Focus breathing, which refers to the reduction in focal length at closer focusing distance, appears to be a constant problem that has no fix. While it won’t always affect image quality, it may become problematic when dealing with smaller subjects like birds. The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution. The taller the column, the better the lens performance. Simple. The lens is supplied with lens caps and a petal-shaped lens hood - there's no bag included. The filter size is 67mm. Focal Range APS-C - equivalent to 24.8 - 465mm on crop cameras (25.6 - 480mm on a Canon), available for Nikon, Canon and Sony lens mounts. Beyond the 50mm mark, the bending switches to the other way – inwards in the middle – and we enjoy pincushion distortion, the slimming properties of which chubby faces appreciate so much.

Image: Shot approximately halfway through the focal range at f/8, this image shows plenty of details in the horses’ hair The Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6/3 offers a uniquely huge 18.8x zoom range, performs well, delivers good value for money and has impressive close up focus performance making this an ideal travel zoom lens. There's no such cure for 'focus breathing' - the reduction in focal length at closer focusing distances. All internal focusing lenses do it to some extent, as it delivers good close-up capability without the attendant increase in physical lens length, but Tamron has been unusually greedy here (details in the review). Focus breathing is not often a problem, but if you need maximum focal length at close range, with subjects like small garden birds perhaps, then it canbe. The Final WordAll test images are presented with no alteration in color, sharpness, contrast, or clarity except where indicated. Only small adjustments in exposure were made to test images. Gear used for this review and tests – Canon 7D and a Manfrotto 190 tripod. It allows photographers to adjust focus in autofocus mode. This manual mode not only saves time but helps maintain mental focus while working.

At wider focal lengths, sharpness is excellent in the center, and across the frame at around F5.6-8. As focal length is increased, sharpness reduces, taking more of a hit towards the edges where it's decidedly soft above 200mm. F8 is the overall optimum aperture and will always deliver decent sharpness in the centre, even at 300mm. Chromatic Aberration While there are certainly advantages to using an APS-C sensor, there will also be costs in having a zoom with such a range. Unfortunately, the laws of optics dictate that some of those costs will be higher in a lens designed for APS-C sensors than they are for those designed for the thumbnail-sized sensors of the original bridge models. Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro review – Build and handling Getting through the maze of lenses can seem like a fulltime job for the unaccustomed buyer. With hundreds of designs and models, how do you know which model is right for you? Here are a few factors to consider during your search: Image stabilizationThis photo above was taken during the typhoon season which hits Japan from July to November every year. I shot this at 280mm, which was effectively 450mm with the APS-C sensor. This place doesn’t allow you to get a close vantage point so having the incredible zoom capability of the Tamron 16-300mm was a huge bonus in allowing me to get this shot. Modern telephoto lenses come with autofocus features that pulse with stepping motors. They are a huge step up from ultrasonic motors as they are quiet and allow for smooth focus transmissions. Focal length A generous helping of chromatic aberration is to be expected with a superzoom. There's strong magenta/green towards the edges at wide-angle, reducing to low levels through 50-100mm, before returning with a vengeance from 200-300mm. Canon DSLRs won't correct for it in JPEGs (Nikon DSLRs will try to) but it can be neutralized very effectively in your average Raw conversion software, provided you don't mind putting in a little time on a computer. Vignetting