Capturing the world through a Nikon lens
Guide

Nikon Z 24-200 Vs Tamron 28-200

Lindsey is a photographer based in Los Angeles. She has over 10 years of experience as a professional photographer specializing in portraits and events. Lindsey started her career with DSLR cameras but made the switch to Nikon's line of Z mirrorless cameras in 2020. Since then, she has been extensively...

What To Know

  • The Nikon lens is slightly sharper in the center of the frame, while the Tamron lens is slightly sharper at the edges.
  • The Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm are both excellent superzoom lenses that offer a wide range of focal lengths in a compact and portable package.
  • The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens has a filter size of 67mm, while the Tamron 28-200mm lens has a filter size of 62mm.

In the world of photography, versatility is key. Being able to capture a wide range of subjects, from sweeping landscapes to close-up portraits, without having to change lenses is a huge advantage. That’s where superzoom lenses come in. These lenses offer a wide focal length range, allowing you to shoot everything from wide-angle to telephoto with just one lens.

In this blog post, we’ll be comparing two of the most popular superzoom lenses on the market: the Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR and the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. We’ll take a close look at their features, performance, and price, to help you decide which one is right for you.

Build Quality and Design

Both the Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm are well-built lenses with solid construction. The Nikon lens is slightly heavier and larger than the Tamron lens, but both lenses are relatively compact and easy to carry around.

The Nikon lens features a metal lens mount and a weather-sealed design, making it more durable and resistant to the elements. The Tamron lens has a plastic lens mount, but it is also weather-sealed. Both lenses have a zoom ring and a focus ring, which are both smooth and easy to operate.

Image Quality

Both the Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm produce excellent image quality. The Nikon lens is slightly sharper in the center of the frame, while the Tamron lens is slightly sharper at the edges. Both lenses exhibit some distortion and vignetting at the wide end of the focal length range, but these issues are well-controlled.

The Nikon lens has a slightly wider maximum aperture of f/4 at the wide end of the focal length range, compared to f/2.8 for the Tamron lens. This gives the Nikon lens a slight advantage in low-light situations. However, the Tamron lens has a constant maximum aperture of f/5.6 throughout the entire focal length range, while the Nikon lens’s maximum aperture narrows to f/6.3 at the telephoto end. This makes the Tamron lens more versatile for shooting in a variety of lighting conditions.

Autofocus

Both the Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm feature fast and accurate autofocus. The Nikon lens uses a stepping motor autofocus system, while the Tamron lens uses an RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) autofocus system. Both systems are very quiet and deliver quick and precise focusing.

The Nikon lens has a slightly shorter minimum focus distance of 0.5 meters, compared to 0.8 meters for the Tamron lens. This makes the Nikon lens slightly better for macro photography.

Price

The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens is priced at around $1,000, while the Tamron 28-200mm lens is priced at around $700. This makes the Tamron lens a more affordable option for those on a budget.

Which Lens is Right for You?

The Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm are both excellent superzoom lenses that offer a wide range of focal lengths in a compact and portable package. The Nikon lens is slightly sharper, has a wider maximum aperture at the wide end, and is weather-sealed. The Tamron lens is more affordable, has a constant maximum aperture throughout the entire focal length range, and has a shorter minimum focus distance.

Ultimately, the best lens for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you need a lens that is sharp, durable, and weather-sealed, then the Nikon Z 24-200mm is a good choice. If you’re looking for a more affordable lens that is still versatile and produces excellent image quality, then the Tamron 28-200mm is a great option.

Additional Considerations

In addition to the factors discussed above, there are a few other things you may want to consider when choosing between the Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm lenses:

  • Camera compatibility: Make sure that the lens you choose is compatible with your camera. The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens is only compatible with Nikon Z-mount cameras, while the Tamron 28-200mm lens is compatible with both Nikon Z-mount cameras and Sony E-mount cameras.
  • Filter size: The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens has a filter size of 67mm, while the Tamron 28-200mm lens has a filter size of 62mm. If you already have filters that you use with other lenses, you may want to choose the lens that has the same filter size.
  • Weight: The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens weighs 1.5 pounds, while the Tamron 28-200mm lens weighs 1.2 pounds. If you’re planning on doing a lot of hiking or traveling with your camera, you may want to choose the lighter lens.

The Verdict: Nikon Z 24-200 vs Tamron 28-200

Both the Nikon Z 24-200mm and the Tamron 28-200mm are excellent superzoom lenses that offer a wide range of focal lengths in a compact and portable package. The Nikon lens is slightly sharper, has a wider maximum aperture at the wide end, and is weather-sealed. The Tamron lens is more affordable, has a constant maximum aperture throughout the entire focal length range, and has a shorter minimum focus distance.

Ultimately, the best lens for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you need a lens that is sharp, durable, and weather-sealed, then the Nikon Z 24-200mm is a good choice. If you’re looking for a more affordable lens that is still versatile and produces excellent image quality, then the Tamron 28-200mm is a great option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which lens is sharper, the Nikon Z 24-200mm or the Tamron 28-200mm?

A: The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens is slightly sharper in the center of the frame, while the Tamron 28-200mm lens is slightly sharper at the edges.

Q: Which lens has a wider maximum aperture, the Nikon Z 24-200mm or the Tamron 28-200mm?

A: The Nikon Z 24-200mm lens has a wider maximum aperture of f/4 at the wide end of the focal length range, compared to f/2.8 for the Tamron lens.

Q: Which lens is more affordable, the Nikon Z 24-200mm or the Tamron 28-200mm?

A: The Tamron 28-200mm lens is more affordable, priced at around $700, compared to $1,000 for the Nikon Z 24-200mm lens.

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Lindsey

Lindsey is a photographer based in Los Angeles. She has over 10 years of experience as a professional photographer specializing in portraits and events. Lindsey started her career with DSLR cameras but made the switch to Nikon's line of Z mirrorless cameras in 2020. Since then, she has been extensively testing and reviewing Nikon's latest mirrorless cameras like the Z5, Z6, Z7 and Z50 on her blog. Through her writing on lindseyshoots.com, Lindsey aims to help other photographers make the transition from DSLRs to mirrorless. She shares detailed hands-on reviews, comparisons between different mirrorless camera models, tips for beginners, and photo tutorials. When she isn't testing cameras, Lindsey enjoys landscape, street and travel photography. Her work has been published in several magazines and online publications. Lindsey is also a member of the Nikon Professional Services program.
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