Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II £350, $500
Inexpensive to buy, but not the most refined choice
This Tamron boasted the biggest zoom range of any wide-angle zoom for DX-format SLRs when launched back in 2008. That was a landmark year for Tamron lenses, as some of the other Nikon-fit models in the lineup were refreshed to add an internal autofocus motor, instead of relying on autofocus drive from the host camera. This makes autofocus possible on bodies like the D3300 and D5500.
The flip side is that the autofocus motor in the 1024mm lens is a relatively basic electric affair, which is a little sluggish and clearly audible in operation. Unlike every other lens on test, the focus ring rotates during autofocus, which can impair handling.
Performance
Four aspherical elements, two LD (Low Dispersion) elements and an HID (High-refractive Index) element boost sharpness and contrast as well as reducing fringing and distortions. Overall image quality is good, considering the price, but the len is outperformed by the even-less-expensive Sigma.