Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD  reviews

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 5 

user: Malina DZ   review date: March-03-13  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 70-400/4-5.6 G
Sony 135/1.8 ZA
Sony 85/1.4 ZA

price paid:

350 USD (new)

positive:

Great general use tele-zoom lens;
6-year warranty;
$350 after rebate;
USD is on par with SSM;
Excellent print quality up to 20"x30".

negative:

Decent AF accuracy prior to recalibration;
No VC;
If you are picky, some distortion can be noticeable on portrait (head) shots.;
Heavy vigneting from F4 till F5.6 (Easy fix in post-production);
Poor 300mm IQ at any F-stop.

comment:

The best bang for a buck for Alpha system among all tele-zooms available so far. Its price positions it among other easy-choice lenses with very high IQ. It's a Sony 70-300 G sibling without a focus limiter. AF speed and accuracy is good enough for slow moving subjects but for action shots I'd look for a lens with a focus distance limiter.
My copy had a front focus issue and was sent to Tamron for recalibration. Since then no missed focus images for slow moving subjects. Exif reads "70-300mm F4.0-5.6 SSM"!
The lens is worth way more than the price paid. I'm keeping it as a backup if I ever find an as worthy tele-zoom-bang-for-a-buck-lens.

Tamron SP 70-300 USD AF Speed Test
http://youtu.be/rXkNWkJ7nKo

Its performance is not as solid at the long end but one can't complain about it for this ridiculously low price. Here you can see some samples in DNG at 300mm:
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0BzDJkyUbS4xgMU9QR1lCVUROUlU/edit?pli=1

Here you can find comparison shots between Tamron and Sony 70-400 G at the long end with a subject near the infinity mark in DNG:
https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0BzDJkyUbS4xgYW1EUmJoNEdXMzg/edit

Ever wondered how Tamron SP 70-300/4-5.6 Di USD would fare against best Sony Zeiss primes at the same focal range & aperture?
Check this out: Tamron vs Zeiss (high resolution image gallery)
http://malinadzphotography.com/tamron-vs-zeiss-en.html?utm_source=Dyxum.com&utm_medium=Tamron%2BSP%2B70-300%2BUSD%2BReview&utm_content=Tamron%2Bvs%2BZeiss&utm_campaign=lens%2Bcomparison

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Sabrowenie   review date: November-10-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 75-300, Sony 70-300.

price paid:

$389

positive:

Great general use tele-zoom lens.
IQ seems much better than the Sony 75-300 kit lens.
The USD is fairly quiet.
Pretty much 90% of the performance of the Sony G for less than half the price.
Works on FF and APS-C sensors.

negative:

Lack of focus limit switch and small variable aperture makes it less than ideal for sports/action in other than ideal daylight conditions.

comment:

Got this lens to use for a bit more reach for personal work when I go out and don't want to pack the 70-200G. Very pleased with the IQ but the focus is much too slow to use reliably for action shots. I test new stuff using my two favorite action models, Sydney and Cooper. My dogs. We let them run around the yard chasing a Frisbee and each other. With the camera set to release priority we took Over 300 shots. About 50% were OOF and a number more soft. With the camera set to focus priority on C mode the lens hunted and failed to focus lock quite a bit. Keeper rate went up to about 60% with some others on the margin of being soft. But this is an extreme test. The dogs are running around a big yard in an unpredictable manner. Much harder to focus on them than even a HS football player running with the ball. This isn't bad but not near the keeper rate for the lenses with a focus limiter. I would definitely recommend this lens if you are on a budget and want good general daylight images with decent bokeh.

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: godsakes   review date: September-28-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Big Beercan
minolta 100-300mm apo
Sony 70-300mm G
sigma 100-300mm f4

positive:

Best value lens of it's class
(near) silent sonic motor
manageable size/weight of it's class

negative:

No focus limiter
No VC as on other mounts
Not a huge image quality jump up from mid priced options

comment:

First impressions:

Good performer, a touch better than the mid priced lenses such as the big beercan or minolta 100-300 apo, producing a crisper image with less glow and CA than the older alternatives.

I'd say the G and sigma 100-300/4 are still better lenses but on a value for money basis, it seems to be the best option for someone looking to spend more than budget money.

One of the things I like about this lens is it's a decent size/weight that's manageable. It's shorter (but fatter) than the big beercan which makes the Tamron easier to fit into smaller bags and unlike the sigma 100-300mm f4 it's weight isn't problematic, it can be packed in as a just in case lens (just) where as I would be reluctant to carry the sigma around unless I was confident I needed it.

AF speed is okay but nothing special (seems to pause briefly when the motor needs to change direction, as if the lens is having a think about which direction to go), but then none of the other lenses mentioned are particularly fast IMHO. The (near) silent AF motor is a nice bonus from the older models.

All in all a good compromise on image quality, price and bulk, but I wish they included a focus limiter and VC.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: cwtbone   review date: August-23-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Beercan and Big Beercan

price paid:

$350

positive:

This lens is pretty sharp and I have noticed almost no PF

negative:

slow

comment:

This lens has been a mixed bag for me. It is nice and sharp but very slow to focus on things like BIF. I bought it to replace my Big Beercan since I was getting too much purple fringing with the old Minolta and this lens has been very good for delivering clean shots. I am actually shocked at how much faster my old screw drive lens are for focusing than this motor driven lens.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: rouncey   review date: August-03-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

200.00gbp

positive:

IQ
built well
colour
sharp

negative:

Mine needed micro adjustment on the A77

comment:

Really disapointed with this lense after reading all the good reviews,i may have got a bad copy but sharpness wise mine is not good.ca is really good,focus silent,iq is good,just its not sharp!!!!!!!!!!.probably sell and get the sony 70-300 G.After getting the A77 and using the micro adjustment this lense is just fantastic!!!!!!,so happy with it now,superb for the money.

sharpness: 3.5 

color: 3 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 3 

user: Michevan   review date: August-01-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 70-210 BC, Sigma 24-135, Tamron 18-250, Tamron 200-400, (compared to Minolta 200 2.8 for kicks but not a fair matchup)

price paid:

$350 after rebate

positive:

Focus speed, size, price, better CA control than the beercan

negative:

Sharpness, blokeh, colors, overexposure

comment:

As always, looking for a walk around zoom that beats the beercan. Let me first start by saying that I have a nice copy of the BC, and have owned it for nearly 25 years.

On the positive front, the Tamron is way faster, and so much quieter. I think the wonderful praise stops there. To be sure, this is a nice lens, but I do not feel that it had been appropriately reviewed in this forum. I think there is a case of higher lens rating based in part on the price of the lens. No question, this lens provides good value for the money.

Comparing the shots throughout the focal length range (including cropped BC photos), the colors were not as nice, and the sharpness was really a toss up. Either wide open or stopped down, the lens had a tendency to slightly overexpose each shot. The same issue occurred on both the A700 and the SLT57.

My father and I took the lens through a really complete workout using hand held, tripod, sunlight, cloudy, and indoor shots. The results were solid, but certainly not great. In both our views, this lens falls below the BC in overall shot quality. Assuming the G lens is a 5, and the BC is a 4, this falls to about a 3.75. Nice, but certainly not worth the current rating of 4.72.

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: stan_pustylnik   review date: July-06-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta Maxxum 75-300mm f/4-5.6 AF - BBC
Minolta Maxxum 70-210mm f/4 - BC
Minolta 135mm f/2.8 AF
Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro 1:1

price paid:

$350 after rebate

positive:

Tack sharp through entire focal lengh range. Sharp starting from initial f/4 and f/5.6 at 300mm. AF is very fast and very silent. Has very good bokeh.
Almost no PF or CA compare to BBC

negative:

No infinity stopper. No AF limiter switch.

comment:

This lens is producing amazing IQ for zoom lens. It has excellent control over Purple Fringing and CA compare to Other zooms I tried in same range: Sigma 70-300mm DL, Minolta Maxxum 100-300mm f/4-5.6 AF, Minolta Maxxum 75-300mm AF f/4-5.6 BBC and Minolta BC - 70-210mm f4 AF.

At the same time this lens does great detail definition-sharpness, AF is very fast if light is strong enough.
I would define this lens as "perfect action outdoor lens".

Also, 5 feet minimal focus is great at 300mm end for macro-like shots!

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 5 

user: Hotdog   review date: June-26-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Tokina 80 400

price paid:

£275

positive:

Sharp
Quick
Permanent Manual Focus
Nicely made
Good Hood

negative:

Chunky
No macro mode

comment:

This Tamron lens really is as good as the reviews say.

It is quick, sharp, lacking in aberrations and has full time manual override.

I'm very impressed. I have just tried it out at the Yeovilton Navy Air Day and had lots more keepers than I would have had with my old Tokina 80-400. I also used it at the Silverstone race circuit practising my panning skills and the quick focus made for great results.
It is a good wildlife lens too and is even sharp enough for decent dragonfly and butterfly photographs. Rapidly becoming a favourite lens of mine.


Unless you need more reach this lens is a no-brainer and a must have lens for Sony users.

Excellent value too.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: robberly12   review date: June-24-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 75-300 f/4.5-5.6
Sigma 18-250 f/3.5-6.3 HSM

price paid:

350 USD (new)

positive:

Sony G-series quality
Bargain price
Very sharp
Direct manual focus
Nearly silent focusing
Low distortion & CA
Great warranty

negative:

Somewhat slow focus
Questionable quality control

comment:

The Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD is an excellent quality telephoto zoom lens. It is nearly identical to the Sony 70-300G F4.5-5.6 lens in size, weight and image quality, but costs less than half as much. One of the few differences between it & the G-series lens is that it is actually a faster lens on the short end (f/4).

It is true direct manual focus lens, which allows the photographer to freely turn the focus ring in AF as well as MF mode. This makes it possible to lock focus of the lens in AF mode, but still fine tune the focus as necessary. The lens also includes a well-marked focus-distance window.

Auto-focus is nearly silent but, unfortunately, a little sluggish. In low-contrast situations, especially, focus will hunt before finally settling on a setting. Including a focus-limiter would have been helpful for situations like this. Focusing on birds-in-flight is also sometimes a hit & miss proposition.

Build quality seems generally good -- sturdy plastic with a metal mount. Quality-control of this Chinese-made lens, though, seems less than stellar. The lens stopped auto-focusing two months after I bought it. Fortunately, Tamron repaired the lens quickly under their excellent 6-year warranty. The other QC-issue I've encountered is that a couple times I've temporarily noticed intermittent electrical contact between the lens & camera body.

Images are sharp across the focal-length range with good colors & a low level of chromatic aberration. Flare is well controlled with Tamron's substantial lens hood.

On a side note, the lens physically worked well with my Kenko Teleplus MC4 1.4x DGX Teleconverter. It correctly reported the exif data, and I was able to autofocus at 300mm when the subject had good light and contrast. Image quality took a moderate hit but was still good enough that this lens-TC combination was useful to me.

The Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD is a high quality zoom lens at an unbeatable price. It is equivalent in quality to Sony's expensive G-series lens & blows away Sony's 75-300 kit lens!

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: andyken   review date: June-08-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 100-300 f3.5-5.6 APO
Minolta 75-300 f3.5-5.6 N
Minolta 70-210 f4 (beercan)
Minolta 100-200 f4.5
Sony 55-200 f4-5.6

price paid:

£250 (used)

positive:

Superb IQ and very sharp at every aperture and every focal length.
Feels well built, impressive hood.
Excellent value.

negative:

A bit bulky compared to most other lenses I own.

comment:

Interestingly I had exactly the opposite experience to Icemantx in the review two below mine. I already owned a Minolta 100-300 APO and while I found the image quality to be very good, I was keen to find something even better without spending an arm and a leg. The Tamron SP 70-300 USD is exactly that lens. Compared directly to the 100-300 APO, the Minolta has a size and weight advantage, but in every other aspect the Tamron out-performs it. I can only think that Icemantx's lens was either faulty or back-focusing on his camera, as my lens is simply astonishingly sharp throughout its range, giving noticeably better IQ than every other lens in my 'compared to' list above.

I recently did a group test of several telephoto lenses, taking numerous identical shots at different apertures and focal lengths and then doing A-B comparisons on screen at 100%, looking at centres and corners. As the Tamron was the most expensive lens in my collection, I expected it to come top and it didn't disappoint, although other lenses sometimes came close, it was never beaten to top spot at any setting by any other lens.

In my opinion this is a true gem of a lens and as long as it is set up optimally on your camera will produce phenomenally sharp images, which are almost a revelation compared to less expensive glass, almost like someone who is slightly short-sighted wearing glasses for the first time. Having said that, in retrospect I don't want to give the wrong impression as all the lenses in my 'compared to' list are good and the differences, although definitely there, are subtle. If you're not into pixel-peeping and will never print bigger than A4, you're very unlikely to notice any real difference and the Minolta 75-300 N (for example) has virtually the same range and very good image quality for around 1/4 of the cost. You pay a lot unfortunately for excellence.

Build quality seems very good, colours are excellent, CA is negligible, I've never detected any distortion and flare is very well controlled (the excellent lens hood helps).

I'll still keep my 100-300 APO for times when I want to travel light, but in every other situation I will be using my Tamron, it is simply a better lens.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: tnagy   review date: June-05-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro
Tamron 90/2.8 macro

price paid:

380 Euro (new)

positive:

silent, sharp wide open, no CA, nice bokeh,

negative:

backfocus on my A77 (adjustable)

comment:

Very well build, nice, heavy lens, easy to zoom and easy to manual focus. Silent and quick focus. Sigma has a worse IQ like this Tamron (own both). Sharp up to 200 wide then a bit soft. Comparable to Tamron 90 macro (at 90mm). I'm happy I bought this one though had to adjust backfocus problems.

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: icemantx   review date: May-21-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 100-300 APO D
Sigma 50-150 f2.8
Tamron 70-210 f3.5-4.5
Sony 70-300G

price paid:

449 USD (new)

positive:

Quick and silent focus
Focuses well in low light
Good build

negative:

Soft wide open
Not as sharp as Minolta 100-300 APO D
Bulky

comment:

I bought this lens as a replacement for the Sony 70-300G I sold a year and a half ago. I sold the Sony in anticipation of this Tamron and hopes that it would be just as good as the Sony 70-300G and expected it to outclass the Minolta APO 100-300 APO D I acquired at the same time.

Maybe I got a bad copy or something, but in most cases, the Tamron USD was not as sharp as the Sony 70-300G or the Minolta 100-300 APO D. I took several hundred photos with each of these lenses and in the end, I had far more keepers with the Sony 70-300G and Minolta 100-300 APO D. I was surprised to say the least after reading the glowing reviews of this lens on Dyxum. The focusing was fairly quick, but I do miss the focus limiter of the Sony 70-300G when shooting birds in flight or fast moving objects.

The biggest surprise for me was how well the Minolta 100-300 APO D did against the Tamron. I was fully expecting to end up putting the Minolta back on eBay after comparing the two lenses. However, it is the Tamron that is heading back to B&H for a refund.

Based on the very positive reviews of the Tamron, I will chalk my Tamron up as a bad copy and maybe somewhere down the road I will try it out again. For now, I will use the Minolta 100-300 APO D and enjoy the Minolta colors and the diminutive size of this little gem.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: jadawgis732   review date: April-10-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 55-200 F4-5.6

price paid:

359 USD (new)

positive:

Build Quality, Sharpness, Features, Price

negative:

Really cannot think of anything within reason

comment:

Excellent lens which pairs well with my Sony A33. With all the features (USM focusing, full time manual override, Internal Focusing, Focal Length Window, Build Quality) at the price I paid ($409 - $50 mail in rebate-- which was back in my hands less than 10 days after I sent it in) I cannot imagine anything better. The images are sharp, the lens feels GREAT in the hands, and I can tell it is quality. I don't have any fear about issues like I would with Sigma lenses and Sony SLT bodies, and I cannot see the benefit of a lens like the Sony 70-300G 4.5-5.6 over this lens, even at $300 more. Great lens, if you are on Sony system, get it!

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: rsf3127   review date: March-31-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

MINOLTA 100-300MM 4.5
SONY 16-105MM
TAMRON 90MM 2.8 MACRO
TOKINA 100MM 3.5 MACRO

price paid:

459 USD (NEW)

positive:

BUILD QUALITY

negative:

CA
SHARPNESS IN SOME FOCAL LENGHTS
WEIGHT

comment:

It is a nice lens but has some compromises.
At 300mm it is not sharp. Unfortunately, this is the focal lenght I use most with this lens.
At 135mm and 200mm, it is very sharp.
At 200mm there is purple fringing and at 300mm there is a blue fringing. This is easily visible in real life shots.
The sweet spot is at 135 mm for sure.
I have tested the Sony G version of this lens before and results are roughly the same.
Interestingly, it shows as a Sony 70-300 G in every software I have opened its pics.
All in all, it is a good lens for the money.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: mrggt   review date: March-30-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

beercan, big beercan,
sigma 70-300 macro

price paid:

279 GBP (new)

positive:

flare control is outstanding silent autofocus
very sharp
ca (well the lack of it)

negative:

focus is accurate but a tiny bit slow

comment:

After searching and looking at all the reviews i could find i opted for this lense and am certainly pleased with my purchase, great lens very sharp upto just below 300mm and at 300mm still very good, nice auto focus just would have prefered it to be a little faster but is wayyyy better than any of my compared to lenses flare and ca control is outstanding
i have never been sure about 3rd party lenses (never really liked the sigmas) but the Tamron's i have at the moment (this one and the 90mm di macro) have convinced me that Tamron are very good makers indeed.
can't wait for the 24-70mm f2.8 to come out

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: M4RiO...   review date: March-05-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 75-300

price paid:

550$ new

positive:

Sharpness
No Chromatic Abberations
Colors
Very nice bokeh
Sharp even on long end

negative:

Non so far

comment:

Amazing lens. Specially comparing to my old Sony 75-300. I love bokeh on this lens. Very sharp lens, specially on F8. Very good and precise controls(focus and focal rings)...very well build. Love the colors and overall image quality of this lens. It is pretty sharp even on 300mm where my old Sony 75-300 was not so good. There is no CA at all, and I'm very pleased with that. Only thing is a little slower focusing, but nothing so bad that you need to worry. Very silent while focusing. I recommend this lens to everyone who need 70-300 range and does not have enough money to buy Sony 70-300G.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: sonicx   review date: February-16-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma 18-200 3,5-6,3
Sigma 28-300 3,5-6,3

price paid:

300 EUR (new)

positive:

(see rating)

negative:

maybe the focus speed. it is on a high scale kinda slow.

comment:

the fokus speed could be a little faster compared to my Sony 16-50mm 2,8 for example. but overall this is a really great lens. very charp even at 4 resp. at 5,6. the build quality seems quite good even so it is a full plastic lens (due to its price i guess).

great lens on my D7D!

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: dca1213   review date: February-15-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 70-300 G
Tamron 70-200 f2.8

price paid:

400 USD

positive:

Nice build quality

negative:

Soft, very soft on long end, from 200 up to 300.

comment:

Almost identical performance compared to the 70-300 "G", which is not a good thing but at half the price I guess that soothes the pain. Soft at the long end, even at f8. My Tamron 70-200 with a 2x MC7 TC is sharper and has better contrast.

This lens is so similar to the Sony one wonders if the Sony is a rebadged Tamron design.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: lifeispixels   review date: February-13-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 70-300 G
Minolta 100-300 APO D

price paid:

399 USD (new)

positive:

Comparable IQ to Sony 70-300 G at half the price!
Good build quality.
Fast & Silent focus,
DMF compatible.
No CA.

negative:

None so far.

comment:

This is a no brainer choice among the 70-300mm range without fixed aperture if you can live with no focus hold button, a tad slower focus compared to SSM, and "G" logo to boost ego.

For the same reason, I can't justify paying 2 times more (in Thailand) for the 70-300 G, while I could get this Tamron 70-300 USD with enough money left to spend on another lens.

Build quality is great. IQ is comparable to the G lens. No visible CA which usually plagues telephoto zooms. Focus speed although not as fast as SSM, is quick enough for most situations and completely silent. I can do without focus hold button by using the AF/MF button on camera instead. Although the Sony can get a closer at 1.2m MFD (compared to 1.5m), the Tamron can do the same magnification ratio at 1:4 and another subtle difference is the Tamron can open at f4 while Sony starts at f4.5.

I'm not going to compare with other options in this range such as the cheaper Sony/Minolta 75-300 f4.5-5.6 since it's totally different class and price. However if compared to Minolta 100-300mm D, what I like more about the Minolta is its richer Minolta colors and contrast, although the Minolta is soft wild open and need at least f8. The Tamron is acceptably sharp wide-open and much faster focus speed.

If you're looking for the best IQ in 70-300 range for day use, Tamron 70-300 USD is the best value for money period.

See my photos with Tamron 70-300mm USD on my Flickr collection at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeispixels/collections/72157628204412995/

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: Rebecca   review date: January-14-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Tamron 70-300 ld macro
Sony 18-70
Sony 18-55
Tamron 24-135

price paid:

299 usd (new)

positive:

Sharp
Good color
Price

negative:

Heavy

comment:

The actual cost for this was $399, but there was a $100 rebate.

This is a good lens! It makes sharp photos with great color. Even though it's got a floating f stop on it, it still handles low light quite well compared to the two Sony kit lenses and the Tamron 24-135 that I have.

Compared directly to the Tamron 70-300 ld macro, it is heavier that the ld macro, handles light about the same, and provides much sharper, better photos.

Compared to the Tam 24-135, it is a little heavier, but makes sharper photos with better color and will take shots indoors that the 24-135 can't handle. I originally intended to keep the 24-135, even though I wasn't sure about how to use it. But now that I've seen how good this lens is, I have decided to sell it and try again.

I am happy with this lens and will probably use it for years to come.

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Hans Toom   review date: December-30-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Canon 75-300mm, Canon 75-300mm IS

positive:

After bad experiences with Canon lenses of this focal range I took a chance based on reviews. I am delighted with the purchase! It's light, sharp and has good colour. There has been no problem with flare at all.

negative:

Construction is light so I hope it is more durable than it feels.

comment:

I was getting hip problems from carrying my Minolta 400mm F4.5 and Sony A900 on my hip holster clip. I needed a lighter walk around lense for casual walks and general use. This fit the bill perfectly.

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: cev   review date: December-30-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 100-300 APO
Minolta 75-300
Sony 55-200

price paid:

449.00

positive:

Sharp and great range. Sharpest up to 250 mm then just a bit soft. Colors fantastic with the addition of a BW UV filter. No CA visible.

negative:

Bit on a heavy bulky side with a small camera like an A35. Very sturdy and solid to the touch.

comment:

Was a bit confused about the sharpness raves because mine was soft at first. The UV filter played a part (cheap) because without it the photos improved. I added a BW MRC filter and the images were almost 3D-like. Nice color. I also used my warranty and had Tamron recalibrate the lens for focus. Just right on now with the F11-F20 range. Above 250mm goes a bit soft but still dynamic images. The Minolta 100-300 gives similar results except its older technology and less range. I use the Minolta if carrying weight is an issue. The Sony 55-200 has great sharpness although not the Tamron's color. Glad I purchased it and received a quick rebate and great support from Tamron too.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Matix   review date: November-06-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Nikkor 70-300mm VR 4.5-5.6
Nikkor 70-200mm VR I 2.8

price paid:

$530 AUD New

positive:

Super sharp resolution, excellent colour, sharp throughout range, little or no CA or PF. Lens is light for the range yet very solid feeling. Fast and silent focusing.

negative:

Missing a tripod collar and mount.

comment:

Having just sold my D7000 and the totally enjoyable and reliable Nikkor 70-300VR, I was missing the range when I started using the A77. Tamron? When I found this lens and purchased it based on previous reviews I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it was better in many ways than the Nikkor and an excellent price for the package. Highly recommended, definite keeper.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: britdaveg   review date: October-09-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Beercan
70-210 F3.5-f4.5
Sony 18-250
Tamron 70-300 di ld macro
Sigma 70-300 Apo DG mACRO
Sigma 70-300
Tamron 55-200

price paid:

£310 GBP

positive:

Sharpness
Build Quality
Price

negative:

Enormous lens hood
No VC

comment:

Having tried everything within a certain price point (below £200), I wanted to up the ante by getting a far better lens, and yep this is that lens, it's sharp wide open, build quality is in a different league, put this next to the overhyped beercan and see which one comes out tops ;-).

It really is a great lens, quiet, smooth excellent IQ/colours and as for looks, put this lens alongside the Sony 75-300 and you'll see for yourself, no comparison.

Downers: that overly big lens hood, it does hunt from time to time and weight, I would imagine it also looks rather funny if fitted to an A55 (big lens, small camera).

For the money (i paid only £310), it is an excellent lens.

Ref VC & pricing; I did e-mail Tamron regarding the Pricing of the Sony version, which unlike the Canon & Nikon versions does'nt come with VC, Tamron's answer; Sony has inbody anti shake & pricing was same becuase of the costs relating to the Sony/Minolta mount :-(

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: GeminiRx   review date: September-04-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Tamron 70-300
Sony SAL55-200 sam
Sony 18-55 kitlens
Minolta 35-105
Minolta 50 1.7
Tamron 17-50 2.8
Minolta 35-70 3.5-4.5
Sony 35 1.8

price paid:

369 Euro

positive:

Sharp
Fast and acurate AF
Manual focus overide.

negative:

MFD.

comment:

I bought this lens about 2 months ago and it never left my camera since.

I realy like that it can focus fast and accurate.
Sometimes i use a nd filter wich does wonders for the colors. (i can do it in post but i want to do less photoshopping not more)

Portrets are also a lot of fun to do with this lens, yes i just love it.
I only wish de mfd had been shorter.

This is the best lens i own.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Snowcat   review date: August-15-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 70-210/4
Sony 70-300G
Sony 70-400G
Tamron 70-30 Macro
Tamron 18-250
Olympus 50-200/2.8-3.5

price paid:

500$

positive:

Very sharp on all the zoom range
Does not needs to be stopped down at all!
Good color
Great build
Fast and accurate AF
Silent (completely)

negative:

Bokeh on slightily blurred objects can be strage. Happens rarely.

comment:

This lens makes me completely happy. It is VERY sharp, AF works very good, it looks and feels like a real pro lens. Check my pictures at sample pages, there are crops from 70-300g and 70-400G along with this Tamron, you'll see that this lens with it's price is unbeatable!
Also feel free to check my review - http://www.alphatraveller.com/2011/08/tamron-sp-70-300-usd-vs-sony-70-300-g.html (in Russian but with many pictures).

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: eLCee   review date: August-10-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

- Tamron AF 70-300 F4-5.6 Di LD Macro
- Sony - AF 70-300 F4.5-5.6 G SSM
- Sigma 120-400 4.5-5.6 APO DG HSM

price paid:

330€ + filters

positive:

- sharpness
- zoom speed
- zoom accuracy
- almost silent

negative:

- no zoom lock

comment:

The lens feels solid, although not as tough a the beercan or the Sigma 120-400 4.5-5.6 APO DG HSM. I used a Tamron AF 70-300 F4-5.6 Di LD Macro before i got this one, while the cheap tammy is a fairly good lens it has many drawbacks, the new Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD is a very big improvement and compared to its competitors the Tamron still is very cheap. While it might not be as tough as the G lens i have the feeling that it worked much better IQ wise.
The focusing works well in all aspects, fast, silent and accurate (so far), the prictures are sharp. Excellent lens for a good price

sharpness: 3.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Pirate   review date: July-24-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma AF 100-300mm F4 EX DG (IF) APO
Minolta AF 300mm f/2.8 APO
Sigma AF 70-300mm APO DG Macro
Minolta 300/4 HS APO
Minolta AF 80-200mm f/2.8 APO (+ APO HS G)
SAL AF 70-300mm G SSM
SAL AF 70-400mm G SSM
Minolta AF 300/4

price paid:

£348.99 (new)

positive:

Lightweight
Long Lens Hood/Flare Control
Full Frame
AF/MF Switch (see negative also)
Above Average Zoom Speed
Quiet Zoom Motor

negative:

No VC (why?)
Poor IQ Beyond 200mm
AF/MF Lens Switch Easily Moved (no resistance/too loose)
Grossly Overpriced In UK

comment:

Tamron insist in keeping the VC in the lens title when the Sony/Minolta version of this lens doesn't have it.

So, what person at Tamron decided that a Sony owner couldn't decide for themselves that an in-lens stabilisation system available to Canon/Nikon owners was beyond our capability to turn off the camera's SSS and pay the same price for the VC version when the Sony variant doesn't have the facility?

Look at Sigma. OS lenses are twice the price as non-OS lenses. Question? Why is the Tamron non VC version for Sony/Minolta the same price as the VC version?

I digress. The lens from the point of view of a person who has been using budget lenses, this lens must seem like a revelation. On the other hand, if you've been using G/HS G top shelf or intermediate grade lenses, then this tele-zoom is just above average and nothing else. CA handling is awful, but there is definately PF at the longer focal length (though not with all images), and the colours are bland. It's nice and lightweight, thus easly hand holdable all day if needed, though the AF/MF switch on the lens lacks any resistance and the mode can easily be switched without realising.

Shooting at 24MP at ISO 100 at 300mm produces far too much noise when taken in cRAW on A850 and images require A LOT of pp, so unless you have a smaller sensor, images may be better as on FF, the only option is JPEG for reduced file size shooting.

The lens is OK (ish). Far better options would be a Sigma AF 100-300mm F4 EX DG (IF) APO if you can find one (I have two) or the Tokina AT-X equivalent or their AT-X 300/2.8, again if you can find one, and price difference aside, the quality of the images will be vastly superior to this Tamron offering, though short range images are excellent.

On the whole, an above average but overpriced tele-zoom that sits well in both focal and price range for what it can produce unless you can buy a better used optic. It's nothing to write home about, and I couldn't print a 24MP image from the camera if taken at long range as the IQ is rubbish. PP'd and reduced, yes, you have what appears to be an excellent photograph, but what a job just to get that!

I can't honestly recommend this to anyone who's used superior optics, though for anyone technically upgrading from a kit or lsser budget lenses it's going to be a little marvel, and to think when the SAL AF 70-300mm G SSM was released in the UK, it was the same price. If you want a faster zoom and AF speed, buy a lens that uses the cameras torque drive (like the legacy Minolta's for example).

If this is Tamron's birthday gift to us, I would be returning it and buying something else as it really doesn't cut the mustard in IQ at long focal lenths bearing in mind price paid. For USA/Canadain buyers, it may represent far better VFM (value for money) due to rebates which we don't have in the UK.

UPDATE:

I sent the lens back for checking/rectification under warranty to Intro2020 and 6 weeks later it was returned. New components have been fitted and I am currently conducting tests with it on A580 and A850. I will amend my 'review' in due course subject to any findings of note.

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Amateur Sony Shooter   review date: July-01-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 75-300
Sony 70-300G
Sony 70-400G

price paid:

400 USD (new)

positive:

Sharp
AF speed/accuracy
Build
Price

negative:

focus ring too close to camera
should keep VC

comment:

I have been waiting for this lens for a long time, I finally got it early last month, and am glad it didn't disappoint me. I tried 2 copies of Sony 70-300G, all had back focus problem. Very frustrating. As soon as the new Tammy became available I bought one.

After almost month of using, I find it exceeding all of my expectations, especially in sharpness aspect. With this lens I never need to stop down aperture so I can get faster shutter to fight motion blur. CA control is exceptionally good (just like Sony G lens), AF is fast & quiet, and more accurate then the two copies I tried before.

The only "complain" from me would be Tamron's decision to omit VC - it could make nice video lens for my A55. But likely Sony mount get better optical performance in return? Maybe I am lucky to have a good copy.

Bottom line: for $400 there is no better AF 70-300mm lens on this planet.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Basil   review date: June-21-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

sony 70-300 G
tamron 70-300 LDi Macro

price paid:

365 after rebates

positive:

Sharp!
fast and silent focus
nice balance on A700
rebates make it a real bargain.

negative:

issue with first copy
no focus limiter

comment:

This was worth the wait. My first copy had a sticking aperture, but the second copy works flawlessly. (That's the reason for a 4 for a build rating.) This was the first problem that my local camera shop had seen with this lens in any mount. Otherwise, it feels solid and has a decent hood.

This lens is as sharp as the Sony for half the price. Wide open the Sony may have a very slight edge, but not enough to justify the price difference. When stopped down a step or two, the Tamron is its equal.

It's quick to focus, even in lower light. The USD focus motor is eerily silent. There is no hunting in good light. Focus locks and stays locked. In low light, there may be slight hunting, but then again, this really isn't a lens you will use in those situations.

The zoom action is smooth with no lens creep. This will be the lens that comes with me when I don't feel like lugging my 70-400G. Tamron is offering some great rebates at the moment that make this lens a true bargain.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: photoimpact   review date: June-10-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 70-300G

price paid:

400 USD

positive:

Well built.
Quiet focusing.
Great price/performance.

negative:

No focus hold.
No focus limiter.

comment:

To be fair, I've owned the Sony for a couple of years and only had the Tamron for a couple of weeks. But I have used the Sony extensively and knew what I was looking for in the Tamron.

I would say that they are about the same in build quality. Both are about the same size and weight. The Sony has a silky smoothness when zooming rather than the stiffer Tamron. Over time, the Tamron will probably loosen up a bit. I use the focus limiter and focus hold buttons on the Sony so I'm sure I would have missed them from time to time with the Tamron.

The real and noticeable difference is in sharpness. Bottom line, the Sony is sharper, but not by alot. If you want the better sharpness, go with the Sony. The Tamron is sharper than the previous version from Tamron and all of the Minolta and Sony long zooms that I have tested (and I've tested all of them) except for the Sony 70-400G (which I also own). The Sony is sharper near the edges wide-open everywhere and especially from 200-300mm. Both have very good to excellent sharpness in the center at all focal lengths, although in the strictest evaluation the Sony is always equal to or better than the Tamron and usually better. The Sony can be used wide open at any time, but the Tamron benefits from stopping down 1 f-stop.

In the field, both lenses perform well and nearly the same. The Sony seems to be a bit smoother and quieter, however. Both are fast focusing. While it is larger and heavier than, say, the Sony 75-300mm, it is still quite manageable to carry around for long periods of time.

The Tamron is certainly a better value, and with a rebate coupon is about $400 US. It also has a 6 yr warranty in the US, much longer than the Sony. I was willing to keep the Tamron and sell the Sony if the Tamron was just as sharp, but it wasn't. So in the end the Tamron was returned and I'm keeping the Sony. But for many (most?) photographers, the Tamron would be the perfect mid to long zoom.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: slobeatz   review date: June-09-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 70-300G

price paid:

310 USD (new)

positive:

Great build quality
Fast Focusing

negative:

No focus limiter

comment:

I had the Sony 70-300G for about a week before deciding to return it and purchase this lens. I've found that this lens meets the quality of the Sony in sharpness and speed, and is pretty close in colors. What I like the most is that the lens does not extend when it is attached to my blackrapid strap and I'm walking around. It annoyed me to no end that the Sony G would fully extend as I was walking around, which is one of the reasons I decided to return it.

Overall, I'd say I'm completely satisfied with the ability and quality of this lens.

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: Skidog2k3   review date: June-06-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

449 USD (new)

positive:

A lot of lens for a relativly low cost.
Very sharp.
Silent & smooth autofocus.

negative:

Autofocus is a little slow, but no more than I expected.

comment:

This lens has a good feel to it. Weight and smoothness of the zoom and focus ring has the feel of a more expensive lens. Also, having the focus ring closer and designed with a clutch makes it more functional than some of the cheaper alternatives out there.
The auto focus is a little slow end to end, but whisper quiet... not a problem for me.

I haven't played with this lens enough to be able to say that I love it, but overall I am very happy with the purchase and believe it was well worth the Price of $449 US

Did I mention that it is sharp?

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Noord26   review date: May-26-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

- Sigma 70-300 APO
- Minolta 100-300 APO
- Minolta 70-210 f3.5/4.5
- Minolta 500 reflex
- Tokina 70-200 f2,8

price paid:

€330,- New

positive:

- Accurate AF
- Fast AF
- (near) Silent AF
- Build
- Price/perfomance

negative:

- Not quite Minolta colours, but very close

comment:

Got the opportunity to try a Sony 70-300 with SSM. Fell in love with the focussing speed. But hated the price. The 70-400 with SSM is the most wanted lens, and worth every penny. But for a lower/medium budget this Tamron is the best that is out there with fast and accurate AF.

I love this one more than the Sony 70-300 SSM. AF is just as fast and accurate. But is has slighty better colours and feels much more like quality equipment; where the Sony feels like.. well.. my first Sony. On top of that: costs only half the money!

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: TheDeep   review date: May-25-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma 100-300 F4, Tamron 70-200,
Minolta 200 F2.8

price paid:

390 euro

positive:

Sharpness

negative:

Relative slow autofocus

comment:

Very good lens if you take the price into consideration.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Old Pirate   review date: May-25-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

I've owned the Sony 75-300, and I own the Tamron 70-200 2.8 and the Tamron 200-500. I rank it my third best Tamron lens.

positive:

Light weight and color rendering. Sharpness is adequate. AF is fast and silent.

negative:

Since the lens is so long when fully extended I find it hard to get images without motion blur handheld as I do with other lenses including the Tamron 70-200.

comment:

It's a very good lens for the money, but I wouldn't rate it a show stopper lens.

(NOTE....UPON FURTHER REVIEW)

After a full afternoon of working with this lens I wish to update earlier comments. This lens is better than I initially thought. It is super sharp, even at 300 mm if you hold it still. I have therefore come to realize...it is an exceptional value.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Blobsmith   review date: May-21-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 'Beercan' 70-210 f4 along with a variety of sigma, sony and minolta primes and zooms.

price paid:

440 euro (new)

positive:

A lot of lens for the money.

negative:

None as yet

comment:

This lens won an EISA award and having read a couple of positive reviews decided to buy it - works on both full frame and cropped sensors- on my A700 it equates to (approx) 100mm - 450mm.
Plastic bodied with stainless steel lens mount, it is light and nicely made. The focus ring is smooth and the zoom ring, although a little stiff, works nicely - both have nice rubbery grip rings. The fit and finish is top notch, no play even fully zoomed.
Bokeh is quite good, the aperture is pretty much circular down to about f8. No noticeable vignetting and distortion is not a problem.
Although early days, my first impressions are very good indeed. It is a sharp, useful, hand holdable lens. Well balanced on my A700. Although not a true macro, min focusing is 1.5 metres at all focal lengths. Tamron's 'ultrasonic' focus drive is quick enough and very quiet - almost silent and allows manual adjustment without flicking switches.
Internal focus so polarisers etc. can be used if required.

A review here that sums up my experience with this lens;
http://photo.net/equipment/tamron/70-300di-vc/

Update. Lived with this for a couple of weeks now - my earlier comments still stand, the focus can be a little fussy, but with a direct manual override, tweaking the focus is easy - the lens appears to shine around f8-f16 at all focal lengths - one of the few zooms I have owned which is consistent right across the range. There are perhaps better telephoto zoom lenses, but not at this price.