Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS vs Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
Both are Sony E lenses. Here is what actually differs.
Pick the Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS if
- You want the lighter lens to carry: 102 g lighter (518 g vs 620 g)
- You want a wider view: 16mm vs 18mm at the wide end
- You shoot full frame: the Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is made for APS-C
- You want a compact lens: 98.5 mm vs 125.6 mm long
- Our notes say it suits: Landscapes, architecture, travel
Pick the Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD if
- You need ⅓ stop more light for low light or background blur (f/3.5 vs f/4)
- You need more reach: 300mm vs 35mm at the long end
- You shoot close-ups: it focuses down to 0.15 m vs 0.28 m
- You want bigger close-ups: 0.5× vs 0.19× maximum magnification
- You prefer a newer design: released 2021 vs 2014
Spec differences
16 differences| Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand |
Sony
|
Tamron
|
| Type |
Wide Zoom
|
Zoom
|
| Format |
Full frame
|
APS-C
|
| Focal length |
16-35mm
|
18-300mm
|
| Max aperture |
f/4
|
f/3.5
⅓ stop faster
|
| Weight |
518 g
lighter
|
620 g
|
| Length |
98.5 mm
shorter
|
125.6 mm
|
| Diameter |
78 mm
|
75.5 mm
slimmer
|
| Filter thread |
72 mm
|
67 mm
|
| Min focus distance |
0.28 m
|
0.15 m
closer
|
| Max magnification |
0.19×
|
0.5×
larger
|
| Aperture blades |
not listed
|
7
|
| Optical design |
not listed
|
19 elements / 15 groups
|
| Autofocus motor |
not listed
|
VXD
|
| Weather sealing |
not listed
|
Yes
|
| Released |
2014
|
2021
|
2 identical specs hidden: mount, image stabilization. Show all
- Mount
- Sony E both
- Image stabilization
- Yes both
Our notes
Sony Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS
A stabilized f/4 ultra-wide zoom for full-frame E-mount, weighing about 518 g. It takes 72mm filters and focuses as close as 0.28 m.
Pros
- Optical SteadyShot
- Constant f/4
- Screw-in filters (72mm)
- Zeiss optics
Cons
- Slower than f/2.8
- Image quality below newer wide zooms
Our notes
Tamron 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD
This 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 full-frame superzoom lens from Tamron fits Sony E mount cameras, with Vibration Compensation. The wide-to-tele range makes it a one-lens option for travel and everyday shooting.
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