Review Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06

According provided by lens Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06 for Nikon many thanks to Sergey.

Review Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06

Review Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06

Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06 is an unusual full-frame 'superzoom'. The review presents a version for Nikon cameras.

Tamron 28-300 mm lenses:

And there are still two copies of the A06 / A061 lens under the brand name 'Promaster Spectrum':

  • Promaster Spectrum 7XR AF Aspherical LD ​​[IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro
  • Promaster Spectrum 7XR EDO AF Aspherical LD ​​[IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro
Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

When I wrote this review, in the world there were no lenses for full-format cameras with a larger zoom ratio than 10,7X (300/28 = 10,7). So far, for full-length cameras, a range of focal lengths of 28-300 mm is the limit of technology.

Of course, for cropped cameras there are also more 'powerful' zooms, for example Tamron 18-270mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Di II LD [IF] Aspherical VC Macro B003E with 15x zoom or Nikon AF-S 18-300mm with 17x zoom. And if we take the segment of digital cameras at all, then their zoom ratio has long stepped over the 30X mark. But here's what's interesting - zoom lenses for medium format optics have so far only just overcome the threshold with a magnification of 2X.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

The optical scheme of the lens is crammed with special optical elements, which allowed us to create a large range of focal lengths in a very compact body.

  • IF (Internal Focusing) - internal focusing.
  • aspherical - indicates the presence of aspherical elements in the optical circuit of the lens.
  • LD (Low Dispersion) - indicates the presence of special low dispersion elements.
  • XR (Extra Refractive Index) - elements with a high refractive index. With their help, you can make such compact lenses.
  • Macro - 'pathos' prefix about the presence of macro mode. Currently, the prefix 'Macro' is molded on almost all lenses that can take small objects at least a little bit.
  • The lens version A061 received another prefix in the lens name - Di. This means that the lens is suitable for both Nikon FX cameras and Nikon Dx cameras.

When folded (at 28 mm zoom) the lens is quite small and light enough (about 400 grams). And the front lens diameter is only 62 mm. This is why the Tamron 28-300 A06 is considered one of the leaders in the 'full-frame travel superzoom' category.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

The lens body is made entirely of plastic, including plastic mount... The focus and zoom ring are rubberized. Externally, the Tamron 28-300 A06 is similar to its modern brothers from Tamron. The copy from the review came to me in good condition; it does not suffer from spontaneous enlargement of the trunk under its own weight. In case the trunk begins to "fall out" over time, we did zoom lock 'Lock' at 28mm position.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

But with automatic focusing everything is bad - focusing is very slow. Focus is slow even on my Nikon AF film camera N8008sin which the focus motor rotates significantly faster than on mine Nikon D700 и Nikon D80... There is no focusing mode switch on the lens, to switch to manual focusing mode, use the switch lever near the camera mount. It is not allowed to rotate the focusing ring in the 'AF' lever position.

When I took test shots, I noticed that at 300mm the lens lacks the focusing ring travel to focus at infinity. This was expressed in the fact that when focusing to infinity, the camera motor tried to turn the focusing ring beyond the set “infinity” mark and at the same time “moaned” unsuccessfully. And in JVI it can be seen that at 300 mm there is not enough travel for focusing. Perhaps this effect is due to the fact that at 300 / 6,3 the image quality in JVIand, as a result, for the focusing system, it is so bad that the camera “thinks” that you just need to focus better to achieve a more “correct” contrast picture. In any case, guesses are guesses, but the problem is obvious.

In manual focus mode, the ring rotates approximately 45 degrees. When focusing manually using the tele-range of focal lengths, such a small travel of the focusing ring is no good. But still there is good news - the lens has internal focusing, and the front lens does not rotate even when zooming.

Macro example. Filmed on MDF

Macro example. Shot in manual focus mode on MDF.

The Macro prefix in the lens is also not without reason. Tamron 28-300 can focus at 300 mm at a distance of only 49 cm and shoot with a maximum magnification of 1: 2.9, which is very, very good for this kind of lens.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Aperture blades - 9 pieces, aperture closes to F / 22 @ 28 and F / 40 @ 300. The lens has very low aperture F / 6.3 at the extreme zoom position. Please note that for most Nikon CZKs, it is recommended to use lenses with a maximum relative aperture value of 1: 5.6 and higher, more about this is described here. When zooming, the F / 3.5-F / 5.6 values ​​are only available in the 28-135 mm range. In the range of 135-300 mm, F / 6-F / 6.3 values ​​are already available.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

The lens has aperture control ring (in the photo, the ring is easy to recognize by two rows of numbers: from F / 3.5 to F / 22). To control the value aperture of any modern TsKK Nikonneed to install ring aperture to F / 22, while the ring will automatically lock in that position. If this is not done, the 'FEE' error will appear on the camera display. This ring is needed to control the diaphragm on old film cameras, more about this in more detail in the section Non-G Nikon Lenses. To remove the fix, you need to find a small black button, which is located on the aperture ring

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

I want to note that as with any lens without motor focusing, the camera is noticeable noise at work due to focus motor and gears.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Here link to the archive with the originals - 176 MB, photo parameters in the archive are indicated here.

The overall image quality is just awful. In the 200-300mm range, it is almost impossible to achieve a good sharp image at any aperture value. At an open aperture in the tele-range, nothing good is obtained at all. But at 28 mm at closed apertures, the lens is not bad. Of course, without vignetting and distortion with such a lens anywhere. The lens copes well with side and backlighting and creates a contrasting picture. It should also be borne in mind that this is a "non-native" lens and, with modern cameras, most likely, the function of automatic correction of some optical imperfections of the lens will not work. Actually, one should not expect anything good from the “maximum” super-zoom.

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro

To shoot using 300 mm of the focal length from the hands, without a stabilizer, is quite difficult and you should get used to such shooting. I was lucky, I shot on a sunny day and at a value of 300 mm F / 11 at ISO 200 excerpt fluctuated around 1 / 300-1 / 500, which is enough for shooting without grease. Get ready for a 300 mm focal length picture in JVI shakes noticeably, personally it irritated me very much

When using such a lens on Nikon DX cameras, it EGF will be 42-450 mm, which may be of interest to many, but the universal side will be lost when using it as a wide angle. For crop, it’s better to take a cheap and better one Tamron AF 18-200mm f / 3.5-6.3 (IF) Aspherical LD ​​XR DiII Macro A14... For fans of the TV range, I recommend an inexpensive and really good model - Tamron LD DI AF 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 Tele-Macro (1: 2) A17.

Catalog of modern Tamron lenses can look at this link.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


List of all autofocus hyper-zooms 28-300 mm

Tamron / Promaster

  1. Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO model A185D
  2. Tamron AF 28-300mm 1: 3.8-6.3 LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO model A285D, The optical design is identical to the Tamron A185D.
  3. Tamron AF Aspherical XR LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro model A06
  4. Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro model A061, The optical design is identical to the Tamron A06.
  5. Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 VC Macro model A20. With stabilizer.
  6. Tamron PZD Di 28-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 Piezo Drive VCModel A010. With stabilizer.
  7. Promaster Spectrum 7XR AF Aspherical LD ​​[IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro, copy of Tamron A06
  8. Promaster Spectrum 7XR EDO AF Aspherical LD ​​[IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro, copy of the model Tamron A061

Sigma / quantaray

  1. SIGMA ZOOM 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 DL HYPERZOOM (black or silver color of the case), ø72
  2. Sigma COMPACT HYPERZOOM 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3, ø67
  3. SIGMA ZOOM 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 MACROø62
  4. SIGMA ZOOM 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 DG MACROø62
  5. Quantaray 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 LDO Multi-Coated, ø72, copy of SIGMA ZOOM 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 DL HYPERZOOM
  6. Quantaray 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 LDO Multi-Coated, ø67, copy of Sigma COMPACT HYPERZOOM 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3

Tokina / others

  1. Tokina AF 28-300mm 1: 4.0-6.3 ø77 JAPAN (black or silver color of the case), model Tokina 283 AF
  2. Vivitar Series 1 28-300mm 1: 4.0-6.3 MC Auto Focus Zoom JAPAN ø77 (black or silver color), copy of Tokina 283 AF
  3. Cosina 28-300 mm 1: 4.0-6.3 MC lens mde in Japan ø77 (black or silver color), copy of Tokina 283 AF
  4. PHOENIX 28-300mm 1: 4.0-6.3 AF ZOOM ø77 MADE IN JAPAN (black or silver case color), copy of Tokina 283 AF
  5. EXAKTA 28-300mm 1: 4.0-6.3 MC MADE IN JAPAN ø77 (black or silver body color), copy of Tokina 283 AF
  6. Promaster Spectrum 7 28-300mm 1: 4.0-6.3 MC LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø77 (black or silver body color), a copy of Tokina 283 AF. There may be other copies of the Tokina 283 AF.

Nikon & Canon

  1. Nikon ED AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical, with a stabilizer.
  2. Canon ZOOM LENS EF 28-300mm 1: 3.5-5.6 L IS USM, with a stabilizer.

The names of the lenses are indicated according to the inscriptions on their body. Do you know similar lenses or any useful information on them - please add it to the comments. To this list, I would also add a similar lens with 10x zoom for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras - Sony FE 3.5-6.3 / 24-240mm OSS.

Results

Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06 is an ambiguous lens. On the one hand, it is lightweight, compact with a very high zoom ratio, and it is also cheap. On the other hand, there is a plastic body, very slow focusing and terrible image quality in the tele range. Perhaps I came across not the most successful copy, and if the image quality on a normal copy is higher, then only then can I think about purchasing such a lens.

Original review NIKON ED AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment:

 

 

Comments: 14, on the topic: Review of Tamron AF Aspherical XR DI LD [IF] 28-300mm 1: 3.5-6.3 Macro (DI) A06

  • Denis

    Yes, ultrazoom compacts tear it, it seems to me you shouldn't "spoil" a full-frame camera with such optics ...

    • anonym

      Aha

  • Alex m

    Yes, I fully support the previous speaker ...)

  • Stepan

    Glass sucks but decent photos. The hand of the master is visible!

    • Denis

      Well said.

  • Oleg

    Thank you for a good review. Now it’s clear why you rarely see a 10x zoom for the CZK.

  • Alex

    someone has a dirty matrix)

  • xytop

    I had a chance to try out Tamron AF28-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Pentax. There is a slight difference in the construction - a metal mount. And since the Pentax has a stabilizer in the carcass, shooting at focal points close to 300 is not so problematic. But this does not change at all the conclusion made by the author - "The quality of the image as a whole is just awful." The positioning of the lens with regard to the quality of the resulting images is completely incomprehensible.

  • igor

    I'd like to see a review of the tamron sp 70-300 di usd lens. In my opinion a very curious and decent telezoom

  • Eugene

    Despite some negative reviews, I want to say a few good words about this lens. I have a Tamron A06 nikon F Japan. Conventionally, the working one can be considered a segment up to 135mm f5.6, all that after of course is useless, well, having a completely new nikon 70-300 G VR, I can say that it can also be considered a worker in the 85-135mm range but for completely different money. Tamron has quite good lenses 28-75 and 24-70, but again for completely different money and the MAIN THING is often not enough body to reach when it is impossible to approach. And do not forget that on old and cheap carcasses, this lens will prove to be quite worthy and I think it can be recommended for beginners with a limited budget. On the nikon d70, the tamron proved to be no worse than the nikon 18-105 and 18-135, because the price of the carcass and the lens and the year of manufacture of both roughly correspond.
    In this topic, it would be interesting to hear an opinion (and comparison) with the anniversary Tamron SP 24-135mm F3.5-5.6 for Nikon
    It is not necessary to fasten the wheels from the Zaporozhets to the Mercedes and to fasten the wheels from the Mercedes to the Zaporozhets and at the same time say that they are going “awfully” :-) Successful pictures.

    • Denis

      It is better for beginners to learn right away with good lenses. If the lens is slag, then any beginner will no longer want to continue taking pictures. If a beginner quits shooting, having a good lens, then during the period of his passion, he will at least get pleasure. And so is money and time down the drain, and not a drop of pleasure either.

      • Victor

        These are myths with little connection to reality.

        Firstly, a beginner often simply does not know where to look in order to separate “slag” from “non-slag”, and secondly, the passion for photography and the variety and unusualness of subjects have nothing to do with the quality of the lens of the shooter.

  • Koba

    Last year I tried 6 pieces of this lens in the store to check the "difference" of versions. There is no difference, the lens is a slag, in the TV range all 6 pieces gave out frank soap, not suitable for use. How such a lens can keep the price in China at the level of 200-250 dollars until I still cannot understand.

  • Consultant

    Unfortunately again, all the best went past Model A 185D: tamron AF 28-300mm F / 3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical IF makro. The metal case, diameter 72 of Japanese optics make wonders wide-angle and macro shots

Add a comment

Copyright © Radojuva.com. Blog author - Photographer in Kiev Arkady Shapoval. 2009-2023

English-version of this article https://radojuva.com/en/2014/01/tamron-af-xr-di-ld-if-28-300mm/

Versión en español de este artículo https://radojuva.com/es/2014/01/tamron-af-xr-di-ld-if-28-300mm/