Sigma 60-600mm F/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports

The lens that will cover sports, wildlife, even some portraiture and fashion and with the ability to serve as a long-range semi-macro lens at 200mm, has to be something that is highly desirable. Add to that excellent handling and a stellar optical performance and even the relatively high price starts to look less daunting. Maybe because of the cost it is not the go-to lens for the casual wildlife or sports shooter, but for the enthusiast who spends the weekends freezing in hides or roaming wetlands, maybe the enthusiast who routinely visits the motor racing circuits, for the professional looking for the way quality is maintained even at full zoom, for all these then the money spent once on the right lens is, in the long term, better value than multiple purchases because of some dissatisfaction.

For all these reasons, this is the one that gains the accolade of ‘Editor’s Choice’.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and L-Mount 

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN

Great value for money, incredibly even performance across the whole focal length range, lovely bokeh and fantastic handling just about sum up this attractive and useful lens. Along with its 16-28mm sibling, they make a great pair to travel light with. It’s not perfection though, and distortion and CA may need some correction in the camera or in software for some subjects. The lack of weather sealing is also a shame, although we can recognise that including it would increase the price and quite possibly the bulk of the lens. It could be done though.

Going with the very smooth bokeh, the lens also exhibits that other sort of quality that we seek, that is the undefinable something that makes one lens a keeper and another not. This one looks like a keeper and it could be a trusted go-to lens that stays on the camera for much of the time.

In conclusion, ‘Highly Recommended’.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and L-Mount 

Sigma 16-28mm F/2.8 DG DN Contemporary

Taking the lens in isolation, it is terrific value for money, performs well, is compact and light and also delivers very attractive images, never mind the technical figures, good as they may be. Ultimately, it is what the images look like that counts and this is a lens that can be worked with to produce some lovely-looking pictures. This pitches it very well into the landscape and travel definition, although it can obviously be used for many more subjects. It doesn’t have weather sealing, apart from the mount, which is a pity, and it has very obvious vignetting. It is not ideal for close-ups of flat subjects, as we can see from the text sample images. However, it is superb for general purpose shooting and could be the ideal companion when travelling light. What optical imperfections there are can be addressed in camera or in software, or worked with to produce attractive, creative shots.

In conclusion, ‘Highly Recommended’.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and L-Mount 

Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 DI III-A VC RXD

The pre-production verdict was, “The new lens is an exciting prospect for Fujifilm users, being fast and efficient, and if the final quality is as good as it looks as though it could be, a winner. The range offered is perfect for general use, and the lens lends itself to many different styles of photography, be it reportage/street, architecture, close sports, portraiture, landscape or still life.”

So, does the full production lens come up with the goods? The short answer is yes, it does. Sharpness is excellent and well-maintained as we zoom in. Bokeh is pleasantly smooth and relaxed. The other technical requirements are well met. The handling is ultra-smooth and ergonomically sound. In addition, the less easily defined overall look of the images is extremely attractive. This is a lens that can be happily used for most of our general shooting in all the various genres mentioned above and more.

“Highly Recommended”

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and Fujifilm

Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2

It’s a lovely lens to use and is capable of some excellent results. In some respects, it may be desirable to switch on some lens corrections, but this is something that is becoming increasingly so with many mirrorless lens designs, and after all, it is the end result that matters. Even where the edge sharpness falls off at 75mm this does give us the possibility of some very attractive portrait effects with beautifully smooth bokeh. At all other focal lengths sharpness is of a very high order, without compromising bokeh. Add to this the really useful close focusing and we have a very practical lens indeed.

In summary, an excellent lens that can be ‘Highly Recommended’.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount

Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD

The performance of some lenses can be quite extraordinary, as is the sharpness in this case. Basically, whatever setting we choose the central sharpness will be excellent. At some points, the sharpness centre and edge is so close it can be considered to be totally even. The other qualities are there to be seen, measured without any help from the camera, but we can always switch in those corrections or use software to enhance the total result.

It is true that the lens is on the large and heavy side, but this is down to the fast, bright maximum aperture of f/2, and the value of this should not be underestimated.

Lenses are not just a collection of technical measurements though and it is equally important to consider the overall “look” of an optic. This can be as much a result of its technical limitations. The new Tamron has both qualities – excellent technical performance coupled with a very pleasing “look”.

Another worthy winner from Tamron and “Highly Recommended”.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary

The options have been sensibly and significantly increased by this new f/2.8 lens. Given that depth of field is greater on APS-C format it is a step towards being able to render backgrounds out of focus, a definite boon for portraiture in particular. It is a simple to use lens, with no controls other than zooming and focusing, so nothing to interfere with the creative process. This is a perfect travel lens, compact, light and with superb quality.

It may well be that the in-camera corrections should be switched on, unless the excessive amounts of distortion are actually wanted for creative reasons. This is a point of course where the design of a lens becomes ever more a design of a lens integrated with some corrections being made in the camera body. The merits or otherwise of this approach could be an interesting debate.

However, to summarise this very fine lens, it’s the right price, the right handling and the right performance, so is, therefore, ‘Highly Recommended’.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount, L-Mount and Fujifilm X Mount

Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD

No two ways about it, this is an extraordinary lens. Its performance is superb, it is far lighter than it could be expected to be, it has weather sealing and the price is realistic. An ideal travel companion, with the bonus of that fast, bright f/2.8 aperture. It doesn’t have any form of shake reduction, but fortunately, this may be more acceptable in an ultra-wide lens rather than in a telephoto. Still, that would have been the icing on the cake and some Sony bodies do have inbuilt SteadyShot.

When we combine this with Tamron’s matching 17-70mm, it gives a powerful duo of lenses that could be all the travelling light photographer would need.

“Highly Recommended”.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport

A combination of fast operation and AF and very good quality results has resulted in a beautiful lens. It is heavy, but manageable, is very easy to use and it locks on to the subject virtually every time. The OS system is effective and fulfils the claimed 4 stops advantage with no problem, and at longer focal lengths in particular this is a huge benefit. The price is also very reasonable, so overall it is a very attractive package.

Well worth serious consideration for wildlife and sports photographers in particular and Highly Recommended.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and L-Mount

Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

I like this lens, and am pleased with the images that it has made possible. It handles well, and the results are sharp, with some absolutely gorgeous bokeh, despite only having 7 diaphragm blades. Its sharpness is concentrated towards the centre of the frame, especially at short distances, and this field curvature does mean that flat subjects may need stopping down to f/11. But out in the field, shooting wildlife and no doubt sports as well, the lens starts to shine, producing really great results.

Highly Recommended.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and Fujifilm

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

As a lens, the Tamron is splendid. In common with many mirrorless lenses some of the parameters, such as distortion and CA, are controlled in conjunction with the camera to get the best results, but the lens on its own is still an excellent overall performer. The sharpness is exemplary and holds up very well, even at the longest focal length where performance in zooms is often at its weakest.

There’s no denying the excellence of the performance and the lens can certainly be ‘Highly Recommended’.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and Fujifilm

Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

The Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD lens is a pure delight to use. It does its job admirably, without any glitches or vices getting in the way of enjoying our photography. The optical performance is not perfect, although at the centre of the field it is excellent throughout. The edges at wider apertures are weaker, but even this need not be too much of a problem as it does open up some nice portrait possibilities as well as offering a selection of apertures where the images are indeed crisp right across the frame. Being aware of the lens’s characteristics enables us to work with it to produce the images we want.

Overall, a lovely lens that is well-priced and works well with the Sony camera body. Highly recommended.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount and Nikon Z-Mount

Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD

This lens is very impressive indeed. The quality of results is far better than we might expect, and extremely well held even at the longer focal lengths, often a weak spot with zoom lenses. There is also the option of switching in the in-camera corrections if desired.

This is a lens that is hard to fault in terms of handling or results and the snappy, sharp images obtained are a testament to this. The focal length range may be a little more restricted than some would like, but the compact and light form of the lens may make this an advantage for travel in particular.

It seems that Tamron are firing on all cylinders at the moment, and they well deserve here the accolade of an Editor’s Choice.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD

It might seem a very bold move to step outside the current paradigm and trim that 20mm off the focal length, but the advantages of doing so become immediately obvious when the lens is handled. It is lighter and more compact, the cost is appropriately fair and the optical quality is excellent throughout.

We can then add to that a unique and interesting close-focus option in the MF range. There is huge potential in this and it may well be that the lens will be picked up by portrait photographers for this reason. However, it goes beyond that and the creative possibilities are there for all genres of photography.

Overall, in summary, we have an excellent lens with some unique bonus properties as well, and another Editor’s Choice for Tamron and the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount

Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2.8-4 Di VC OSD is another great lens from Tamron. It handles beautifully and delivers the goods in terms of quality. The 150mm length is long enough to be useful, but not so long that it increases the bulk of the lens too much. There’s a lot to like about the design engineers’ decisions and they have provided a lens that is a clear photographer’s lens and also a clear Editor’s Choice.

Available Mounts: Nikon F

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD

Some lenses are great, some lenses feel great and really gel with the user, some are great and really clunky to use. The new Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD performs superbly, feels fantastic to use and is a very reasonable price as well. It’s light, efficient, moisture resistant and seems to tick all the boxes. This one easily makes it into the hallowed ranks of an Editor’s Choice.

Available Mounts: Sony E-Mount

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sport

There are quite a few 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses, none of them exactly cheap. For those who want a lower cost or a lighter lens, there are the f/4 versions, but many photographers will seek the reduced depth of field that a fast, bright f/2.8 aperture has to offer.

In terms of quality, we rarely see a zoom lens that offers such an evenly fantastic performance as this new Sigma, and at a basically very reasonable price. Without a doubt, the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM S is a lens of choice, and therefore, without doubt, is awarded an Editor’s Choice.

Available Mounts: Sigma SA-Mount, Nikon F-Mount and Canon EF Mount

Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD

There are a few things missing, such as Vibration Reduction and full-time manual focus, but the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD is a very impressive lens in terms of performance. When we see that the price is also very reasonable it becomes an attractive proposition indeed. If the features and specification suit, then the lens can definitely be Highly Recommended.

Available Mounts: Canon EF

Tamron 70-210mm f/4 Di VC USD

Some lenses are impossible to dislike, and this is certainly one of them. It is compact and light compared to the f/2.8 lenses, performance is excellent and gives beautifully crisp images, handling is superb and the price very attractive. The Tamron 70-210mm f/4 Di VC USD is a lens for any Canon or Nikon user to put very high on their list and an Editor’s Choice.

Available Mounts: Nikon & Canon

Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD

The lens is very easy and satisfying to use and the price is certainly attractive. The optical performance is actually excellent overall, with the sharpness only falling off at very small apertures. Of course, one of the unavoidable facts of optics is that at longer focal lengths those small apertures soon become very small indeed and very susceptible to diffraction effects. Bearing in mind though that high shutter speeds will likely be needed for wildlife and sports it is hardly a major issue. Processed through Photoshop, with a bit of judicious sharpening where needed, the end results are crisp and very impressive.

Available Mounts: Nikon & Canon