Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at Tamron's first lens to include both an Ultrasonic focusing motor and Vibration Compensation.

Very good optical performance; Good build quality; Ultrasonic drive; Effective vibration compensation system; Focusing a little slower than other silent focusing systems I've used

Very good optical performance; Good build quality; Ultrasonic drive; Effective vibration compensation system; Focusing a little slower than other silent focusing systems I've used

Tamron's SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD lens was released in time for the company's 60th anniversary. The ‘SP' label denotes ‘professional' build quality, while other welcome additions include an Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) AF drive motor and Vibration Compensation (VC) stabilisation plus Full Time...

A surprising good lens, did read many reviews in order to choose between nikon 70-300 and this one , in the end the Tamron was best in most of the reviews. So bought one. (nikon was $ 713 that's $ 300 more !

Sharp; light; accurate autofocus ; inexpensive

noise; distortion

I have three lenses in this range, the Canon 70-200 f4 IS, the Canon 70-300IS and this.The Canon non-L lens and Tamron are more or less identical for sharpness with a tiny victory for the Canon, although it's more expensive.

Very good value, lens barrel nice and wide for easy gripping, good stabilisation, although does jar in the viewfinder when it comes on, fairly sharp at 70-200mm; Good warranty

Average to poor sharpness between 200-300mm, turns the opposite way from Canon lenses; Makes an odd click/crunch on mounting; I wouldn't want to get it wet

Tl;dr: low aberration is a boon, distortion is well controlled, Tamron priced it well The full review: Tamron made this lens to fit well in an area that is kind of empty: mid-range telephoto lenses under $1k, and the features that it offers is excellent.

Have had this lens about a month and overall I'm quite satisfied. Images are sharp as a tack through all zoom ranges (may drop off slightly at max but not objectionable). Image stabilization is excellent and is better than I expected. Overall operation is smooth and quiet.

Consistent Output; Easily Interchangeable; Fast / accurate auto-focus

Heavy

I was very excited to receive the lens but was very disappointed, really. I was going to shoot a football game and thought this will be a win. I did not take my canon len with me. Anything in the range of over 100 was not focused. I thought it was me. I tried it with tripod and the issue the same.

Unlike the somewhat basic affair that is the Tamron AF 70-300mm Macro , the new Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD has all the latest bells and whistles, or at least their high-tech, optical equivalents.

The Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SP DI VC USD features both Low Dispersion (LD) and Extra Low Dispersion (XLD) lens elements to help correct chromatic aberration and is also fitted with an Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) motor, as well as Tamron's Vibration Compensation (VC) mechanism to reduce the effects...

An absolute dream of a lens! Coupled to my Sony A77ii it is giving me the finest results I have ever had in over 60 years of photography, it is an amazing piece of equipment.