Tamron 16-30mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (Nikon Z)

Reviewers see it as a clear step up from Tamron's older 17-28mm design, from which Nikon's own 17-28mm f/2.8 is derived. Sharpness is very good in the centre from f/2.8 throughout the range, and the corners at 16mm are respectable wide open and good by f/5.6. AF is fast, quiet and accurate for video, and flare and ghosting are well controlled for the price.

The usual caveats apply. Uncorrected distortion and vignetting at 16mm are significant, so the lens relies on profile correction, which Z bodies apply in camera. It has no aperture ring or stabilisation, and the 30mm end is a little softer at the edges than the wide end. Most testers still put it among the best-value fast ultra-wide zooms for the mount.

Z owners praise the size, the shared 67mm filters and the extra reach at both ends compared with Nikon's 17-28mm. Many treat it as a travel or hiking ultra-wide that also suits vlogging on a gimbal. The Focus Set button and Lens Utility customisation are popular with video shooters.

The complaints are minor. Some find the corners at 16mm soft for astro wide open, and some note that the Z version lacks the control ring found on Nikon's own lenses. The plastic-feeling barrel, though durable, does not feel as premium as Nikon's S-line zooms.