Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD Review

I recently purchased the Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD lens on eBay, and here are my thoughts.

Why this lens?
The main reason I chose this lens is its convenience. It's the perfect travel companion, covering a versatile zoom range from 28mm—ideal for landscapes—to 300mm, which is great for detailed shots of architecture, wildlife, and more. The range in between also makes it suitable for portrait photography. The second reason is price. This is a 10 years old lens that works very well and is currently being sold in the used market for half of the price of when it was released.

Performance:
The sharpness of this lens is surprisingly decent, especially considering its broad zoom range. It also features Vibration Control (VC), Tamron’s image stabilization, which performs impressively—even outperforming some of my Canon lenses. While the autofocus is a little slow, it's far from the slowest I've encountered but it’s not fast enough to be used in a sport event. The lens is moisture-resistant, which is a great bonus for outdoor use.

Handling:
Weighing only 19 ounces, this lens is lightweight and easy to carry, making it ideal for exploring cities or historical landmarks.

Value:
You can find this lens used for around $300 to $400, a very attractive price given its features and versatility. The lens has many versions, you need to look for version A010 (look for the letters PZD in the name).

Samples

Here some pictures taken with this lens adapted to a Canon R6. These photos have been edited a little bit like I always do with any other picture.

Paul McCartney, the photographer

Almost everyone on Earth knows Paul McCartney as the legendary musician and former Beatle. However, what many may not realize is that he's also a talented amateur photographer.

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm is an unprecedented exhibition, revealing extraordinary photographs taken by the beloved musical icon. Organized by the National Portrait Gallery in London, the exhibition will open at the Portland Art Museum on September 14, 2024, and run through January 19, 2025.

From the few his pictures that I have seen published in many articles around the web I can say that his composition is nice and reflect the history of the group during that time period from 1963 to 1064.

White Balance

White Balance is one of the most important settings in your camera and the below video explains why in a very comprehensive way. 

Your stolen camera may not be a priority

Tracking devices have become increasingly popular among photographers, who may believe these tools will help recover stolen cameras or other photography-related gear. However, according to an article on DIY Photography, the reality might not live up to those expectations.

The conclusion is straightforward: no device can replace vigilance and common sense when it comes to protecting your equipment.

TechRadar declares the R5 Mark II the best Pro Camera

TechRadar has recently declared the Canon R5 Mark II the best pro mirrorless camera, though they pointed out a "very slight loss in dynamic range" as one of its few cons. This comes as no surprise, as the Canon R5 Mark II is indeed one of the most impressive cameras on the market today.

With a 45MP full-frame sensor, 8K video recording, and superb auto focus capabilities, the R5 Mark II is designed for professionals who demand high-quality images and video performance. Its in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is particularly strong, offering up to 8 stops of stabilization, which makes handheld shooting more effective, even in low light.

The camera’s Dual Pixel auto focus system ensures that subjects remain in sharp focus, whether you're shooting fast-moving wildlife or cinematic footage. While TechRadar noted a very slight loss in dynamic range, this is a minor issue that won't be noticed by most photographers, especially given the exceptional image quality, color reproduction, and ISO performance of the camera.

Its popularity is undeniable, with demand so high that it's out of stock in nearly all major online stores. The Canon R5 Mark II delivers a remarkable balance of speed, resolution, and video prowess, cementing its place as a top choice for professionals across genres.

Birds in flight, how do I do it?

Birds in flight photography is one of the most challenging aspects of bird photography. It’s not just about having a camera with great autofocus and a fast lens to track the bird; a lot relies on having the right camera settings. In this situation, shooting in Auto Mode simply won’t cut it.

So, how do I approach it? I’ve configured my Canon R6 with custom settings specifically for Birds in Flight, saved to the C3 memory slot. This allows me to quickly access my optimized settings with a simple switch to C3. I prefer shooting in Shutter Priority mode, setting the shutter speed at around 1/3000 to freeze the motion, while letting the camera automatically handle the aperture and ISO. This approach simplifies the process and keeps me focused on the action.

The results speak for themselves, as seen in this stunning capture of a red-shouldered hawk in flight.

 

Or this other picture of a juvenile Mississippi Kite.

Extremely detailed photograph of the moon

 An Iraq-based photographer decided to take the most detailed picture of the moon. 

 ...it required four days of continuous moon observation and shooting, ending up with over 81,000 images. They were stacked together to create the final 708 GB piece, with a whopping 159.7 MP resolution. Darya merged four different moon phases and the moon’s shadow area to reveal the topography of the lunar surface.

You can see some of the pictures here. The quality of those pictures are amazing so the amount of work put into this project.