shots of wildlife or other subjects. This versatility makes it ideal for travel or situations where you don’t want to carry multiple lenses. Malloch compares it to other lenses in Tamron’s lineup, highlighting where the 28-300mm performs well and where it may fall short.
Equipped with Tamron’s VXD motor, autofocus is both fast and quiet. Despite the lens’s complex glass construction, it still tracks moving subjects well. However, with an f/4-7.1 aperture, it’s not designed for low-light use. Malloch points out that while it performs well in bright conditions, you’ll want to be careful when using it in low light.
Weighing in at just 1.3 pounds, the 28-300mm is ideal for those who need something lightweight. The design is simple, with a customizable focus hold button that can be programmed through Tamron’s utility software. While it lacks some features like a focus limiter switch, the lens’ image stabilization is a welcome addition. It makes handheld shooting at focal lengths longer than 300mm much more practical.
When it comes to image quality, Malloch notes some trade-offs. Center sharpness is decent, but the corners show noticeable softness, especially at wider apertures and longer focal lengths. With an f/4-7.1 aperture range, this lens won’t give you the same performance in low light as faster lenses. Stopping down to f/8 or lower will improve sharpness, but if edge-to-edge clarity is a priority, this lens may not be the best fit. Check out the video above for Malloch’s full rundown.
