| Author: | | New Member Registered: December, 2020 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: November 22, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, light weight, surprisingly sharp with excellent IQ | | Cons: | Plastic, noisy, slow AF, macro function limited | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3iii
| |
I bought this lens new probably 20 years ago. I like it a lot. It is sharp throughout the focal length ranges, even at 300 mm. As a full-frame lens, I use it on my K1 (as well as my K3iii) with very good results. I recently bought the Pentax 100-300 mm ED PLM WE RE thinking it would be an upgrade for my K3iii. It is in terms of build quality, size, and especially autofocus. But the Pentax is not nearly as sharp as this old Tamron at 300 mm, and that's the focal length I use the most. So the Pentax lens sits in a closet. I may sell it. What a disappointment. The Tamron has a macro function from 180-300 mm but because of the very shallow depth of field at those focal lengths and perhaps other factors, it doesn't produce very good macro results unless stopped down a lot (f11, f16). I get much better "macro" shots at telephoto focal lengths with my Sony RX10iii. Nonetheless, for the value, this lens is a winner.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2023 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: September 22, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | FF, lightweight, color rendition, acceptably sharp | | Cons: | Focus hunt, clunky macro engagement, purple fringing | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-01
| |
I was lucky finding a mint example on eBay for Ł50 but performance expectations were not high based on reviews. It was cheap and my old Tamron 75-250mm (104A) adaptall was heavy, not much fun to use. That was last year and the first shots with it were all a bit disappointing, overexposed, not particularly sharp and just a bit dull. Then I read that this is one lens that needs a bit of trial and error to get right.
We had a local air show coming up so I tried the lens again and found it needs a permanent -1 f-stop adjustment. Using the Tav setting on a K-1, aperture around f10 and 1/500th at full zoom, photos from the air show came out not too bad but they needed a slight boost to contrast and noise reduction. I don't mind doing a bit of post tweaking and this lens is now getting me some half decent shots for very little money. I'm so glad I bought it.
   | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Posts: 1,852 | | Review Date: August 19, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Contruction, ability to do MACRO | | Cons: | Some purple fringing | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 8
Value: 10
| |
Not bad for a $80 lens.
Performs really well with K5II and K3III.
Fast AF, good sharpness and good color rendition
Purple fringing is very noticeable below f/8
Macro is OK, but very good as you don;t need to be very close to critters (0.95m)
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2011 Location: Seffner, Florida Posts: 11 | | Review Date: July 21, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Decent Sharpness, affordable, good close focusing | | Cons: | No quick shift manual overide | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5 and K-5 ii
| |
A more affordable alternative for those of us who rather not spend the $200+ (used) to $600+ (new) for the 55-300 ED WR PLM or would rather save that money towards something longer later on. The Tamron hunts less than the Sigma equivalent and it's light enough to walk around with on the front of a camera all day. I like it and my K-5 ii likes it. I apologize for the lack of photo examples but there's enough in previous reviews for a potential owner of this lens to see what it is capable of.
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: June, 2014 Posts: 58
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 4, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $66.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | sharp, full frame, low cost | | Cons: | strong purple fringing, slow and noisy autofocus | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 6
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-S1, KP
| |
I bought this lens on Ebay not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised by its optical quality. I have two higher grade Tamron lenses, and both suffer from edge softness at certain focal lengths. This one is perfectly sharp across the frame from 70mm to 180mm. At 300mm, after applying some extra sharpening and dehazing, the image quality is not too shabby either. The main optical drawback of the lens is very strong purple fringing that reminds me of my first camera, Canon Powershot G5.
It's a big lens but it's full frame, and I don't mind the size. Due to plastic construction, it's relatively light for its size. I prefer to have a lighter lens with smaller aperture than an F2.8 behemoth whose weight and cost would prevent me from using it often.
The autofocus is very accurate, no adjustment needed, but slow and very noisy. It makes terrible dental drill-like sound.
The macro mode works, however I haven't yet shot a decent macro with it. A quick portrait shoot revealed smooth bokeh and nice soft rendering wide open. Good for portraits!
I used to have a similar lens, Pentax-FA J 75-300mm F4.5-5.8 AL, and in terms of sharpness and clarity this Tamron is head and shoulders above the Pentax lens.
Overall a pretty good lens recommended for budget conscious amateurs.
260mm F7.1
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2017 Location: Plymouth, Devon. UK Posts: 3 | | Review Date: November 24, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: N/A |
|
I am an enthusiast but all I look for is a faithful reproduction of what I see.
Normally I use a Sigma 18-200 walk around lens but was lacking a high end telephoto.
The Tamron 70-300 Li LD Macro could not suit me better given my very meagre budget.($60 off Ebay)
Granted there are better lenses out there but for what I want, this suits me perfectly.
Budget
Range
Macro
Yep. I like it a lot.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2017 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: September 3, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $40.75
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Reach, Low Cost, Aperture Ring | | Cons: | Purple Fringing | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50, K-5II
| |
I have a Quantaray rebrand of this Tamron. EXIF confirms that it is this Tamron.
I find that I use this lens or my 50mm f1.7 for most of my walking-around photography.
The Tamron is faster than the kit 50-200 at 70mm and has longer reach. The purple fringing is a real problem wide open, particularly in bright sunlight with high contrast areas. If you step it down the fringing vanishes.
The lens was cheap on eBay at $40.75, including a bunch of filters and the $12.75 shipping charge. At that price there isn't much that would make it a bad deal.
I purchased a Tamron lens hood separately. The hood is reversible for storage and definitely helps restore some contrast. The lens is 8" long at full extension, but stores handily at 4.5"
The "Macro" function claims to be 1:2. It just about is, on APS-C. At maximum macro it shoots an image 46mm wide on my K-50.
The aperture ring comes in really handy when using macro extension tubes.
AF is OK except in low light.
The first pictures in this post were shot on a K-50. The later ones (starting with the second update) were shot on a K-5II. The lens is quieter and quicker to focus on the K-5II. I like it even better on that body.
Picture with fringing (magnify the boat):
Catamaran And Palm Tree
Picture with no fringing:
Gray Iguana Closeup
On a extension tubes:
Green Iguana, Brown Dock
Update
As time passes, I'm loving this lens more and more. The following images were taken using this Tamron mounted on a Simga 1.4x Teleconverter:
Gator Breath
Pond Apple
Purple Gallinule Strikes
Green Heron Eating Small Fish
Lily Pad
Second Update, on K-5II
The next two were shot with the lens directly on the body (no TC) and with zero post-processing.
Door To The Sea
Rum Runner Glass
This one is shot using a Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter:
Macro Mesh Undershirt
I have several "better" lenses, but I keep coming back to this Tamron.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 892
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 2, 2017 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Value for money, good "learner" lens | | Cons: | Quite a few. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K20D
| |
On a tight budget but want an AF zoom to 300mm?
New to DSLR photography and need to get better without plunging into the deep end?
This could be a good buy and is 450mm on APSC).
I bought my K100D Super bundled with this lens. Early use was pleasing (my use of long lenses to 300mm with film had not been at all pleasing).
The Pentax 55-300mm is probably better in almost every aspect but not necessarily by much.
I recommend this lens because;
It doesn't cost a lot and it's direct competitor in the budget market the Sigma 70-300mm is not really any better in my view.
The Pentax DA is more sought after and if you are shopping for used it can cost 2 or more times a Tamron, even as much as a new Tamron!
It has a pseudo macro mode!
As has been reported in the other reviews, you will need to narrow the FL and aperture parameters to get better images, from 100-200mm the Tamron is better, 300mm can provide pleasing images though.
Stopped down a couple is best.
Don't be surprised if the AF is noisy and alerts living subjects.
Learn to avoid or PP aberrations inherent in this lens.
I have learned a bit about my ignorance from using this lens, now I try not to let SR compensate for my wobbly shooting.
I have found TAV mode to be a great help, choosing an aperture and speed and letting the camera sort the ISO.
I have invested in a monopod as I am too lazy to cart around a tripod.
Choosing to use spot metering, single point AF when they are needed.
Don't dismiss this lens after reading the poor reviews it can be a good buy.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2017 Posts: 12 | | Review Date: April 27, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | good IQ, consistent up to 200mm | | Cons: | noisy, bad IQ at 300mm, some colour aberrations | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-50
| |
My sample of this Tamron is good and performs rather consistently from 70mm to 200mm.
It is a bit weak at 70mm though, where Pentax zoom lenses are usually best at the lowest end of the range.
My quick test that puts the two against each other (ad against an old Cosina) is here:
http://www.rustichelli.net/Hobbies/Photography/LensTests/Zoom-for-Pentax-K-g...group-test.php
...but please, also read the second part of the test (link from the first), which is maybe more interesting.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: Százhalombatta, Hungary Posts: 37
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 10, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $102.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good colors, decent sharpness, build quality | | Cons: | Chromatic aberrations, no focusing motor, no quick-shift | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: PENTAX K10D
| |
I just got myself this lens used, for about $100. (30000 HUF) I guess this lens is quite underrated by all means. I also used to have the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro and overall, I would rate this lens better than its' Sigma counterpart. I sold the Sigma. Why? It was right about useless at 300mm. This one is better. Why? It's got better color and sharpness, than the sigma, as well as better build quality. Overall I would say that if you're in a dilemma between the two, choose this one! Of course if you can afford the HD PENTAX 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR, grab that one. That's even better, with more decent build quality and contrast. Though the Tamron doesn't suffer in this regard either. Where this lens sucks however is Chromatic Aberrations. This is a well known fact. But it can be removed in post processing quite well. Another reason to grab this Tamron would be that it also works on film SLRs too, because it has an aperture ring. The zoom ring is smooth but stiff enough to prevent lens creep and the focusing ring is easy to use with a 90° turn.
Just don't expect professional results from a budget oriented telephoto lens and you won't be disappointed! You get a nice telephoto/pseudo-macro lens for your money with a nice reach. Just use it in good lightning or bump the ISO up.
I've made a few test shots with it on the way home:
Test Image #1
Test Image #2
Edit:
After taking this lens out in the field, I can only say better and better things about it. Does it hunt? Yes. Does it have some chromatic aberrations? Yes. Is it noisy screwdrive? Yes. However it's far-far-far sharper and has much better resolution than the Sigma. It's handling is much better, build quality is quite good compared to both the Sigma 70-300 or the Pentax 50-200 (non-kit) lenses. It's very usable at 300mm! It's main drawback perhaps is the fact that it has a rotating front element. Other than that I'm quite satisfied with this lens. Now I've been using this with a Tiffen Skylight 1A filter. I've been thinking that either I have a good copy of this lens, or the filter somehow mitigates the chromatic aberrations, because I could barely see any and the little I have is easily corrected in post, without much of a hassle.
The lens also features 9 aperture blades, which make for a nice bokeh.
I've been thinking that those underrating this lens must be people who simply have no idea how it use it properly... that or they have worse copies. | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2016 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 51
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 11, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Amazing bang for buck | | Cons: | Softer beyond 250mm | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-S2
| |
I firmly believe that I am limited more by skill than equipment  Therefore while I blew my budget on awesome wide angle and kit lenses, I wanted a long one for the rare shots I see but can't get done with 18-135mm. Sure I love landscapes, but what if I see a bear the next time I'm hiking in Sequoia NP? This fits the bill!!
First the downside - autofocus is pretty noisy and hunts a bit. As others note, it starts to soften around 250mm depending on how picky you are.
Upside - for used/new lens in the $90-160 range, this is pretty damn good. Very light too, if you go on long hikes with this, you'll be thankful.
I've spent most of my time in photography with manual film lenses so I honestly didn't have trouble switching to manual focus when trying to frame fast moving birds (you will probably miss some good shots if you wait for AF in this scenario, or piss off a bear with the noise). A plane landing or isolating landscape, perfect.
I also had to shoot wide open in the evening by the beach trying to spot birds, but that's a worst case scenario and I was still surprised by what it could do for the price of a few bar tabs. On a sunny day or with a tripod to allow better stopping down, pretty competitive.
Basically, if birds and wildlife are all you want to take pictures of, this is obviously not the lens you should be buying. But for long shots on occasion or screwing around in a garden with flowers, perfect. If you understand photography and know the limitations of stopping it etc. for peak sharpness, you'll be very happy.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Nagoya Posts: 577
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 12, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Price, overall image quality, relatively lightweight, close focus capability | | Cons: | Plasticky, but for the price you can't really complain | |
I can't help but feel that those who had a terrible time with this lens either had terrible copies of it or were trying to push it to do things it can't do. I personally have not had problems with excessive aberrations and fringing - certainly, it beats the popular Pentax 18-135 by miles in this regard. I'm sure that if you use it near wide open and point it at some backlit branches, it will fringe. But I took it out and did some architecture shots the other day, and fringing on high contrast lines was minimal and very easily corrected.
Peak sharpness - which is good - seems to come at f9 throughout the focal range, and I haven't found keeping to f9 to be much of a problem with the K-S2's great high ISO performance. Come back to f5.6 or f6.3, and you can get some very nice subject isolation and bokeh - if you have the working room, this lens can take perfectly acceptable portraits at 200mm. The macro function is genuinely useful if you have the room to use it - it can get very close and remains sharp.
Negative points, if you can call them that, are the fact that it feels fairly cheap - but it is more than just fairly cheap, and despite the plastic, feels tightly put together - and that the screwdrive AF is noisy. But I bought this lens understanding that. If you understand what to expect from this lens, and use it as you should use a tele zoom, it is genuinely capable.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2014 Posts: 59 | | Review Date: August 30, 2016 | Not Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 1 |
| Pros: | Cheap, good bokeh, Perfet for Non-pros and those that don't know photography | | Cons: | Very soft, slow focus, Missed shots, weird Vignetting on the lenses | | Sharpness: 1
Aberrations: 1
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 6
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentex K3
| |
This is the WORST lens I have ever owned. DO NOT BUY IT!
If you don't care about quality, need cheap and just need something it will work fine. Does not work well in cloudy, low light condisions, only gives shap images when it is clear, sunny blue skies.
The focus hunts bad and you will end up with a lot of missed shots, it gives a very weird vingetting on the lens which I HATE. The aberrations are aweful and the sharpness is not there. Very soft on all aspects on the camera. ( I do know my settings ) Even on the sweet spots it was not sharp enough.
The handling is great, easy to use, quite noisy, the value of it was phenominal for what you could get with it.
 I was really upset about the sharpness. I tried it at all angles on all different MM and it just never performed to what I liked it.
I tend to be very picky about my shots and I need a lens that can perform on all weather conditions.
This is NOT it.
Just a cheapy, kit telephoto lens meant for those that do not know anything about photography and just need a lens of that focal length.
For amatures and pros, its a must stay away from!
DO NOT BUY IT! You will be sorry
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2012 Location: Sunshine Coast Posts: 113
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 14, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $170.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Cheap, sturdy, and (mostly) sharp | | Cons: | a bit plasticy, a bit soft at the 300 end, not WR. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
| |
I bought this for a trip to the US because it was cheap and by purchasing this with the Tamron 90 mm Macro I pushed my purchases into the range where I could claim my tax back because I was travelling overseas. However It really is a pretty nice cheap lens, I took it with me because with the crop factor it is close to a 450 mm lens on my K5. The finish is plain, it looks a bit plasticy, but actually feels quite solid and well built in the hand, and works well on my K5. It is surprisingly sharp at everything but the very end wide open, which is not bad for such a cheap lens. Compared to my Pentax 55-300 it feels a maybe little bit cheaper build wise, and maybe not quite as sharp wide open, but really there isn't much in it, and I prefer the Tamron colours. I haven't seen much of the purple fringing that seems to plague some versions, but since I'm an old fart, maybe I'm just half blind too.
The autofocus I found to be fine in bright light, but in overcast or dim conditions tends to hunt a bit. Once it locks on however the focus is sharp.
The focus ring actually works quite well in manual focus, and the zoom is tight and not subject to creep at all, maybe a little bit too tight, but I'll wait for it to wear in before being too critical.
The macro bonus works, it's not real macro, but still useful none the less, but you have to remember the magic trick to back out once you have finished with macro or else the switch won't release. If you forget and this happens it is just as easy to to hit manual focus on the camera and focus out that way,
All my Pentax day 2016 photos were taken with this lens so if you look over there you can see what it is capable of.
Would I buy it again, yes, would I recommend, yes, it's great value for money, take it on a trip to the end of the earth, it will reward you with quite respectable photos, and if it gets lost or broken, you are not out for a fortune! And since this is an old full frame design, it has a proper aperture ring and is compatible with film camers and the new K1 of course!
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: Montreal Posts: 4
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 17, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | cheap, light, sharp | | Cons: | slow, noisy, plastic, CA | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-7
| |
It was my first telephoto lens and I was positively surprised by the photo quality. The macro function (proxy) is really not bad, you can use it.
It's a perfect lens to start and learn. :-)
| | |
