Tamron Auto Focus 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC PZD All-in-One Zoom Lens with Built in Motor for Nikon DSLR Cameras (Model B008N)

I bought this lens for a long trip because I wanted to pack light and not carry around a lot of lenses. The Tamron 18-270 is perfect for the "pro-sumer" because although it's not perfect in any particular category it does a lot of different things really well. Advantages: Light; compact; all-in-one wide angle to telephoto; AF is pretty fast and quiet Disadvantages: It's not the fastest at telephoto (f/6.3) so your images can appear a little darker and you can't get as shallow of a depth of field as you can with more robust and faster 55-200mm or 70-300mm. There is also some barrel distortion and vignetting. The good thing is that most of the disadvantages of this lens can be fixed when you edit the images in PS (barrel distortion, vignetting). The limited depth of field cannot be fixed but is really not as big of a deal, the images still look great. Anywhere outdoors (walking around a city or hiking), this lens is perfect because it is so light, compact and versatile, compared to switching lenses b/w a huge tele and wide angle. Indoors it is about as effective as a stock 18-55 lens. Only stopping to f/3.5 will hurt your low light shots, and when fully extended will block your pop up flash. If you had a faster prime lens for indoors and then this lens for outdoors, I can't see what else you would really need unless you are shooting for a magazine or billboards.

update 08-Jun-2013 Thanks to Zach (see comments on this post), I am back to loving my lens. I now understand why my friend's coolpix has a 'better' zoom at 180mm than this tamaron at 270mm. Love the range, and image quality.. but the inbuilt flash will cast shadows due to the diameter of this lens. Should not be a problem for most cases, but if you do mostly indoor photography and need to use the flash, you are probably better off using a wide angle prime lens than this one. Other than that, go ahead and get this.. wont regret. Original review..... Bought this lens in January 2012, and loved it till 2 days ago (27-May-2013). I am pleased with the image quality overall, though my photographs are not 'WOW' due to whats behind the camera, more than whats in front. I use this lens with Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD . This is pretty much the only lens I use now, and has totally replaced the 2 kit lenses i got with my camera (18-55mm Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens , 55-200mm Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens ) I never got a chance to do a side by side comparison of this lens with any other, but last week my cousin and I both shot a few photographs of the setting sun. His camera was able to zoom in more than mine (Nikon again, but not SLR, not sure of the exact model). his lens claims to be 4.3mm to 180mm, while mine is slated at 270mm. I am disappointed that my lens is not 270 mm (assuming the other lens is not falsely under selling itself), or somehow has less of a telephoto effect than a 180mm. Again, I really liked this lens till 2 days ago when I realized it is not what it claims to be. Will continue using it, but now with a sour taste about the tall claims Pros: + a single lens with a wide range that is most you would probably need on most days. Covers a decent part of the room when photographing indoors with wide angle, and zooms in close enough for most everyday photographs with telephoto + fairly light weight for the range it provides me + Image quality is good enough for a non professional eye. Cons - Huge diameter - blocks the built in flash, and casts a shadow on the lower part of the photograph when using the flash - Will not accept any filters that you might have used with the kit lens. This lens is way bigger.

I am a novice photographer that just started a few months ago. I own a Nikon D90 with a Nikkor 18-55mm VR and a Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens. I did some research for an all-in-one zoom lens and I was comparing the Sigma 18-270mm, 18-250mm, Tamron 18-250mm, Nikkor 18-200mm VRII and the Nikkor 28-300mm VR. After reading all the comments, reviews and price difference from different sites, the Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PCD LD comes as my top choice. I always do a thorough research before purchasing on things to make sure that I get the right bang for my buck. The reasons why I chose this lens is that it is a smaller version of the original Tamron 18-270mm. It also comes with the new Piezo Drive which results in a smaller and lighter size. So far, I have fired a several test low light indoor shots and I am impressed with the sharpness and quality. I will be posting an update review this weekend after I take it out on an outdoor drive. So far, I am very happy with this lens. UPDATE: 1/23/11: I took some outdoor shots using close and regular distance shots and I am impressed with the quality and sharpness. I took close pictures of plants and trees in my backyard and it almost look like you have a macro glass. Speaking of macro, Amazon has this described partly as a Macro Zoom lens on the name. Not true at all. When compared to other sites like Tamron's and B&H, which btw are reputable sites, it does not say nor describe it as a Macro Zoom lens. As I mentioned previously, I am a novice photographer so I could be wrong. If so, please do let me know and what settings to use to make it a macro lens by leaving comments as I would appreciate it (part of learning). Other than that, I still love this lens. This would probably will stay in my camera for a long time. I recommend this glass for anyone looking for an all-in-one glass.

This is the second Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC lens I have owned. It is however the first time I've had the PZD drive feature.The first Tamron 18-270 basically lives on my Canon60d. It is my go to lens for travel, family gatherings and anything that does not require either a macro lens or a telephoto with more reach which is seldom. I purchased my second Tamron, the lens that has the PZD drive for my Nikon D3100. I use the Nikon as a light weight and/or backup and the Tamron is the perfect lens. When I purchased the Nikon it came with two kit lenses and they are ok, but I like the fact that I no longer have to switch out lenses and I think the Tamron is much sharper and quicker, smoother, quieter to focus than any of my Nikon kit lenses. We are planning a month long get away soon to get away from this horrid winter weather. The Tamron lens will be the only lens I bring along for the trip. It is truly a multi-purpose workhorse. Something else to be aware of is that the Tamron is about half the cost of either the equivalent Canon or Nikkor lenses. My first lens has twice had a problem with switching between auto focus and manual focus. Tamron's warranty is for 6 years and so even though my first lens is now more than 3 years old, it has twice been cleaned and repaired quickly and at no cost to me. I would recommend this lens to anyone who does not want to spend the $$$$$ on a Canon "L" lens or someone who wants to improve heir images above what the kit lenses will provide in performance. I am completely sold on Tamron glass and I like this lens best of all.

Extremely impressed with the lens quality.great value for the money.

So I saw Tamron's ad in some magazine which led me to looking at it here and ultimately buying it. The selling point: obviously, the incredibly long 18-270mm range for several hundred dollars less than the other contender (Nikon 18-200). Also, the professional reviews of this were mostly positive or very positive. Most of the issues in the previous model have been improved (the autofocus). So when I got the package, I was pretty excited. The lens performs as expected. The vibration control is very effective and seems to be more so than my kit lens (Nikon 18-105mm). When VC turns on, you get a momentary jump in the viewfinder as it activates - and while on, you hear a very soft and almost silent 'hummmmmm'. When you let go of the autofocus, there is a pause of about 2-3 seconds before VC turns off, and again you see a little jump in the viewfinder. By comparison, the Nikon's VC turns on and off without even the slightest indication. I really don't mind this, but some might not know and think it is a defect in their lens. I have also read that Tamron's VC, although very effective, draws a lot of battery. The real disappointment for me may have nothing to do with this particular lens but more of what my expectations were. When I was comparing lenses, 18-270mm sounded A LOT better than 18-200mm. I mention this because if you are not very knowledgeable, you may not know that visually, the difference between 18mm to 88mm (difference of 70mm) is DRAMATICALLY different than 200mm to 270mm (again, a difference of 70mm). The fact is that if I took a picture at 200mm and then one at 270mm, it was SHOCKINGLY not very different at all. In fact, it looked like it barely moved about 2-3 inches closer to a subject that was 10 yards away. I am not speaking scientifically, I am only describing my perception. Since it is likely to be your perception as well, be warned that the additional 70mm is probably not worth any premium in dollars. If you are comparing lenses, I would pick the best one for the price and not look past 18-200mm or 18-250mm (Sigma) lenses just because none of them get to 270mm like the Tamron. Incidentally, the Piezo drive AF worked very well. I thought it was quite fast and responsive. There was zoom creep in the middle range and the lens is amazingly compact and light for what it does. CONCLUSION: A well-built, responsive and sharp lens but the 270mm reach simply didn't impress me anywhere near what I thought it would and should.

I'll start by refuting most of the negative reviews. For an all-in-one zoom travel lens, this is the ticket that lets you take great photos without lugging around two or three "better" lenses. While not "perfect" compared to a pro lens, this lens does a LOT of things better than any kit lens including many of the after-market add-on lenses in the $600 - $1000 range. Not tack-sharp? Uh...it's pretty sharp, especially at faster shutter speeds with the vibration control on. At 20 yards, fully zoomed in I could see a finches individual feathers while it ate at the feeder. No problem. I could see the itty-bitty seeds and their hull too! Additionally, the build quality is better than any of the el-cheapo plastic lenses and the barrel is snug when extended -- no creep on the one I have. The fit is sure and true on my Nikon D7000, and the auto focus works about as quick as any of the lenses it is replacing (the two kit lenses it came with). I don't mess with manual focusing any longer, so nothing to say about that. People comparing it to fast, expensive glass are comparing lenses in a totally different class which makes no sense IMHO. Want an ultra-sharp low-light super zoom for action wedding photography? Then get something else, but be prepared to spend 4x what this costs. Want something to take a quick shot of the boat while the light is just right and you're standing on the beach? Then this will get a decent shot with bragging rights to go with it. I took this lens to Maui, and upon returning I was commended on what great pictures this lens took. Highly recommended as a good anytime lens with reach, but please --don't compare it to any pro all-in-one zooms. There aren't any in this price range.

The following is my own personal experience with this (Tamron's 18-270mm VC PZD) lens. It does NOT represent everyone else's experience as a whole. Plus, be(a)ware that I have not had this lens for long (well under 24 hours). So I reserve the right to change my mind in the near future about this lens. PROS: This lens is very interesting. It has an amazing range (focal length wise)! And I enjoy being able to zoom from wide angle to telephoto without changing lenses. The newer lens (16-300mm) by Tamron is also an interesting feat (not yet released). My initial tests show promise of being a very capable lens at 270mm. I have pictures of my cats and the images are crisp and clean. Let me also add that the cat pics are done in shaded daylight with ISO 2500. I was pleasantly surprised by the VC (Vibration Compensation). CONS: This came as a shock to me. At 18mm (wide shot) I was unable to get a good sharp image, at least not at f-3.5. When I stopped down to f-11 the problem was cut in half, still a little soft on the focus though. If you are doing portrait work it will be okay as long as you stop the lens down to f-11 or more (make sure you focus twice before firing off the shutter). It might be even better if you use your 18-55mm kit lens to do the portrait. If you're doing a group photo (lens set at 18mm) with the Tamron 18-270, forget it. That's just not a good idea. However, the earlier version of this lens might prove to be a more viable alternative. OVER ALL: Mostly, I do like this lens. Some people who demand perfection also live in a dream world where that is obtainable. There's always a downside to everything. Just make sure you are creative enough to use the weaknesses of this lens to your advantage. WHY THREE STARS: I gave this lens three stars NOT just because of it's soft focusing at the 18mm end but also because the seller (33rd Street Camera) sold me a lens that cannot be covered under warranty, so the 6 year warranty is not possible. But the good news is that Amazon stands behind the purchase, willing to replace the item or refund my money. Let the buyer be(a)ware.

It's really great lens and actually it is value for money. But it's just better than those kit lenses and no more than that. You can zoom really long so you can capture awesome photos which others usually can't. Example : I live in Toronto so it's really easy to get close to CN Tower using this. Sharpness is not so good. I've another 50mm prime lens and it's not even near to that sharpness. Very less or NO chromatic aberrations. Focusing is really fast and no hunting thumbs up to that. Very small package, easy to carry always. Material is super high quality no doubt it'll last 5+ years easily. Bit heavy but that shows quality. Came with lens hood. Stabilization is mind-blowing. You can literally take moon shot without tripod.

Nulla da dire. Spedizione precisa e oggetto come da descrizione.

I have purchased the item last month. There is 2 way to accept the lens. 1. Its really very good all purpose lens. SO if you need an all purpose lens this is the best lens in the mrkt 2. However if you want quality then its not good option.

Amazon India handled the order and delivery process very efficiently. Got the product, well packaged on time. The lens is ideal for serious amateur photographer. It is light weight, compact and easy during travel. The 18 -270 mm range gives great flexibility for wild life photography.The pictures were were sharp at a higher shutter speed. All in all very good value for money.

È perfetto!!