Tamron 18-270mm vs. Tamron 17-50mm: Which Lens is Best for Your Photography Needs?

Tamron has been a beloved name in the lens industry for quite some time, earning its spot among the top brands and capturing the attention of many. It’s been amazing to see how so many people are embracing these lenses for their personal projects, creating an exciting journey for the company as it receives so much recognition and affection from enthusiasts around the globe. Whether it’s photographers, videographers, or esteemed directors of photography, Tamron is often their go-to choice over other brands.

If you’re a photographer looking for a lens that checks all the boxes, you’re in luck. This blog draws a detailed comparison of Tamron 18-270mm vs. 17-50mm. Let’s get started!

Tamron 18-270mm:

Tamron’s new AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD superzoom boasts a faster and quieter autofocus system due to the Piezo Drive (PZD) motor. Additionally, it’s 24% smaller than the previous model, enhancing its convenience for travel. Superzooms have captured the hearts of photographers who love the ease of an all-in-one lens, especially when lugging around a full kit just isn’t feasible. It’s genuinely the best Tamron lens for photography.

For many hobbyists, a superzoom lens is their trusted companion, with more specialized options being considered only when necessary. Tamron has earned a reputation for its amazing superzoom lenses, and received the best reviews on Tamron’s 18-270mm. It features an 18-200mm option and even pushes the limits with an impressive 18-250mm lens. They made history in 2008 by launching the first 18-270mm version.

Features

This impressive zoom lens contains 16 elements in 13 groups, including a low dispersion (LD) front element, an anomalous dispersion (AD) element, and three aspherical lenses that correct aberrations. A seven-blade design offers a maximum aperture of f/3.5-6.3 and a minimum of f/22-40. The new Piezo Drive (PZD) is a piezoelectric autofocus motor that enhances photography.

A piezoelectric element receives ultrasonic signals inside the motor, causing it to expand, flex, and twist into an S-curve. A metal tip at one end touches a rotor, pressing against it as the element pulses, making the rotor turn. This method is faster, more accurate, and quieter than traditional DC motors. While all ultrasonic motor (USM) autofocus systems utilize piezoelectric activity, they differ in their use of resonance and movement.

Tamron’s Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) system is more extensive but offers quicker focusing. It includes excellent optical stabilization via Vibration Compensation (VC). The lens is designed to be lighter and more efficient than previous models by reversing the magnet and coil arrangement, reducing the load on the drive system. This allows for smaller, lighter magnets, providing up to 4 stops advantage on shutter speed, ideal for longer focal lengths and smaller apertures.

The lens features auto and manual settings, but you cannot manually override the focus in AF mode on the tested Canon version. Zooming in nearly doubles the lens length, which is impressive. A handy lock keeps the lens at its shortest size, and clear markings for focal distances are present on the focus ring. A minimum focus of 49 cm is available throughout the zoom range.

Macro Capabilities

One of my favorite things about this lens is its minimum focusing distance, allowing stunning close-ups. The 18-270mm lens focuses at just 19 inches, making it versatile across its focal range. This feature helps photographers capture intricate details and bring subjects to life.

Build and handling

This lens is a compact, lightweight alternative to the 18-270mm model, measuring just 88mm, slightly larger than typical 18-55mm zooms. It weighs only 450g, making it 100g lighter than its predecessor due to innovative motor design. The prominent zoom ring features a rubberized grip for better handling, while the focusing ring is conveniently located at the barrel’s front for ease of use.

The focus ring allows for quick autofocus with minimal rotation. Manual focusing can be tricky due to subtle movements. This lens is designed mainly for autofocus. The zoom extends smoothly with good resistance. Lens creep isn’t an issue when it’s new. Overall, using this lens is a delightful experience, maintaining its quality despite the smaller size.

Focusing, image sharpness, and quality

Focusing

This Piezo Drive model focuses faster than the original 18-270mm lens, with no motor noise. It locks on quicker at wider focal lengths and is reliable overall. Although not as fast as some USM lenses, its performance is commendable for the price.

The 49cm closest focus allows 1:3.8 magnification for close-ups. The Vibration Compensation significantly enhances stability through the viewfinder compared to pricier models, enabling sharp shots at 4 stops below typical shutter speeds.

Image sharpness and quality

Lens distortion is evident, especially at the focal extremes, with significant barrel distortion at the widest setting, turning to pincushioning by 50mm and notable by 270mm. Purple and green fringing appear at 18mm in high-contrast areas. The lens performs best between f/8 and f/11; wider apertures show minimal sharpness loss at f/5.6 and f/4.

However, sharpness decreases at smaller apertures, so avoid f/22 and below. Resolution remains consistent between 18mm and 200mm, but it drops significantly at 270mm.

Superzoom lenses often receive criticism for sharpness, especially earlier models, though modern technology has improved this. Comparisons reveal that the Tamron 18-270mm is notably softer than the other brands lenses. This trend persists in real-world tests with lenses, which cost and weigh nearly four times as much. Vibration Compensation showed no visible difference in sharpness between handheld and tripod-use stabilization.

Tamron has been an excellent contributor to the photography world for many years, and it’s clear that countless photographers are eager to explore the brand’s incredible products because they consistently deliver top quality.

If you’re looking to add some extra magic to your shots, we’re excited to offer you a fantastic Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 AF price in Pakistan at Golden Camera!

Tamron 17-50mm

Tamron has earned quite a reputation for crafting unique focal ranges that truly stand out. Just look at the 35-150mm lens that recently made its debut and has already left quite an impression. What may initially seem like an unusual range can actually prove to be incredibly useful. So, we can certainly expect the same from the 17-50mm f/4 Di II VXD, right? When we first heard about this new 17-50mm lens, we thought it was just another standard zoom for APS-C cameras.

However, it turns out that this compact and versatile ultra-wide to normal lens is a delightful addition, perfect for pairing with a telephoto zoom, making it an excellent choice without needing anything extra. If you plan to get this, then you can get a reasonable price on Tamron 17-50mm in Pakistan from us.

Handling

The Tamron 17-50mm f/4 is a wonderfully lightweight choice, weighing in at just 16.2 ounces (460 grams). It’s truly impressive how Tamron achieves this, primarily thanks to the plastic housing they use for their modern lenses.

Plus, we’ve consistently found that this design doesn’t sacrifice reliability, so you can feel completely confident using it. The 17-50mm lens is also thoughtfully weather-sealed, featuring snug and well-damped rings for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Tamron has designed this lens with simplicity in mind, including just one custom button. The Tamron app connects effortlessly via a USB-C port, allowing you to personalize the ring direction, focus behavior, and button function to suit your preferences. While a traditional autofocus switch might be a nice addition, it’s great that Tamron maintains the 67mm filter threads, just like those on the 17-50mm model.

Shooting

The 17-50mm lens really shines when you’re shooting in bright light, delivering fantastic contrast with just a touch of ghosting. This subtle ghosting shows up only when the lens is set to tighter apertures, appearing as a lively little point of light with a gentle ring beneath it. It can focus quite closely, adding a delightful pseudo-macro capability to your shots.

At 50mm, it really excels, providing a lovely working distance and a macro reproduction ratio of just over 1:4 life-size. Plus, the VXD motors make sure that the 17-50mm focuses quickly and responsively, especially when you’re getting up close.

Image Quality

The Tamron 17-50mm F4 features a brilliant optical design with 15 lens elements across 13 groups, including three Low Dispersion (LD) elements, a Glass Molded Aspherical (GM) element, and two hybrid aspherical lens elements.

What’s exciting is that while this lens doesn’t carry a hefty price tag, it truly delivers exceptional optical performance. The MTF charts reveal that the center of the frame is impressively sharp, and this clarity holds all the way to the edge at 17mm. While 50mm is just a step behind, it’s worth noting that the corners are a touch softer. Overall, this MTF chart is quite impressive.

If you’re eager to boost your photography skills but are uncertain about where to start, we’re thrilled to let you know that this lens is the perfect fit for you. Give it a try, and we bet you’ll be so glad you did. Feel free to visit our website to get the best Tamron SP AF 17-50mm price in Pakistan!

Comparison b/w Tamron 18-270mm and 17-50mm:

Check out the comparison between zoom lenses vs. prime lenses below.

This table is a great resource for those excited to invest in a new photography lens. Feel free to choose the one that checks all the boxes for your preferences.

Final Thoughts

Tamron impresses with innovative lens designs for both casual photographers and professionals. The 18-270mm provides a versatile all-in-one solution, while the 17-50mm excels with its compact size, sharp optics, and excellent handling. Each lens offers unique strengths: the 18-270mm’s superzoom capabilities and the 17-50mm’s precision and optical clarity.

While both lenses have compromises, Tamron balances affordability, performance, and portability well. Advancements in autofocus, vibration compensation, and design make them competitive in their categories. These lenses provide a solid choice for photographers enhancing their kit economically. Whatever your shooting style, Tamron offers a reliable lens for your creative vision!