Dalbon

Since I know absolutely nothing about the Tamron lens I have a question about them. How is the Tamron 16-300 Di; II; PZD VC lens when shooting with the Nikon D-800 camera??? I kind of figured on this mainly because it is a 3.5 - 6.3 instead of the 5-6.3 with the 150-600 lens and besides it's a little big for me to be carrying around all day long.
Appreciate your help, David

Starman441 Loc: Iguana Land, Fl.

Here are some side by side comparisons:

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-300mm-F35-63G-ED-VR-on-Nikon-D500-versus-Nikon-AF-S-DX-NIKKOR-18-300mm-F35-56G-ED-VR-on-Nikon-D7000-versus-Tamron-16-300mm-F35-63-Di-II-VC-PZD-MACRO-Model-B016-Nikon-on-Nikon-D500__1346_1061_970_680_1330_1061

https://www.bestadvisor.com/lenses/nikon-af-s-dx-18-300mm-f-3-5-5-6g-ed-vs-tamron-16-300mm-f-3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-pzd

Hope this helps.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I think that Tamron lens is a crop sensor formatted lens? You said you are shooting a D800, which is full frame. Perhaps, you plan to shoot in crop mode with it.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The 16-300 will not fully cover the image area of the D800. The image shape will be a circle with the top and the bottom sliced off. I would NOT use the camera in crop mode, which will further diminish the image area, by cutting off the sides. It's a workable, though far from ideal, solution. Unfortunately the full frame equivalent lens does not exist. There are several 28-300mm lenses but they are not very good. Even Nikon does not recommend using their 28-300 with a D800 because of low image quality, particularly at the long end. The Tamron 150-600 G2 is a superb lens, coming very close to a 600mmF4 in image quality and holding it's own at shorter focal lengths. At 4.4 lbs, it is just 1 lb heavier than the Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR II and completely hand-holdable. I have a 65 yr old 5'1" tall female friend who has one and never uses a tripod - she likes the freedom of not having her camera on a tripod, and not having to lug around another 5 lbs of gear. She also uses a D800, and primarily shoots birds and wildlife. We've hiked 5 miles on a beach in loose sand together and she did not complain about the weight.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Di II Tamron lenses are DX crop lenses- best to use FX lenses on a D800, unless you want a casual travel lens...otherwise consider the 100-400....of course we are comparing different classes of lenses superzoom vs supertele.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The 16-300 made by Tamron is for use with cropped sensors cameras. It can be used with your D800 in cropped mode but you are not using the whole sensor with it and loosing pixels too. You have a full frame camera to use full frame lenses and obtain maximal benefits.

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

The 28 -300 Nikon is a brilliant lens ...used for years for weddings and recommended by Rockwell even on the D850 which is where I now have mine If its for birding The Tamron 100-400 is your best bet although the D800 is not a birding camera Not enough POI

Dalbon

I want to thank each and everyone that gave me this information. As I didn't know what the letters, Di; II; PZD and VC meant I really wasn't sure if I could use this lens or not. I read where one suggested the 28-300 lens but another said it wasn't any good. Still another said that the 150-600 was a superb lens and I imagine it should be at the price. They said it was only 1 pound heaver than the Nikon 70-200 VR which I have but I wanted something that would reach out a little further. I appreciate all that gave me answers to my question and I will start shopping for a different lens.
Thanks again, David

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Have a D800 the Tamron 150-600mm f5-6.3 G2, a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 along with a Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 G2, so I have a bit of experience here. If you are really looking for a long lens, then I would recommend the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6. Yes, the Nikon glass is a bit heavier, but it performs better than the Tamron 150-600mm G2 in almost every other aspect, especially AF lock. You have another option though. With the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 you can add either a 1.4x (280mm f/4), 1.7x (340mm f/4.7), or even a 2.0x (400mm f/5.6) Nikon teleconverter to give you more reach without much of a hit in IQ.

Dalbon

Thank you and I'll look into that. I really hadn't thought of that before and I imagine it would also save some money.
Thanks, David

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

I have had the 200-500 nbikon but found it a bit heavy //the Tamron 100-400 is indistinguishable in terms of IQ and much lighter / You really need to upgrade from the D800 if its for birds

Dalbon

Yes I agree with you and I have considered the D-850 but then I'm surviving on my SS so it may be a while before I can obtain something that expensive.
Appreciate your advice, David

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Try the Nikon 28-300mm if you want a zoom lens that covers just about everything. It's a ff lens and many of us on UHH really like this lens. I find it especially good on crop sensor cameras, but use it on my D800 as well.

Ronin207 Loc: Southern coast of Maine

Yup, what ever floats your boat and makes you happy. If you can afford it, do it. I did years ago. Spent thousands. Traveled the world and done more than most people dream of. Yes, I was lucky to have done so. Now my two cents worth from a guy with 60 years behind my lens. Enjoy, learn, experience what you can. Spend what you can afford. Don’t go into too much debt with the wants of the latest and greatest. Because in the end, unless you make a high dollar salary for doing so. It’s not worth the debt. I do know how the shine of something pretty can make your hands tremble and loosen your wallet. So watch out for that. Now, go have some fun!

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Best response ever!!!!