How does the fuji 18-55 compare with tamron 17-50?

rjbell

rjbell

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,421
Name
Robert
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm making the move to Fujifilm i was just going to get a prime but you don't have to pay much more for a body and this lens on the used market. Given its retail price i'm sure its better than the average kit lens but how does it compare with the Tamrons 17-50 f2.8 or even Nikons 17-55 f2.8? Its obviously not as fast through the zoom range.
 
I know you are asking about the 18-55, but it you'll let me wander a bit, I've the 18-135 in Fuji and have experience of the Tamron 17-50 on a 16MPix Pentax body. I've absolutely no issues with the sharpness of the fuji lens. The wider aperture is nice, but the optical image stabilisation makes up for that, while the electronic viewfinder means the extra brightness due to the aperture when composing images is no longer an issue. From the sounds of it, you could transpose most of my comments on the 18-135 to the 18-55 lens with pretty much no change - Fuji are really doing well with the lens design for the x-series!
 
I'm interested in this too as I'm considering trying out Fuji for a while as a secondary lighter system. I'd also be interested to know how much better the 18-55mm is over the 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 in terms of IQ? Unfortunately DXO and the like don't have scores that I can compare to other lenses I've used.
 
I'd hazard the tamron is possibly a teensy bit better optically, but the build quality of the fuji is far superior, and fuji lenses have for more character than the tamron.
The 16-55mm f2.8 would be the direct equivalent, but it's pricey.
 
Cuchulainn said:
I know you are asking about the 18-55, but it you'll let me wander a bit, I've the 18-135 in Fuji and have experience of the Tamron 17-50 on a 16MPix Pentax body. I've absolutely no issues with the sharpness of the fuji lens. The wider aperture is nice, but the optical image stabilisation makes up for that, while the electronic viewfinder means the extra brightness due to the aperture when composing images is no longer an issue. From the sounds of it, you could transpose most of my comments on the 18-135 to the 18-55 lens with pretty much no change - Fuji are really doing well with the lens design for the x-series!
Click to expand...

I have both the 18-55 and 18-135, IMO the 18-55 is a little bit sharper, and obviously has wider aperture, but the OIS on the 18-135 is superb and definitely better than the 18-55

snerkler said:
I'm interested in this too as I'm considering trying out Fuji for a while as a secondary lighter system. I'd also be interested to know how much better the 18-55mm is over the 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 in terms of IQ? Unfortunately DXO and the like don't have scores that I can compare to other lenses I've used.
Click to expand...

Fuji don't really have any bad optics, the 16-50 is a great lens, but it doesn't have the aperture range of the 18-55, and is in a plastic body, but it is usefully 2mm wider at the wide end. If budget wasn't an issue I'd go for the 18-55
 
Mr Perceptive said:
I have both the 18-55 and 18-135, IMO the 18-55 is a little bit sharper, and obviously has wider aperture, but the OIS on the 18-135 is superb and definitely better than the 18-55



Fuji don't really have any bad optics, the 16-50 is a great lens, but it doesn't have the aperture range of the 18-55, and is in a plastic body, but it is usefully 2mm wider at the wide end. If budget wasn't an issue I'd go for the 18-55
Click to expand...
Thanks. I notice there's a mark I and Mark II 16-50, is there much difference?

In what way is the OIS better in the 18-135, more stops stabilisation?
 
Been looking through my archives for some comparable shots (I've owned the Sigma 18-50 2.8, the Tammy 17-50 2.8 and now the Fuji 18-55 and 16-50mk1) and you know what, they're all awesome, but the Fujis do have better colour than the 3rd party ones and the 18-55 offers nicer bokeh when stopped down a bit IMO. Build quality on the 16-50 feels pretty horrible but it is light and still optically very close to the 18-55mm.

Basically, you won't go wrong.
 
The 18-55 is one of my favourite lenses but I also had the 18-135 for a while. Comparing the two lenses, I found the 18-55 was a bit better optically, and obviously, it's faster. The 18-135 does have better OIS but with the recent update, the 18-55 OIS has been improved. What I love about the 18-55 is the size and weight while still having excellent build quality. Of course, all this would be nothing if it wasn't a good lens. Well, in my opinion, it's a fantastic lens! Maybe it's just my copy, but it's given me two of my best images ever. I would recommend it to anyone as a great all-round lens, especially when you don't want to carry anything else.
 
I shoot with the 18-55mm on my Fuji XE2 and Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 and Sigma 17-50 OS HSM on my 24mp Nikon D7100. I never feel the Fuji is lacking in any way practically except for the slower aperture.
 
Thanks it's worth having if I can get a deal. A x-e1 18-55 on eBay on the 10th can for just £285!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top