This is the old Tamron 70-300 review. See the following updates by Tamron:
*UPDATE* This lens has been replaced by the MUCH better and superior Tamron 70-300mm VC lens. Skip this one and go read my review on the Tamron 70-300mm VC lens.
For everyone looking for a good budget telephoto lens, you’re looking at the right lens.
I bought the Nikon mount (with Built in Motor)
Many camera manufacturers such as Nikon or Canon made the lens in this range using the same optical formula. However, they stopped making them. Tamron took this advantage and kept improving their optical formula and they did pretty well with this lens.
At a street price of around $165, this is obviously a budget lens. You’ll find it hard to get a lens cheaper than this price.
However, looking at the optical and build quality, I find it amazing that Tamron can make a lens of such caliber at this price.
The build quality is quite decent and the optical quality is very good for a budget lens.
I’d recommend this lens for anyone looking for a good budget telephoto lens. You’ll get the best bang for your bucks.
See my full Tamron 70-300 review below.
Specs • Performance • Sample Image • Conclusion • Where to Buy
Tamron 70-300 Review – Specs
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Official Name:
Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro
Focal Length Markings:
70mm, 100mm, 135mm, 150mm and 300mm
Features:
AF – Autofocus. Allows the lens to focus automatically on your subject.
Di – Can be used with both full frame or cropped sensor camera.
LD – Low Dispersion Glass to reduce chromatic aberration at the telephoto end.
Macro – Not a real 1:1 macro lens. The term “Macro” here means this lens can focus closer to the subject, but the image size in the sensor won’t be equal to the subject’s actual size.
Full Technical Specs (from Tamron’s website):
| Technical Specifications | |
| Groups / Elements | 9 / 13 |
| Angle of View | 34°21′-8°15′ |
| Number of Blade Diaphragm | 9 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 59in.(1.5m) in normal setting/ 37.4″ (0.95m) in macro mode (f=180mm-300mm range) |
| Filter Thread | 62mm |
| Weight | 435g (15.3oz) |
| Dimension (Diameter x Length) | ø3.0 x 4.6in. (ø76.6 x 116.5mm) |
| Macro Magnification Ratio | 1:2 (at f=300mm MFD 0.95m) |
| Available for | Canon, Nikon (with Built in Motor), Pentax, Sony |
Optical Performance
Back to: Menu • Introduction
*Note* Test was performed using a cropped sensor DSLR.
Tamron 70-300 Review – Sharpness
At 70mm and 200mm the center and border sharpness is very good. The optimal aperture is f/8.
At 300mm the center sharpness remains sharp, but the border sharpness starts to decrease, especially at f/5.6. To counter this issue, stop down to f/8.
Below are the full sharpness test from this Tamron 70-300 review.
Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di Center Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/4-4.5 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 |
| 70mm | Great | Excellent | Great | Great |
| 200mm | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| 300mm | n/a | Great | Great | Great |
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di Border Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/4-4.5 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 |
| 70mm | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| 200mm | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| 300mm | n/a | Good | Good | Great |
Distortion
Distortion on this lens is negligible at any focal length. See the distortion grid test below for this Tamron 70-300 review.
Vignetting
Vignetting is not an issue at any aperture when used with a cropped sensor DSLR. Further testing will be needed for full frame camera.
See the vignetting test chart below for this Tamron 70-300 review.
Chromatic Aberration
At 70mm, there is almost no visible chromatic aberration. At 200mm and 300mm chromatic aberration starts to show, especially at the wider aperture (f/5.6).
To counter this problem, shoot RAW and correct in post processing.
See the chromatic aberration test result below for this Tamron 70-300 review.
Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di Chromatic Aberration
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/4-4.5 | f/5.6 | f/8 | f/11 |
| 70mm | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| 200mm | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| 300mm | n/a | Low | High | Low |
Build Quality
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Materials
As expected from a budget lens: decent plastics, made in Japan. It’s amazing that Tamron can build this lens with such a low price.
Zoom Ring
Zoom ring is a bit tight due to the internal friction. The lens extend quite a bit during zooming, but it shows no wobbling.
Focusing
Even with no internal motor, the autofocus speed is quite fast. However, it’s a bit on the noisy side.
Front element rotates during focusing, so you’ll have some issue using a polarizer. However, I rarely use a polarizer when shooting with a budget lens so this won’t be a problem for you.
For Nikon user: This lens has a built in Motor, which means it can be used for cameras with no internal focusing such as Nikon D40
Tamron 70-300mm Di LD Macro Compatibility
You can use this lens with a full frame camera or cropped sensor camera.
Conclusions
Back to: Menu • Introduction
For the price, you can’t go wrong with this lens. For under $200, this is about as good as you can get for a budget telephoto lens in terms of optical and build quality.
Drawbacks
- Zoom ring is a bit tight
- 300mm is a bit weak, especially on the borders
- Front elements rotates during focusing
Positives
- Excellent quality for the price
- Strong performer from 70-200mm
- Decent build quality for the price
Good For
Anyone on a budget looking for a good performing telephoto lens.
Not So Good For
Shooting in dim light due to the slow aperture.
What Others Are Saying…
by “D. Brodsky”
Surprisingly good lens for just over a $100. I needed a tele lens to compliment my kit 18-55 lens… I chose Tamron and I am very happy I did… This lens is remarkable for the amount it is sold for…
Click here to read the full review
by “L. Smith”
Awesome lens at a bargain price. When my old Sigma 70-300mm lens died this summer, I wondered if I’d be able to replace it with anything I liked as well… But this Tamron lens far exceeded my expectations….
Click here to read the full review
Where to Buy
Support this site, buy the Tamron 70-300mm lens from Amazon (best price online):
In case the Amazon doesn’t have it in stock, you can try looking at B&H Photo (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony) or Adorama (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony).
Make sure you check out the related lens review below:
Thanks for reading my Tamron 70-300 review – the best telephoto lens for the money!
This is the old Tamron 70-300 review. See the following updates by Tamron:
*UPDATE* This lens has been replaced by the MUCH better and supe…
This is the old Tamron 70-300 review. See the following updates by Tamron:
*UPDATE* This lens has been replaced by the MUCH better and supe…
| Lens Score | |
|---|---|
| Optical Quality | |
| Build Quality | |
| Value for Money | |
| Overall | |
Tags: tamron 70-300, tamron 70-300 review, tamron 70-300mm, tamron 70-300mm review
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