Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III at a look:

• $609/£494
• Micro 4 Thirds lens mount
• 28-300mm equal zoom vary
• 17 components in 13 teams
• 50cm minimal focus distance
• 295g

Over the previous decade, mirrorless cameras have dramatically modified the panorama within the photographic tools market. The likes of Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony have constructed up compelling options for photographers fed up of coping with the dimensions and weight of DSLRs, however unwilling to sacrifice picture high quality. Third-party lens producers had been initially cautious about producing their very own mirrorless lenses, however now there’s a wide array obtainable, which continues to develop.

Customers of Panasonic and Olympus mirrorless cameras are effectively catered for in terms of lenses. For extra choices take a look at one of the best Micro 4 Thirds lenses. These searching for a lens that balances good efficiency with wonderful worth for cash might want to contemplate the options from the likes of Sigma and Tamron first.

The 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III – which is the lens on check right here presents a pretty saving over different long-range superzooms such because the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6 II ($739/£599) and Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 O.I.S. ($764/£619). What’s the catch? In contrast to Olympus and Panasonic’s choices, the Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III doesn’t embrace weatherproofing or optical stabilisation. So why even contemplate the Tamron you may ask.

Effectively, it comes again to cost. Micro 4 Thirds customers who need a versatile all-in-one journey lens and count on to make use of it in benign circumstances, on paper it gives one of the best worth. With a sensible 28-300mm equal zoom vary, it’s appropriate for capturing an enormous vary of topics, plus it’s extraordinarily compact (80.4×63.5mm) and extremely light-weight (295g).

Earlier than learning how the lens performs optically let’s take a better look over the Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III’s key options.

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation: Options

Comprising 17 components in 13 teams and together with one low-dispersion glass ingredient, two anomalous dispersion glass components, two glass-moulded aspherical components and one hybrid aspherical ingredient, the 14-150mm has probably the most advanced optical design amongst Micro 4 Thirds superzoom lenses. In precept, this could assist cut back the optical aberrations to which lenses with such an bold zoom vary are typically inclined.

14mm

150mm

Regardless of all this glass, the 14-150mm is surprisingly compact, with a barrel diameter of 63.5mm and a size of 80.4mm from the mount to the entrance of the non-rotating 52mm filter thread. In context, it’s smaller than Olympus’s funds M.Zuiko Digital 40-150mm f/4-5.6 telezoom and barely bigger than 18-55mm equipment zooms for APS-C DSLRs. At 285g it’s not particularly heavy, both.

I’m happy to say the lens is provided with a bayonet-fitting petal-type plastic lens hood. Even higher, it reverses neatly when not in use, becoming carefully across the barrel. Packing up small is an actual asset for this type of journey lens.

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation: Construct and dealing with

After I first unboxed the 14-150mm, I used to be happy to seek out that it doesn’t really feel cut-price in any respect. With a metallic outer barrel and rear mount it comes throughout as gratifyingly effectively made – an impression strengthened by the sleek rotation of the zoom and focus rings. The swap for locking the zoom at its wideangle place is considerably small and fiddly, however I discovered it to be superfluous anyway, because the lens isn’t in any respect inclined to zoom creep (extending or retracting beneath its personal weight). If you activate the digicam, the lens makes a disconcerting rattling noise, which seems to be the aperture diaphragm going by means of a start-up cycle.

My pattern had a pretty black paint end with a contrasting silver ring subsequent to the mount; a silver model can also be obtainable. The understated white barrel lettering makes the lens look classier than the gold markings used on older Tamron designs. One minor criticism is that each the entrance and rear lens caps are fairly thick, whereas in distinction each Olympus and Panasonic use slender designs to maximise the dimensions benefit of Micro 4 Thirds.

It’s honest to say this lens is a lot better suited to some Micro 4 Thirds cameras than others. Lengthy lenses similar to this have a tendency to work higher on cameras which have eye-level viewfinders, as this permits a extra secure capturing stance. Its most aperture within the telephoto vary can also be decidedly sluggish (starting from f/5.2 at 50mm to f/5.8 at 150mm), and which means that when you apply it to a Panasonic physique with out in physique picture stabilisation (IBIS), you’ll want both a number of gentle or excessive ISO settings to realize the excessive shutter speeds wanted to keep away from blur from handshake.

The upshot is that whereas the Tamron works significantly effectively on Olympus’s OM-D cameras and Panasonic Micro 4 Thirds mirrorless cameras that function in-body picture stabilisation, it’s poorly suited to use on small our bodies with out viewfinders, similar to Panasonic’s GF collection. Certainly, most Panasonic house owners can be higher served by the corporate’s optically stabilised Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.8 OIS – a lens that was up to date in 2019, including a level of splash and mud resistance. In the meantime, Olympus house owners who usually shoot in moist circumstances ought to check out the weather-sealed M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II.

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation: Focusing

With a stepper motor employed to drive the main focus group, the Tamron autofocuses silently and precisely. The sluggish most aperture on the telephoto finish means it is going to usually be slightly sluggish when focusing in low gentle, however in daylight it’s fairly snappy. Guide focusing works effectively, and the digicam’s focusing aids have interaction robotically when the main focus ring is turned. With a minimal focus distance of 50cm, the lens is able to spectacular close-ups.

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation: Picture High quality

Typical knowledge tends to state that superzoom lenses of this sort are all about comfort and provides inferior outcomes to pairing commonplace and telephoto zooms. However the actuality is a little more sophisticated than that. In truth, the 14-150mm is fairly sharp in the direction of the broad finish of its vary (though it’s noticeably mushy within the corners at 14mm), giving comparable or higher outcomes in contrast with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 equipment zooms provided with many Micro 4 Thirds cameras. Nevertheless, as you zoom past 50mm it will get progressively weaker, and on the lengthy finish it’s noticeably mushy, rendering little in the way in which of actually superb element. However with cautious capturing and processing it’s nonetheless ok for a pleasant 12x8in print.

One benefit of mirrorless techniques is the flexibility to combine software program distortion correction into the lens design. Which means photographs include not one of the disturbing barrel distortion at wideangle that plagues superzoom lenses for DSLRs. Unusually for Micro 4 Thirds, nonetheless, there’s seen pincushion distortion at focal lengths longer than about 25mm (that’s, 50mm equal), which is most pronounced across the 50mm setting. That is disappointing for JPEG customers, though it’s simply corrected when processing uncooked.

Most Micro 4 Thirds cameras even have the flexibility to right lateral chromatic aberration in software program. Sadly, the Tamron 14-150mm doesn’t play properly on this regard, that means that when you take a look at your photographs carefully you’ll see unpleasant inexperienced and magenta fringing in the direction of the corners of the body in your JPEGs that’s most pronounced in the direction of the extremes of the zoom vary. Nevertheless, this can be cleaned up simply sufficient when you shoot uncooked.

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation: Decision, shading and distortion

Decision

Inspecting the MTF readings from our Utilized Imaging checks, we see that the lens offers sharp ends in the centre of the body at 14mm, though the corners are weak. Zoom in to 50mm and sharpness remains to be very acceptable, turning into extra even throughout the body. Nevertheless, at 150mm, photographs are noticeably softer. Greatest outcomes are usually obtained at f/5.6-8.

Shading

Not surprisingly for a fancy lens in a compact package deal, the 14-150mm offers noticeable vignetting on the extremes of its zoom vary. Nevertheless it’s not overly intrusive and in impact disappears when the aperture is closed down a cease. Total, there’s little to fret about.

14mm f/3.5

150mm f/5.8

Curvilinear distortion

Due to Micro 4 Thirds’ integration of software program distortion correction, customers ought to see completely corrected photographs at 14mm, with no seen barrel distortion. Elsewhere within the vary, nonetheless, pincushion distortion is obvious even in JPEG information, being strongest across the 50mm place.

14mm

50mm

Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III evaluation: Verdict

Tamron has lots of expertise in making superzoom lenses, and the 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 Di III is an efficient instance of the style. It’s compact, properly made and autofocuses effectively. As traditional for this type of optic it’s one thing of a compromise, with completely first rate picture high quality at wider settings, however barely much less passable outcomes on the lengthy finish. Mixed with its sluggish most aperture at telephoto, which means that when you count on to shoot distant topics loads – sports activities or wildlife, maybe – a telezoom can be a better option.

The shortage of optical picture stabilisation might maintain prices down, but it surely means some customers of Panasonic mirrorless cameras who don’t have IBIS to depend on might encounter digicam shake on the lengthy finish of the zoom. Total, although, there’s no denying this lens’s attraction as an all-in-one journey lens – the mix of lengthy zoom vary and first rate shut focusing offers enormous compositional flexibility. Most significantly, it additionally gives first rate outcomes at a pretty worth.

For extra choices take a look at one of the best Micro 4 Thirds lenses.