Tamron 17-70 vs Sony 18-135: Which one is BETTER for HIKING?
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
- "Short" video comparing the Tamron 17-70mm f2.8 to the Sony 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 (SEL18135) for Sony APSC cameras, with using them as hiking lenses specifically, therefor they need to perform well for landscapes, some portraits and close-ups as well.
Check out the gear I used in this comparison (affiliate links)
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Tamron 17-70 f2.8: amzn.to/3idms7H
Sony 18-135: amzn.to/3BATs2M
Sony a6400: amzn.to/3duxgiD
With timestamps, of course! :-)
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0:00 Intro
1:56 Widest angle, wide open
4:25 Widest angle, f5.6
5:35 Widest angle, f8
6:30 ~35mm, wide open
8:25 ~35mm, f5.6
9:44 ~35mm, f8.0
11:13 ~50mm, wide open
13:09 ~50mm, f5.6
14:38 ~50mm, f8.0
15:26 ~70mm, wide open
16:36 ~70mm, f8.0
17:48 70mm vs 135mm field of view
18:25 Minimum focusing distance
20:22 Stabilization / minimum shutter speed handheld
My favourite gear
(affiliate links)
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Cameras
Sony a7c: amzn.to/3S0qJLR
Sony a6400: amzn.to/3duxgiD
Sony a6000: amzn.to/3DYTKDx
Full Frame Lenses
Sony 20mm f1.8 G: amzn.to/3duxrdN
Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN: amzn.to/3SiHSjq
Rokinon 35mm f1.8: amzn.to/3BYiNVF
Rokinon 75mm f1.8: amzn.to/3BT3Kvp
APSC Lenses
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8: amzn.to/3DEIGej
Sony 18-135mm: amzn.to/3BATs2M
Sigma 16mm f1.4 for Sony e-mount: amzn.to/3S2Mj2d
Sigma 30mm f1.4 for Sony e-mount: amzn.to/3f8SIKH
Microphones
Rode Videomic Go II: amzn.to/3xFvq5o
Smartphone
Google Pixel 6: amzn.to/3DIFQ8m
Tripods
Sirui AM-225: amzn.to/3LAbQNW
Leofoto LS-225C: amzn.to/3Sf39L6
AOKA mini-tripod CMP163CL: amzn.to/3QWOaUJ
Camera Bag
Shimoda Explore v2 25L: amzn.to/3qVVd5F
Camera Accessories
Peak Design capture clip: amzn.to/3BwIco8
Memory Cards
Sony Tough 64GB UHS-II: amzn.to/3xGx4Uk
Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-I: amzn.to/3xG3s9O
Powerbank
Anker PowerCore 10000: amzn.to/3R2kd5J
Wireless earbuds
Google Pixel Buds A-Series: amzn.to/3UqHQbc
Full disclosure: these are Amazon affiliate links. Buying from here costs you nothing, but helps me continue to make videos like these... your support is greatly appreciated!
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Nice review. Thanks for the lens comparison. I own the 18-135 and thought about trading in for the tamrom lens but now you made me rethink about trading it in
Hey thanks for watching! Honestly if you want a 2.8 zoom, look at the new Sigma 18-50 instead... It's less expensive than the Tamron by a pretty fair amount. While I havent tried it myself, the reviews are stellar and it's super small, smaller than the 18-135 in fact!
@@andreas1701d thanks. Maybe you can do a comparison between the two (Tamron 17-70 vs Sigma 18-50). I think wonder how the macro shots will be like since the Tamron has stabilization.
@@NLMusique unfortunately I no longer have the Tamron... I'll post a vid on the sigma once I get one though...
As for macro, as you can see the Sony at the long end does as good if not better than the Tamron at the wide end, so you wouldn't be gaining much there.
@@andreas1701d true, I'm more thinking of low light situations but I do have the Sony 50mm macro lens
Excellent comparison. Thanks.
This is so great! 🌟 Love your delivery style, very approachable and easy to follow... More please! What do you recommend for lightweight tripods for hiking and other outdoor shooting?
Tripods! What a great idea for a video 🤔
Good in depth comparison. Thanks
Hey thanks for watching! I'm glad you found it useful.
Appreciate your review. This is exactly the comparison pair I've been looking for. You've gotta be one of the first to have made this. While Tamron is very slightly sharper, Sony has better zoom range, lighter and costs less. Those are good enough reasons for me to go for the Sony :)
Thanks for watching! You won't be disappointed in image quality... Just make sure to pair it with a solid low light option as well, such as the sigmas. One of those + the 18-135 = the cost of the Tamron 😉
the 18-135 came with my camera and I was just waiting until I could sell it for the tameron but after watching this I think I should just keep it. Thanks for making this video!
Hey thanks for watching! Glad it helped!
In the same boat, I’ll keep my 18-135 sounds like
That start deserved a like and sub 🔥🔥🤣
Haha thanks for watching! What good is making YT vids if you can't laugh at them (and yourself) a little 😂
Great vid! new subscriber from the UK :)
Hey thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for making this video, it shows exactly what I was looking for. I couldn't decide between the Sony or the Tamron - I really wanted the size, range, and price of the Sony but was afraid that it wouldn't come close to the IQ of the Tamron. Your video shows me that the Sony's IQ will be more than good enough for my purposes and I believe I will be quite happy with the Sony. Thanks!
Hey thanks for watching! Indeed it's a solid lens. Its only weakness is in low light. Otherwise, it's excellent. Glad I could help!
Great video! Makes me rethink the Sony lens. I have both.
Hey thanks for watching!
Good review, I would like to see on this video some low light comparison and bokeh where we could see if the 2.8 on the Tamron is really a good advantage.
Hey thanks for watching! I'm actually just editing that comparison today (bokeh + low light + flare test)... Should be online by tomorrow morning.
Hey there... Just published a video testing the low-light and bokeh, if you're interested. Hope it helps! czcams.com/video/rcepe2myZAg/video.html
Thanks for doing this video, I have been going back and forth whether to sell my 18-135 and get the Tamron. I mostly shoot just as a hobby, my kids and animals. I love to be able to get nice portraits of my kids and currently have the Sony 50 mm 1.8. I wanted to upgrade to the sigma 56mm and maybe the Tamron as an all around lens. But maybe after watching your video I can keep my Sony 18-135 and get the sigma. What do you think?
Hey thanks for watching!
For your usecase, I think you'll get way more benefit (and save a little money too) in simply getting the sigma 56 and keeping your 18-135. The only reason to go from the 18-135 to the Tamron is really the improvement in low light, but the sigma 56 will be better than both for that by a country mile so for casual shooting, that's what I'd do for sure.
Thank you so much for this video. I was already a couple of days flirting with the Tamron 17-70mm as a possible replacement for my current Sony 18-135mm. Being attracted by the better f2.8 apperture and possible better image quality. But thanks to this great video i obviously notice that i will be fine with my Sony 18-135mm. Wich is my allround and travel lens.
Hey thanks for watching! Indeed unless you absolutely need the f2.8, the Sony is its equal in most other ways and is tiny! It's really the only lens that doesn't have an equivalent in full frame at its size.
Nice job on the video. I made a similar video that I never got around to publishing. I reached similar conclusions regarding sharpness: the Sony 18-135 is very, very close in quality to the Tamron. Close enough that without digging deep into the pixels will not notice much difference. The Sigma 56 greatly outshines both of these lenses, so the 56 is still king of portraits. I carried the Tamron on my 6400 through a day walking through museums and got very tired carrying this setup. I also did some indoor low light tests between the lenses. While the 2.8 is great, it’s still not quite fast enough for really low light settings.
In the end, I returned the Tamron due to size and weight. I wanted a single carry lens for travel. If I go out at night, I will likely just use the Sigma 16 or Sony 35 f1.8 for a light nighttime carry setup. I use the Sony 18-135 on most of my pictures on recent Colorado trip and was glad for the extra reach when encountering some wildlife along the way.
If I was doing event photography, the Tamron would be a great option. Traveling, I’ll take lightweight and less bulky.
Hey thanks for watching! I admit I struggled with whether or not to keep the Tamron. In the end, given my use case it made more sense than carrying two lenses (18-135 & sigma 16). However I kept the 16 for the same reasons as you: really low light/nighttime photos.
@@andreas1701d I prefer the Sigma 30mm for walking low light/night shots.
@@scottiebumich all comes down to focal length/subject preferences... Sigma's lenses for Sony APSC are all excellent 👍
Really useful thankyou
Hey thanks for watching! Glad I could help.
Just wondering if your white balance on your camera was set to a specific K for the comparison or set to auto.
Hey thanks for watching! White balance was set to auto for everything.
Very cool, as always. I've been looking at this Tamron for the 2.8. To possibly replace my 18-105 f4. I find myself mostly using primes, but I want to have at least one good zoom lens in my possession. The 18-105 is pretty awesome, but in low light, it really struggles. And I find that I pretty much never use my zoom lens on a gimbal, so that part doesn't really matter to me, I just use my primes in those scenarios. So damn, I might have to spend some money. LOL Thanks for the awesome review, as always. So well done.
It's a really unique lens (the Tamron)... it's the only e-mount lens APSC or Full Frame that combines all 3 key features: the stabilization, the f2.8 and the 25-105 equivalent focal range. There's really no other lens like it;
As it goes, I was in the market for the Sony 18-135mm & Sigma 16mm as my next two lenses. Then the Tamron came out. Couldn't make my mind up. No comparisons anywhere until now. Fantastic review, very in-depth, well presented, with out making one fall asleep. I just had this notion that the Tamron was tad too large and heavy for a walk about / hiking lens. However I would forgive that trait with all the glowing view it has received. To my eyes I think the Sony is more or less on same level as the Tamron. The fact that it is lighter, smaller and a lot cheaper wins it for me. All depends if the low light ability of the Tamron is more essential to ones needs. I thought the Tamron would have wrecked the Sony in the macro department, but as you demonstrated when fully zoomed in on the Sony, they seem to be on the same level.
If you manage to get hold of a Tamron 11-20mm, would be interesting to compare to the Sigma. Keep up the good work. Subscribed. 👍👍
Thanks for the feedback! Indeed they are very close in image quality, so it really comes down to use case/personal preference for the image rendering of each lens.
I wasn't unhappy with the Sony + Sigma. Truth be told the Sigma remains one of my faves and I even filmed this video on it. But for me, it was all about less overall weight.
Currently have a a6100 with the normal kit lens and a Sigma 16mm prime lens, stuck between getting the Sony or the Tamron. I'm a hobbyist so this is not for professional work, but i do a lot more architecture/hiking shots and travel what would you recommend? Is the Tamron really only better for low light? I would also like to do some decent macro-esque shots but I also have the 16mm prime for that. Worth it to save some cash and get the Sony instead of the Tamron?
Went with the Tamron, quality is excellent!
First time here and subscribed. Just ordered the 6400 and Sony 18-135 for my hiking and backpacking in the Pac NW. Weight and IQ are most important for me. Have the Sony RX 100 Vi and the IQ bugs me too much. So we shall see concerned that low light shooting with new combo will mot be satisfactory either. I don’t vlog and only shoot stills so focusing a review on still photography and dynamic range landscape shooting is most helpful for me. Seems like everyone is now a vlogger and that’s not for me. Thanks for what you do.
Hey thanks for watching, glad I could help! You should have a look at the new Sigma 18-50 2.8 too if the 18-135 doesn't cut it. I haven't tried it yet but man, it's super tiny for what it is!
Hi Andreas, thanks for the detailed comparison - it's so hard to find a head-to-head between the two lenses!
I am looking for a 'long-term' set-up for my a6400. I have a compact Sony 35/f1.8 and plan to purchase just one Zoom lens.
I was planning to get the Sony 18-135 (roughly USD420) because of the compact size, portability and cost. But the reviews of the17-70 seem to be very good (roughly USD900 where I come from). I am curious if the Tamron is worth the extra length (1.4x), weight (1.5x), and cost (2x).
1. How's your hiking experience with the lenses? Is the size and weight of the Tamron a problem after awhile? I photograph mainly my (very energetic) kids - hauling everyone around, even a stroll in the park, can feel like a hike. ;)
2. Also, how's your experience with the video quality of the two lenses? Would love to see a video comparison between the two, esp. in 'real' world' situations...
Cheers!
Hey thanks very much for watching!
For my propose, I don't mind the extra size + weight because with the Tamron replacing both the Sigma and Sony, it allows me to carry less overall gear and weight.
On the one hand, your 35 + the 18-135 are super small and super light. They're also less expensive in case something happens to them.
On the other hand, I'm not sure how practical changing lenses would be with kids involved. The time it'll take could result in more missed shot opportunities.
That's where I think trading the extra size + weight of the Tamron for the convenience of one lens would be beneficial. Losing that 65mm of reach shouldn't matter too much if most photos are of kids + landscapes. After all, what good are lenses and cameras if you miss the shots you'd like to get while fiddling with gear 😉
Almost forgot your second question!
Given they both have stabilization built in, I'd say they're very comparable for video. It'll come down to whether or not you plan to shoot in low light (Tamron) or need the extra reach (Sony). One difference to note on my copies: the Tamron zoom and focus rings are ever so slightly smoother; maybe 5% or so.
@@andreas1701dHey Andreas, thanks for your practical reply. Totally get your point about swapping lenses. I guess in my mind I would bring either lens out, probably not both - 35 on a typical day (i do bring my 6400 around quite abit), and perhaps the 18-135 when there might be more happening. I just still can't seem to see myself dealing too well with the weight/size of the 17-70 setup though (slung around my neck, holding it with one hand while catching a kid from falling over with another). haha
@@atrattt7370 I do agree it's definitely not a setup you want around your neck for long periods. It's much more usable in the context of being in a sling, belt clip or capture clip of some kind. If you're only bringing one lens at a time, the 18-135 is definitely easier to handle.
Hello dear Andreas!!My name is also Andreas from greece.Love your video and review!Keep up the good work man!!
Hey thanks for watching!
Και εγώ Έλληνας είμαι... Οι γονείς μου από την Εύβοια και το Λεωνίδιο
@@andreas1701d Χαιρομαι πολυ τα βιντεο σου!Απορω πως δεν τα ειχα βρει μεχρι τωρα!!Μπραβο σου!Εγω καταγωγη απο καλαβρυτα! ;)
Thank you for this review. I have a Sony 18-105mm Len. But I’m thinking of getting the Tamron 17-70mm. I love sharp photos and want to use them for some client work. Will it be work the upgrade please?
Hey thanks for watching!
If you often shoot in less than ideal lighting conditions and/or do portrait work, the Tamron will be a significant upgrade.
Sharpness-wise, you'll see improvement for sure but it won't be as dramatic. The 18-105 is a touch below the 18-135 so this comparison should be a good guide.
Overall, it's hard to go wrong with the Tamron. Is one of just two pro zooms on the market for apsc and it's at a great price.
@@andreas1701d thank you
I have them both. I was getting ready to sell the Sony, when I decided to “take it out for a spin”, upon which I became pleasantly surprised. I now relegate the Tamron to my more “critical” work where I must have that 2.8 aperture. Additionally, because in this case, the Sony is much less expensive - I am less hesitant to expose the Sony to more harsh environments.
Tamron has been releasing some interesting glass lately, and who knows? Maybe that will force Sony to “up their game” in response - like more constant aperture zoom lenses, and a “tamping-down” of their stratospheric prices. 🙄
Hey thanks for watching!
Your point about exposing the lens to harsh conditions is interesting. While I never really felt the Sony was "fragile", I was more careful in the rain precisely because the zoom isn't weather sealed, whereas the Tamron is. So I constantly chose the Tamron despite the cost difference.
That 18-135 is one of the best travel lenses I've ever used though. Supremely versatile and sharper than people give it credit for, all in a really tiny package.
Since I moved to full frame, I've been looking for something similar and the closest I can get is the Tamron 28-200, which is nearly twice as big lol
A very competent and useful review, thank you very much! I'm just on the market for one of these two lenses or both :).
Normally I need everything in the focus in my landscape photography.
I'm a bit worried about the very dark corners of 18-135. Have you noticed if this has spoiled your landscape shots?
What is your opinion about the bokeh quality of the two lenses. I mean I'm not going to make portraits in the forest :). Maybe some small flowers or something like that.
Would very much appreciate your response.
Forgot to mention that I sold my full-frame equipment because I wanted to travel light, I used to have sony 24-105 f4, very happy with it but plus camera it was 1.3 kg. So, what your recommendation be for one of these 2 lenses? I take a lot of pictures in the forest and often make panoramas.
Hi thanks for watching and the kind words!
Your usecase isn't so different from mine.
1, you'll notice vignetting on both, but nothing in-camera or Lightroom corrections can't easily fix.
2, Bokeh is more easily achieved using a wider variety of focal lengths on the Tamron for sure, although at 135mm it's very pleasing on the Sony.
3, shooting in the forest isn't always super bright depending on the tree density. For that reason, the f2.8 will allow you to shoot a faster shutter speed, lower iso or both. That's been a big benefit for me.
4, the Sony is definitely lighter, but they're both lighter than a full-time 24-105. As mentioned in the video, the peak design clip helps a great deal here.
In the end, I haven't missed the extra reach of the Sony, and have really made use of the things the Tamron can do that the Sony simply cannot. Having said that, if you have an a6500 or a6600, I highly recommend looking at the Sony 16-55 instead of the Tamron. It's razor sharp corner to corner, is 30g lighter than the Tamron as well as a few cm shorter. You lose 15mm at the long end, but the difference between 16 and 17 is noticeable for landscapes.
Hope this helps!
Many thanks for your response! Yes, it definitely helps! Actually I'm now on the market for both an aps-c camera and a lens. I was thinking of taking sony a6400 - 400 grams vs 500 grams of 6600 :). A bit cheaper as well. Tamron 17-70 was my natural choice, due to having IS but I was impressed by the Sony 18-135 performance in your review and started to rethink the concept :).
Have you tried the Tamron for some close up shots - e.g. flowers with blurry backgrounds at 70 mm. Some reviewers say the bokeh is nervous but it seems not so bad. Any particular impressions?
@@tzvetanzlatanov6349 around the 18:25 mark you'll see my comparison of what you're talking about, though all the photos are at f8.0.
I'll try them both out wide open and get back to you about the bokeh.
As for which camera to buy, it really comes down to budget. If you have the money, a6600 + Sony 16-55 is an extremely powerful combination. If you want to save a little, a6400 is 95% of the a6600 for several hundred dollars and 100g less. Overall, the a6400 with the Tamron will be lighter by about 70g than the a6600 combo, but you probably won't notice that difference in real world use. It all comes down to budget in the end. Either way you'll get fantastic image quality.
You could always look for a used/open box a6600. Saw one on Amazon recently for about $400 (Canadian) dollars less than brand new.
@@tzvetanzlatanov6349 this website helped me quite a bit to compare sizes. Here, I've set up an a6400 + Tamron 17-70, a6400 + 18-135 and a6600 + Sony 16-55
camerasize.com/compact/#831.847,809.955,809.702,ha,t
@@andreas1701d Sony a6600 and 16-55 combo looks more balanced in size, indeed. But cumulative price is a bit on the steep site. Would very much appreciate your efforts to play a bit more with the bokeh of the Tamron.
very well done indeed - really nailed my decision to go with Sony as it is cheaper but without a significant penalty dollar against the Tamron - plus that extra zoom is a big deal for my photography styles - bravo Andreas!!
Hey thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful 😁
Wow, you really threw a wrench in my decision making. Was about to pull the trigger on the Tamron but this has me thinking twice. I have the Sigma 16 and 56, both are amazing, but was missing the 30mm and was thinking of filling the gap with the Tamron for general shooting and travel. Considered the Sony 35mm f1.8 OSS but have seen soft copies of those. What to do???
Hey thanks for watching!
Here's my take...
If you buy the Tamron, you will not be disappointed unless size is the single most important factor for you. It's really the only "compromise". No other emount lens, full frame or APSC, has the combination of this zoom range, constant f2.8 and optical stabilization. It's a terrific lens at a great price.
Now, if size is your biggest priority, or if you absolutely know you need the extra zoom range, what this comparison illustrates is that you don't lose much in image quality by going for the Sony in decent light. Having said that, the compromise here is the low-light performance.
Cropping the Tamron at 70mm to simulate the 135mm field of view is less destructive to the image than making an f4.5 image brighter in post.
Hope this helped a little, and good luck!
@@andreas1701d Thanks soo Much for the additional input! It's super helpful!! Low light and background blur are priorities for me so your input is great!
Thanks for the comparison, I was thinking of buying tamron 17-70 but I think sony 18-135 will be good alrounder and i have Sony 50 for sharp bokeh, I think they will do most of the work and in future will look for 1.4.
Hey thanks for watching! Glad it was useful
I was planning to purchase a 18-135mm + 56mm f/1.4 for my a6400, to go with A7ii + tamron 17-28 + 35mm f/1.4 during travel.
When the tamron 17-70 came along, I thought that the image quality and the macro capabilities would be very different from the sony 18-135. Thanks for the comparisons.
Hey thanks for watching! Glad I could help! If you have any questions let me know.
What did you end up getting? Currently debating between buying the 18-135 mm + 56mm 1.4 vs tamron 17-70, for a travel set up.
Very nice video😉💪.. Ve same lenses that you have a compare with the 16 1.4 will be great too.. M using 18 135 for filming my video painting session for my channel but looking for something more luminous for street and portrait and I was thinking about the Tamron.. What's your feedback about this? Love hiking too❤️😉.. Keep doing this awesome content man💪
Hey thanks for watching! Street, portrait and painting vids.... If I were you I'd look at either the sigma 30mm f1.4 or Sony 35mm F1.8, depending if you need the OSS or not.
Both are less expensive and much smaller than the Tamron and super sharp! Plus with videos like this, you won't need the zoom.
I love the 16 1.4, but I feel like it would be too close to your canvas (or whatever you're painting) and it's not an ideal focal length for portraits and street.
The Tamron is good at everything, yes. It'll come down to your budget and if you're ok with switching lenses (during street photography for example).
One last note on the Tamron, it does look more intimidating to passers-by than say a Sony 35 if that matters to you.
@@andreas1701d thx so much for your quick and kind answer.. The switching is the problem expecially on mountain.. But from your review for a landscape photographer didn't see a lot difference with 16 70 and my 18 135..while my 16 1.4 it's really super sharp compare with it.. But you know when you hiking you bring a lots stuff with y.. Less is always more😅💪💪
Thanks so much for the comparison, I have 18-135mm Sony with 6600 and was thinking of getting 17 70 and selling Sony. I am a hobbyist, so many lenses don't make sense. But after watching your video, i have decided To keep Sony as after using it on 2 familt tours we have learnt to use it wisely , like at night i used street lights to light the face and the contrast was amazing. Plus i took a beauty of a pic of my kid at full zoom. I dont think 17-70 gives enough value to upgrade from sony . But yes u can buy if u dont have 1.
So i think only thing i need is a prime lens 24FE or 35mm Apsc . If u have these 2 lens, u can click 95% family pics , vids. Dont get hyped by lens comparison and go overboard. I only use 20% bokeh effect cause i have learnt that backgrounds make pic more intersting than run of the mill full on bokeh. Background tells a story.
Hey thanks for watching! Glad you found it helpful.
Indeed sometimes it's easy to overdo bokeh.
Apples and Pears :D, on a shot with one lense on 2.8 and the other 4.5, it is really important where the actual focus was. Of course the 2.8 will be unsharp compaired to the 4.5 when you look at areas which where not in focus ;)
Keep in mind it's not simply a comparison of which lens better; it's with a specific use ass in mind (ie hiking)
And in that regard, I think the most important takeaway independent of that is the 18-135 is a highly underrated lens. It's sharp, has great reach and for what it is, it's super small + lightweight.
Dipping causes the image to be more forward? How does that work? Sensor position on the camera should still be in exact same position rite?
Not quite... I believe the front leg of the tripod slid down a little bit (meaning the leg lock loosened). As I said, it was a cheap, Amazon basics $20 tripod I was using... It's usually enough to hold an a6x00 camera and lens but the Tamron is one of the largest non-telephoto lenses.
@@andreas1701d from the look of the camera angle it doesn't look like it dipped tho. Strange
I'm a going to buy one of them for hiking. Thank you for your comaprison. Unfortunately you didn't solve my problem. I still can't make up my mind😵💫. Im always into shooting closeups in landscapes so sony should be a winner but i also never had a lens with such a wide aperture f2.8. Also this one milimeter difference at the wide end is not so negligible in landscape photos right?
Hey thanks for watching!
To be honest if I were to choose a hiking lens for Sony APSC today, my contenders would be pretty different.
In one corner, I'd have the Tamron 18-300. It's a bit big, but its range and versatility is unmatched and it's sharp enough for most people. Alternatively, you could also look at the full frame Tamron 28-200 which would give you the option to shoot at f2.8 between 28-35mm, but you'd lose quite a fair bit on the wide end.
In the other corner, the Sigma 18-50 2.8 provides all the performance of the Tamron 17-70 in this video in a super tiny, less expensive package.
So here's the thing: if you shoot often in lower light or like to use shallow depth of field but still want reach, your best bet is probably to buy the 18-300 and supplement it with a fast prime like the Sigma 30 1.4 or 56 1.4.
If one lens did it all, we'd all own it 😉
Hi Andreas, I can't quite seem to understand why the Tamron seems to have less dynamic range then the Sony, the shadows under the trees seem much darker, even tho the whole image looks bright. I am a beginner and would expect such differences to be caused by different sensors and settings, but not by lenses (lenses only causing general shifts in looks)
edit: it seems to only affect the widest angle shots.
Hey thanks for watching! I can confirm the Tamron is a little bit more contrasty. That, in combination with some vignetting and shifts in the sun between shots probably explains what you're seeing in the darker areas. I can confirm however the level of detail isn't lost, just darker is all, so dynamic range isn't necessarily affected.
U should make video recording with that lens . How fast autofocus on both lens when filming using that lens
Hey thanks for watching! Unfortunately I no longer have the lenses, but I have made a 2nd video which includes some video footage. The AF is fast and reliable on both, not much difference.
What a fabulous the useful review just what I have been looking for. Really not worth getting the Tamron as I already have the 18 to 135 is my conclusion, I will get a prime instead
Hey thanks for watching! Glad it helped 👍
I think your Sony appears wider at 18 than the Tamron at 17 is because of focus distance. Focus distance will affect focal length of a lens. some lenses more than others. So the view angle can and will change with focus distance. Now both were at the same focus distance and it just means that Sony gave the 18mm spec at a closer focusing distance or Tamron behaves differently at a closer focus distance and you would get a different viewing angle. Superzooms like the Sony are notoriously bad at this especially at the long end where they don't really go the full zoom distance unless you're focusing pretty far (which is OK as generally you only want to zoom in on far objects). Manufacturers generally define focal length at focus of infinity, not 100 ft.
When I got my 17-70 I sold my 18-135 kit which I regret a little bit.
I am very curoius about Tamron's next 18-300 performance vs 18-135.
Interesting... I currently have my 18-135 for sale. What exactly did you miss?
@@andreas1701d Exactly I miss the 135mm reach, it is almost double than 70mm. At 135f5.6 in good light you almost get the same compression.
And the sharpness is really very comparable between these two.
Also, I think that 18-135 has better control around chromatic abberration, Tamron has issues with that.
I would love to see the comparison between sony 18-135 and tamrom 18-300 as well. Seems like the tarom 18-300 is a more versatile all round lens! What do y'all think ?
The 18-300 is indeed versatile, but there's a huge size & weight penalty you pay vs the 18-135. There's not much difference IQ wise
I would love the wider aperture, but Tamron has severe problems with lense flare.
Hey thanks for watching! I'll be sure to test this in my follow-up video. Admittedly I rarely shoot under circumstances where flaring becomes an issue so it'll be interesting to see if that's the case. I was just watching a review of the 11-20 this morning and the flaring was indeed pretty bad.
I ended up testing the flaring a little bit in my view video. It's significant, you're right, especially on my f11 shots. Having said that, I didn't mind the way it looks too much, subjectively speaking.
czcams.com/video/rcepe2myZAg/video.html
Sony at 18'' is really wider... I saw another comparisons on the internet, and also if shot RAW and take the corrections off, it's a lot wider, seems like a 16mm or something. Might be the smaller construction that leads to vignetting but it's pretty wide, especially compared with other lens that also start at 18mm.
Hi, I have sony 18-135, does it worth to replace it with Tamron 17-70? Thank you
It depends what your priorities are.
If you prioritize size & weight + zoom range, the 18-135 will be better. If you want a better low light lens, the Tamron is better.
They're both sharp and I wouldn't say the difference in sharpness is a deciding factor.
@@andreas1701d Thank you for you response. In term of travel?
@@maisamalani1 personally, I always go for the smaller & lighter option.
Hello, Can i use 18-135mm with the sony fx30?
Hi there. Yes the 18-135 on the fx30, though the 18-105 may be a better choice for video thanks to the power zoom.
@@andreas1701d thank you for reply. I saw it is only F4 😭 Do you think Tamron could be a better option for me? Im filming horses 😅 I record hand held
@@TraveliandoCo if you're filming in daytime, I wouldn't worry about the F4. In fact, it'll do much better than the 18-135.
If you really need f2.8, the Tamron would be your best bet as it has the longest range among standard APSC 2.8 zooms. Alternatively, you could look at the Tamron 70-180 f2.8 lens which has a new version coming out soon which includes stabilization.
@@andreas1701d thank you so much 🙌
Hey,
I'm planning to buy a6600 I'm confused with the lens options
1. A6600 + 18-135
2. A6600 + 17-70
3. A6600 + 17-70 + 50mm F1.8
Hey thanks for watching! It really depends on the usecase. The 50mm is a little redundant with the Tamron as there is not a huge difference in low light, and the Tamron is WAY sharper at 50mm.
If you're gonna pair the 50 with something, the 18-135 makes more sense there.
If you're more into shooting wildlife like birds and such, I'd say go 18-135 + something like the Sony 35/sigma trio for low light. I'd personally skip the Sony 50 at this point; there are Sony better options.
If not, then the Tamron is a great all-arounder.
@@andreas1701d Thanks a lot. Also one question. Is there any rolling shutter on 1080p? I have heard its only on 4k so just want to confirm.
@@justpixelating I can't speak on the a6600 because I never owned it, but I don't expect it to be different from the a6400. I never had any rolling shutter issues at 1080.
What about sony 18-135 vs the sigma 28-50?
Had the sigma 18-50 existed at the time I made this video, it probably would have been my #1 choice. The size, quality and price just can't be beat.
Thanks for the video mate. I have the Sony 18-135mm, Sigma 16mm and 30mm for the Sony A6400. I purchased the Tamron 17-70mm yesterday for A$959 (great deal I think!).
Initially watching your video this morning, I was thinking, why did I get the Tamron if the Sony is just as good?.... Buyers remorse... However, I remembered the short inside video that I did of my daughter, hand held, just after buying the Tamron. Stabilisation was great, low ISO and I was able to zoom in to her face without aperture, and therefore ISO, changing.
I think the Tamron will be a great all rounder, great VC, and will enable me to sell the Sigma 16mm. I'll keep the Sony 18-135mm for hiking and other travel purposes (Tamron obviously for travel too) and setup my Feiyu G6 max gimbal just for the Sigma 30mm.
Thanks for watching!
I'm glad you're enjoying the Tamron, so am I. We have the exact same lenses, except I ended up selling my 18-135 (I just love the Sigma too much to part with it).
Let me know how it works on a gimbal!
@@andreas1701d Have you done much hiking with the Tamron? Adjusted to the weight? That's probably the only reason I'd still keep my Sony 18-135mm.
@@troyjones4751 I've used it a little bit yea. I use a peak design clip on my backpack strap so I don't feel the difference as much as I thought I would. As I mentioned in the video, it's less overall weight vs the Sony + Sigma 16 while allowing for lower ISOs and shallower depth of field than the Sony (albeit with less reach). I haven't really missed the Sony, if I'm honest, but each use case is different.
@@andreas1701d Thanks for the quick reply Andreas. That's good to know re the weight of the Tamron when hiking. I've got the Peak design clip too. Will see how much I use the Sony 18-135mm from now on.
Ich hatte das Sony SEL18-135 es ist schon sehr gutes Objetiv, jetzt habe ich das Tamron 17-70 es hat Komplett viel bessere Bildqualität auch die Bildschärfe ist mehr als Knackscharf.
Es tut mir leid, dass ich kein Deutsch spreche, deshalb verwende ich Google Translate. Danke fürs Zuschauen! Ich habe festgestellt, dass der Unterschied in der Bildqualität in meinem Fall nicht riesig ist, aber ich habe von Abweichungen zwischen Objektivkopien gehört, also war meine Sony vielleicht einfach eine gute. Lass mich wissen, wie gut Google mit der Übersetzung abgeschnitten hat ;-)
@@andreas1701d It was perfectly fine ;-)
I bought the 18-135 I’ve had to send it back I assume fault awful results, the tamron is out of my budget so I’ll have to source another 18-135 . I also ordered a 30mm sigma but I never received that lol my Sony days are starting badly 😂
That sounds awful! I'm sorry to hear... Where are you ordering from?
@@andreas1701d lol yes luck isn’t on my side lately and that’s only one story . I’ve bought lots of camera gear over the years with no problems guess my luck took a dive . Hopefully get to try my 6600 soon 😁
Sony 18-135 the underdog lenses
The Tamron is so much more versatile. Who really cares about a couple of grams more, even when traveling. Only reason would be when you do not plan to take any good protraits, but when traveling you most likely will do that.
Hey thanks for watching!
Yes the Tamron is indeed more versatile and was my choice in the end... However the 18-135 was significantly smaller and lighter. That matters a great deal for someone who's hiking up a mountain for example, or for someone who prioritizes the extra reach. I definitely missed the extra 65mm and felt the extra weight myself, but was willing to make those sacrifices for my use.
I can definitely see the case for both in certain scenarios.
@@andreas1701d the extra 65mm are definitely the main selling point for me, maybe the weight because of sparing the 70-180 tamron 😂. But in general with such a lens you only want to take one with you and not multiple. I Someone really has a problem with 500 grams when hiking, then in this case he/she should especially take the tamron on the hike, because of the fitness aspect 😂
@@andreas1701d oh I looked it up, it is less than 200 grams difference. This is not even the weight of a smartphone.
@@flol3266 Of course in a bag, 200g is mostly insignificant... I use a capture clip to hold my camera when hiking and the extra 200g is definitely noticeable (when the camera is clipped), as is the extra length.
So usage/preference makes a difference... Again, I still chose the Tamron in the end, but I was surprised by how close they were optically speaking so I understand *why* someone would choose the Sony instead if it fits their preferences.
@@andreas1701d I see where this is going. Never thought about such clip usage and the weight. Always use a top load with strap over the shoulder which fits everything and is quite comfortable. What do you think about the 18-105 f4? Shouldn’t that lense have similar attributes with f4 all over the range. I heard that it should beat the 18-135.
ps Sony seems sharper than the Tamron for me. I own the Sony....but will add the Tamron 18-300 at some point.
I feel like they kind of trade blows depending on the focal length and aperture. The major takeaway for me looking back is the Tamron didn't offer enough to pay the size & weight penalty.
@@andreas1701d Agreed....
2:29 What?
Hey thanks for watching! I definitely could have explained that better.
Basically I was using a crappy tripod with a leg clip that didn't clip super tightly, and the extra weight of the Tamron pushed it downward a little. Since it was the leg facing the scene, the camera tilted slightly forward.