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 enjoy photography but am not a professional. I look forward to a professional review of this lens to examine the fine details, but regardless of how that turns out there is no doubt this will be the lens on my camera 90% of the time. The size, weight, range and build quality will simply allow me to take my camera more places and allow me to frame more pictures.I also own 20mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8 primes and a normal zoom Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC. The 18-270mm PZD certainly won't replace the need for a good low-light indoor or portrait lens, but frankly I no longer see the need for the 17-50 VC. With recent DSLRs achieving good results (even dynamic range) at ISO3200 and even ISO6400 with raw post-processing, even a slower lens like this can get solid results (certainly up to 8x10). I do see a bit of barrel distortion when fully wide, but again that is fully corrected in post.I take all my photos in raw and run everything batch through DXO - this workflow yields excellent results with this lens, but I suppose that the distortion and speed would be bothersome if I didn't do such post-processing or had an older body which couldn't do good HiISO. (frankly, as done with m43, I wish standard DSLR makers would also produce lenses which expressly take into account distortion correction possible via software. This could make for smaller lenses, but I digress)Overall, this is an excellent, excellent lens. Great size and weight, very fast and quiet focusing even at 270mm when indoors in dim light...with easily correctable shortcomings (and frankly, I'm being a little bit of a pixel peeper...even without post-processing the images are very solid). For someone who has bought and sold many (non-L, yet not cheap) lenses over the years, this is a rare keeper. Excellent job Tamron! (although you might find me selling my 17-50VC now..)

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 purchased this lens six months ago and used it moderately. A month ago it stopped auto-focusing and I sent it back to Tamron for warranty repair. They informed me that it was damaged and would cost $400 (!) to repair. Upon questioning they dropped the price to $260. I want to be clear that this lens was never dropped or abused. Tamron tells me that the damage can occur if the lens is left on the camera (!). I think they sacrificed quality construction to either save weight or cost, or both. This is a lens that sounds great..it's got good range, pretty decent speed, and when it works takes great images BUT if don't plan on treating it with kid gloves (or aren't willing to take it off the body every time you aren't using it) DON'T BUY THIS LENS. It'd just too delicate, apparently, for normal use. I'm out more than $500, although I have a fine manual focus lens that I will probably sell to somebody "as-is."