Product Description

18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Tamron zoom lens with 35mm equivalent of 28-388mm * compatible with Sony digital SLR cameras with APS-C (24mm x 16mm or smaller) image sensors * advanced optical design with low-dispersion and hybrid aspherical glass elements for superior image quality * internal focusing * zoom lock mechanism to prevent unwanted barrel extension when carrying lens/camera combination * minimum focus distance: 17.7 in. * attachment/filter size: 62mm *

Product Details

• Brand: Tamron
• Model: AF018S-700
• Released on: 2006-12-20
• Dimensions: 2.90" h x 2.90" w x 3.30" l, .93 pounds

Features

• 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Tamron zoom lens with 35mm equivalent of 28-388mm
• compatible with Sony digital SLR cameras with APS-C (24mm x 16mm or smaller) image sensors
• advanced optical design with low-dispersion and hybrid aspherical glass elements for superior image quality
• internal focusing
• zoom lock mechanism to prevent unwanted barrel extension when carrying lens/camera combination

Customer Reviews

tamron general purpose telephoto lens hits the spot
I've been looking for a general purpose telephoto lens with a wider angle than my current SIGMA 28-300mm. TheTamron 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras seemed to fit the bill. Read up on it and asked one of our local photography teachers. All gave good reviews so took the plunge and I'm quite pleased with the purchase.
Remember you're buying a telephoto lens for under $500 that is extremely portable and does telephoto and macro work in one package.
Lens creep is a tad irritating but the lock switch works well.
The focus is relatively slow in low light even compared to the SIGMA. Remember, we're talking milliseconds differences as measured scientifically by my brain. Image quality and color is good.
For the price and portability I'd give this one a thumbs up.
Aloha

A really versatile DSLR lens
I bought this lens for my Sony a100 DSLR (but it comes with mounts for virtually all the makes of DSLR cameras) and I have not been disappointed. Far from it. It has become my primary lens simply because it is so versatile for all kinds of outside shots. It's not a particularly fast lens but I have found it to produce sharp and crisp images at all zoom settings. It has quickly become my favorite and most used lens.

Very good for the purpose - not to be handle as a shorter lens
My wife got it in June before a summer trip where she took almost 3,000 pictures with her alpha 100.
The idea was, for her, to use only one lens. Therefore, it was exactly what she needed. You just have to remember that it is not a 18-250 and that you have to hold your camera especially at range 250.
For the negative aspect: this zoom has more difficulties to focus than the average lenses when there is not much contrast. It is necessary to find another spot then to recompose. You need also to anticipate a little bit more when shooting fast targets (birds...).
Now, when I compare her pictures with the one I shot with my Minolta 7D and my usual lenses during the same trip, I prefer hers under average light and I prefer mines under very bright (high mountains, sea), heavy contrast light... But I tested it recently on my 7D, at the seaside... and liked the results very much (and I anticipated for the birds flying in the blue sky). That is to say, that the camera is important too and that when you know yours very well you can enter the right settings.
Finally, it is a very useful zoom. The extra range is a must. But, for Sony and Minolta users, it is probably worth it to consider the brand new adaptation made by Tamron for Sony (Sony DT 18-250). Of course, it it about $100.00 more expensive but the internal focusing should explain this. I suggest to be patient and to wait for the reviews.