
Tamron
Tamron B016N 16-300mm Nikon All-In-One Zoom Lens
★★★★★
One lens from environmental wide to compressed telephoto — the Tamron 16-300mm keeps you shooting when switching glass isn't an option.
$799.00*
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Overview
Specifications
Focal Length
16–300mm
Format
Di-II (APS-C/DX)
Maximum Aperture
F/3.5–6.3
Angle of View
82°12' – 5°20'
Lens Construction
16 elements in 12 groups
Minimum Focus Distance
15.3 in (at 300mm)
Filter Diameter
67mm
Overall Length
3.9"
Maximum Diameter
75mm
Weight
19 oz
Diaphragm Blades
7 (rounded)
Mount
Nikon F (DX)
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- The 16-300mm range on a DX body covers 24-450mm equivalent — wide enough for architecture and environmental portraits, long enough for field sports and wildlife without any lens changes.
- The front element doesn't rotate during focus, so polarizer placement stays locked in during AF operation — a genuine convenience for landscape and travel photographers.
- At 19 oz, the lens is compact enough for all-day carry during travel or street shooting, where swapping a bag of primes isn't practical.
- The 15.3-inch minimum focus distance at 300mm enables tight frame-filling shots of insects, flowers, and small subjects without switching to a dedicated macro lens.
- The VC system provides usable stabilization in dim indoor conditions at moderate focal lengths — event and travel photographers working in mixed light will appreciate the keeper rate improvement.
👎 Cons
- The F/6.3 maximum aperture at 300mm is limiting in low light — indoor or overcast telephoto shooting will require significant ISO boosts to maintain shutter speed for sharp images.
- At its extreme ends — particularly the 300mm telephoto — the lens shows some softness and chromatic aberration at wide-open apertures compared to dedicated telephoto glass.
- The broad zoom range requires optical compromises: distortion is noticeable at 16mm and requires correction in post, which adds a step to architectural or interior workflows.
- The autofocus, while adequate for general shooting, hunts visibly in low-contrast or low-light situations — something you notice quickly during dimly lit receptions or indoor venue work.
- This is a DX-only lens, so photographers planning to move to a full-frame Nikon body will need to replace it — it has no upgrade path within the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this lens compatible with full-frame Nikon DSLR bodies, or is it restricted to DX crop-sensor cameras?
This is a DX-format lens, designed exclusively for Nikon APS-C (DX) bodies. Mounting it on a full-frame FX body will produce heavy vignetting — it's built for crop-sensor cameras only.
How effective is the Vibration Compensation (VC) system when shooting handheld at the 300mm end?
VC is one of the lens's strongest practical advantages. At 300mm on a crop body (equivalent to 450mm), it provides meaningful stabilization for stationary subjects — though fast-moving subjects at long range will still require faster shutter speeds to freeze motion cleanly.
Does the Piezo Drive (PZD) autofocus perform well for moving subjects, or is it better suited to static scenes?
PZD AF is fast and quiet for a high-ratio zoom, which makes it solid for general travel, events, and street shooting. For demanding sports or wildlife tracking, the AF can struggle to keep pace with erratically moving subjects — the trade-off for having one lens cover this range.
What filter size does this lens take, and does it accept a polarizer without front-element rotation during focus?
The filter diameter is 67mm. The front element does not rotate during autofocus, which means you can set a polarizer or grad ND and have it stay in position — a useful detail for landscape work at the wide end.
How does this lens handle flare and contrast when shooting toward a light source?
The included lens hood helps, but like most high-ratio superzooms, the 16-300mm can show contrast reduction and some ghosting when shooting into strong directional light. Shooting with the sun out of frame and the hood attached minimizes the issue noticeably.