archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

I am considering a lens for my Canon T6i, the choices are: Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO Lens or the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM MACRO Lens.
Anyone have experience with the two lenses
Thanks

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Before I spend significant money, I look online for reviews and comparisons.

Carlo Loc: Maryland, NW.Chesapeake Bay

I have the Canon lens you mentioned, it came with my 70D...I find it to be a very good 'walk around' lens. Fast auto focus...You would not be disappointed.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Those are two very popular lenses. One Tamron and the other a Canon Brand. I borrowed a Tamron 90mm prime macro for one day. It was very good. Since you own already a very good Canon camera, T6i, I would prefer to have the 18-135mm with the Canon body for macro. Your best option for macro is a prime lens with a 1:1 magnification between 90mm-180mm. IMO. Good luck on your choice.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I had an 18-135 on a 70D and the wife has one on her t5i. These are very good lenses and cover most focal lengths one would normally need for general photography on a crop frame camera.

Bill

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The EF-S 18-135 STM is the second version of this lens and was a kit lens on many 7D's. It is a very good lens. The newest iteration is the USM version that was introduced with the 80D, yet another very capable lens. The original version was a kit lens for the 60D, also a decent lens but no where near as good as its younger siblings. Advantages the Canon has over the Tamron, for one, it's a Canon lens and it will hold its value better, plus the Canon lens is better made and 100 % compatible with your EOS camera. Disadvantage is, if you ever get a 5 or 6D model body, it can't be used. Mounts to APS-C only bodies. I own all 3 of the 18-135 EF-S lenses and my favorite is the USM.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I do not have the 18-135 but do have the 28-135 and it is probably my most used lens. I have nine lens and if I was doing it again and with what I know now I would have about four lens. I have found that one lens that covers ever thing does not exist. I would have fewer lens and more faster and hight quality lens. The one lens I thought I wanted was the Canon 70-200, it is a good lens but does not fit in for coverage that I like. I use in studio some but not for wild life or landscape. In studio it is alright if you can back about 15- 20 feet but not for close work. For wild life and landscape I either use a wide angle or my 300 prime or 150 600 Tamaron.

tbetress Loc: Skippack, Pa

I have the Sigma 18-250 and so does my son. they now have the 18-300 out.
It is fantastic as an all around walk around lens. I find that everything I need is at my fingertips without having to change or take other lenses with me.
The image quality is very good, the lens is light.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have a Canon 18-135. I don't think it's the newest model, and I purchased it used; however, it's on my camera most of the time. Highly versatile focal range and I have no issue with quality. I love it!

Is there a significance difference in the weight of those two lenses, and does that matter to you?

archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

The weight is almost the same, within 20 g or so, it is not an issue.
Neil

judy 2011 Loc: Northern Utah

I have both lenses. I use the Tamron 16-300 more. I keep that on the camera.

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Just remember lenses that reach that far (300mm) lose some image quality. I would stick with the 18-135 Canon lens. If you need to get up closer, just crop the image in post production. You can't crop any images taken with the 300mm lens.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I'd take the Canon lens over that "super range" Tamron zoom any day!

PZD = Piezo focusing motor... same as the "micro motor" focus drive that Canon uses in their cheapest lenses, and the slowest, noisiest form of focus drive systems.

STM = Stepper focusing motor... quieter, smoother, faster. (Although not quite as fast as USM or "Ultrasonic" focusing motor... a new version of the EF-S 18-135mm is available with that for about $50 more.)

There's no guarantee that a Tamron lens made today will work on a Canon camera in the future. A third party lens like that might become an expensive paperweight if you upgrade cameras some time in the future.

"Super range" zooms.... some people love em because they can get by with just one lens to "do it all". Nice for travel, perhaps. But that type of zoom often doesn't do anything particularly well, so I've always avoided them. Apparently some of the ones offered today are better than they've been in the past, but I'd still rather have two or more separate lenses... such as a kit with Canon EF-S 18-135mm, EF-S 10-18mm IS STM, and a telephoto such as EF 70-300mm IS USM, EF 70-200/4 IS USM or EF 100-400mm IS USM II... or even a prime such as EF 300/4 IS USM.

After all, the whole point of buying an interchangeable lens camera is to be able to interchange the lenses to adapt the camera for different situations. Seems silly to me to then buy a single lens and expect it to "do everything". Could have saved money and just bought a non-interchangeable lens camera instead!

Incidentally, if you are interested in shooting video with your T6i, the 18-135mm STM lens is a better choice (smoother and quieter autofocus). Normally, USM lenses are better for sports (faster than STM), but not as good for video. However, the new EF-S 18-135mm IS USM uses a new type of "Nano" USM that makes it the best of both worlds... 2X to 4X faster focusing than STM, so better for sports/action shooting... But also quieter and smoother than most other Canon USM lenses, making it a good choice for video, too.

In addition, videographers might be interested in the "power zoom module" Canon is offering for use with the EF-S 18-135mm IS USM lens (exclusively, so far).

Either type - STM or USM - are faster focusing than non-STM/micro motor or typical Piezo motor lenses.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Sorry, but that's just way too broad a statement.

Very likely true in the case of lens such as that Tamron... or another lens that tries to cover moderately-wide-to-normal-to-powerful-telephoto range!

Probably not true in the case of a "telephoto-to-telephoto" lens such as a Canon EF 70-300. Certainly not in the case of a premium EF 70-300"L". And most certainly not true in the case of premium quality telephoto prime lenses, such as Canon EF 300/4, EF 300/2.8.

But definitely true in the case of some "bargain" lenses such as Canon EF 75-300mm (non IS, non USM) that is often sold in kits (and is one of the cheapest... and worst... lenses that Canon makes).

anotherview Loc: California

Good morning. You may wish to consider also the Sigma 18-250mm lens for the T6i:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/873391-REG/Sigma_883_101_18_250mm_F3_5_6_3_DC_Macro.html

I own and use this fine, compact lens on my Canon T6i. I took the picture below with this combo yesterday.

Two Cruise Ships, Ensenada Harbor