Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

£570/$550 Let’s play spot the difference

Take a long look at this Tamron lens for Sony E-mount and Canon EOS M cameras and – for the Sony-fit option at least – it looks identical to the Sony

18-200mm lens on test. There are marginal differences in the barrel shape, the zoom and focus ring grips are different, and the Tamron has a silver stripe at its rear but, to all intents and purposes, they look the same. They’re also the same weight and size, have the same configuration of optical groups and elements, and both have optical stabilisation.

Despite not being an own-brand Sony lens, automatic corrections are available in-camera for vignetting, colour fringing and distortion. These all worked in the same way as with the Sony lens, during our tests with an A6300.

Performance

The Tamron and Sony lenses delivered almost identical lab test results for sharpness, colour fringing and distortion, and the optical stabilisers were equally effective. The Tamron is therefore better value in the UK, although there’s not much price difference between the two lenses in the US.