Tamron 18-270 VC or Canon 18-200 IS

That can not deliver the same image quality as normal zoom lenses or even fixed focal lengths such Super-Mega-zoom with 15x zoom range, it should be clear every ambitious photographer. Chromatic aberration and distortion are necessarily larger, otherwise it will be much more expensive. For such a megazoom spared the frequent changing lenses, which can be very inconvenient not only when traveling.

The first question is: Do I have enough quality for the normal case? Holiday pictures, snapshots, persons and animal portraits, all in normal lighting conditions, and for an increase in the photo book format? This question can be answered clearly with "yes".

The second question is then: What is the quality compared to other travel zoom? Are the others better?

This question I followed and I have two current competitors are compared: The here under assessment "Tamron AF18-270mm 3.5 / 6.3 Di II VC" and the "Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5 , 6 IS ".

Details of this test - made with a Canon 40D (on the test panel and landscape) - are among the reviews of the "Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS" to find, and therefore do not need at this point be repeated.

Here only the results in brief:

In direct comparison, the Tamron 18-270 VC is sharpness and contrast behind the Canon 18-200 IS. The sharpness is indeed relative. well, however, the Canon lens is a little sharper and more defined, above all.
The fringing (chromatic aberration) are stronger and can not be overlooked in the border area.
Distortion is Megazoom usual (barrel-shaped at 18mmm and from 35mm slightly cushion-shaped) and similar in both lenses.

Only in the case of vignetting this Tamron lens delivers good values ​​(ie little corner / edge shading throughout the zoom range) and is in this discipline before the Canon. But even in this!

But: The Tamron lens were tested by me on a Canon 40D. Only for this combination applies this review. It may be that the 18-270 to a Nikon delivers better results. Recent reviews seem to confirm this.

Other Results: Focusing work reliably (a few slip-ups) and the image stabilization does its job very well.

Comparing the new Tamron with his own predecessor, the "AF18-200 4.5 / 6.3 XR Di II" (still without stabilizer), so are the imaging characteristics of the new lens - despite the greater zoom range - significantly better.

Unfortunately, here still has a disadvantage to be mentioned:. If you hold the zoom down - to, for example, to photograph an object close to the ground - so blocked the zoom ring. No more bets, the zoom range can no longer be in this position adjust. Only in a horizontal position, the focal length can be reduced again. Since a repair is necessary and hopefully possible.