Tamron's budget telephoto with tele-macro — the basic 70-300mm available across all mounts.
The Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di Tele-Macro is an extremely widespread budget telephoto zoom available in virtually every DSLR mount. The Tele-Macro designation indicates closer focusing capability at the telephoto end, providing approximately 1:2 magnification for casual macro work. It is one of the most commonly sold budget telephoto lenses in photography history.
Optical performance is basic. Centre sharpness is acceptable at shorter focal lengths and weakens towards 300mm. The tele-macro mode allows closer focusing around 180-300mm for casual flower and insect photography. No image stabilisation in the base model. Various versions exist including the LD (with low-dispersion glass) and USD VC (with stabilisation and ultrasonic motor).
Available in Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, and Pentax K mounts. Filter thread is 62mm. Weight is approximately 435 grams — lightweight for a 300mm zoom. Build quality is basic plastic. The lens has been produced in numerous variants over many years. The non-stabilised versions are the most commonly found and cheapest.
Extremely common and cheap on the used market — often under £40. Check for smooth zoom and AF operation. Not suitable for demanding photography but adequate as a budget first telephoto. The VC USD version is significantly better and worth the modest price increase. Any modern stabilised telephoto zoom is dramatically superior.