The Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD is a compact and lightweight superzoom that manages to fit a huge zoom range into a compact, lightweight package. Throw in its quiet PZD autofocus and optical image stabilization, and it's a very versatile little lens that's well worth considering if you're looking for an all-in-one solution.
Optically, the 18-270mm PZD is somewhat uneven - it's impressively sharp at wideangle, but very much less so at telephoto. Chromatic aberration is very visible at the telephoto end, and fairly strong at wideangle too, giving visually-intrusive green/magenta fringing towards the corners of the frame. Typically for an SLR superzoom, distortion is also very pronounced at almost all focal lengths. It's of the barrel-type at wideangle, turning to pincushion across the rest of the range [and strongest around 50mm].
Autofocus is near-silent, but on the Canon-mount version we tested not especially fast - this is one area where it lags behind similar lenses from Sigma, Nikon or Canon. But the PZD motor is at least faster than the sometimes painfully-slow micromotor used in the older Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3.5-5.6 Di II VC. The image stabilization system works quite well too, although we've found it to be slightly less effective than its predecessor's, it's still good for letting you use shutter speeds a couple of stops slower than you'd otherwise be able to hand-hold without blur.
In terms of build, the Tamron is perhaps best described as functional, with its relatively lightweight plastic barrel. The zoom control is a little uneven, and manual focus slightly loose, but neither has a huge impact on normal shooting. The overall impression is of a lens that's been made to a price, but quite sensibly so
Compared to its main competitor, the recently-released Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-5.6 DC Macro OS HSM, the Tamron performs pretty creditably. The Sigma is noticeably sharper at telephoto, but softer at wideangle - it's also quicker to focus, and we found its image stabilization to be a bit more effective too. The Tamron offers slightly longer telephoto range, of course, but the Sigma is better for close-up shooting. All things being equal we'd favour the Sigma, but everything depends on the relative prices [which vary considerably depending on where you live].
The Final Word
The Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.6 Di II VC PZD is a decent-enough option if you're interested in buying a lightweight, long range general-purpose lens. It won't gave the same image quality as two separate lenses covering the same range, but then again it's less to carry around, and you won't miss shots changing lenses. It's not the quickest in the world to focus though, so not the best choice if you frequently want to shoot moving subjects.
Want to make sure you don't miss out on any future reviews? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter!
Enter the 'Third Party Lens Talk' Discussion Forum
Recommended links
- Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD on DxoMark
- Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] Macro Review
- Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR review
- Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Review
- Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Review
- Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS review
Samples Gallery
There are 32 images in the samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission [see our copyright page]. We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing [in conjunction with this review], we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it.
Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. Because our review images are now hosted on the 'galleries' section of dpreview.com, you can enjoy all of the new galleries functionality when browsing these samples.
You may also like
Latest sample galleries
Latest in-depth reviews
The Sony a7CR is a high-resolution addition to the company's compact full-frame a7C series. So what did we make of it and where does it leave the a7 IV that it sits just above?
Lomography's LomoChrome '92 is designed to mimic the look of classic drugstore film that used to fill family photo albums. As we discovered, to shoot with it is to embrace the unexpected, from strange color shifts to odd textures and oversized grain.
The LowePro PhotoSport Outdoor is a camera pack for photographers who also need a well-designed daypack for hiking and other outdoor use. If that sounds like you, the PhotoSport Outdoor may be a great choice, but as with any hybrid product, there are a few tradeoffs.
The Sony a7C II refreshes the compact full-frame with a 33MP sensor, the addition of a front control dial, a dedicated 'AI' processor, 10-bit 4K/60p video and more. It's a definite improvement, but it helps if you value its compact form.
Why is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack so widely used? A snazzy design? Exceptional utility? A combination of both? After testing one, it's clear why this bag deserves every accolade it's received.
Latest buying guides
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
'What's the best mirrorless camera?' We're glad you asked.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.