nikon Z 28-400 or Tamron 50-400 ??

Thom's reviews give you the answer, just maybe not the answer you want?

He specifically says (paraphrasing) of the 28-400 that's it's wanting in many areas and not for those who are particular about quality, but the range is undeniable for those needing it. On the 50-400 he ways there's not much to nitpick, especially at the price point (very good on full frame, better on DX) Again, paraphrasing.

I rented the 50-400 for an event last year and immediately bought one. IMHO it's not a walk around lens due to the weight but in every other aspect it is a stellar performer. It has become a key piece of kit for anything not requiring a faster lens.

If you need range, explore the 50-400 + a small wide prime or zoom (24-50 maybe if the 24-120 isn't in the cards)

I suppose it is another personal preference type thing, but the Nikon is the easy choice for me. It is lighter, shorter, much easier to handle, has the most desirable zoom range, and produces fantastic results at least when used on a DX sensor Nikon. I have no feel for how good or bad it is on a FF Nikon Z, as I do not own one and have no experience with the combination. I wish it didn't cost as much as it does, but the Tamron is about the same price if I remember right. In our house, it is one of two lenses that are never to be found in the lens storage. It is always mounted on one of our DX Nikon Z's. Wife and I may fight over who gets to use it sometimes though. It is without a doubt the one lens that as to the always asked question, if you could have only one lens (heaven forbid) would be the easy answer.

I have the 50-400 and use it a lot. I love it for telephoto landscape and as a wildlife lens when I'm hiking. Great lens and at a good price. I bought it to replace the F mount 70-300 AFP, and have been very happy with it. I think the deciding factor for you should be how often do you shoot below F8, and do you need the 28-50mm focal length? If you are strictly using it as a walk around lens and for landscape shooting, then the 28-400 is a great choice. If you need or want a little faster of a lens and don't care about the 28-50mm range, then go with the 50-400. They are both great lenses, choose which one fits your use case the best.

mrbr said:

Hi,

I would like to know your point of view and why what lens you would prefer to use on a Z50 and also on Z6 ??

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Review

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Review

Nikon 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Get the Tamron. It's better from what I've seen at the longer end, plus it's faster.

This of course means that if you're looking for a setup that goes from 28-400mm you'd have to use two lenses, but it's a trade off that I think most people might accept.

For me, I looked at the 28-400 and wasn't that impressed, on the long end (below about 200mm it seemed OK -- I was comparing it to other travel zooms) but I think the Tamron is a better lens if you're more concerned about sharpness than convenience. And really that's last part is what it's going to come down to: Image Quality or convenience. The 28-400 isn't horrible at 300-400mm but I think the 50-400 is a bit better, particularly if you're doing any wildlife shooting. If it's just travel, you might be fine and you may want to get the 28-400 because it's one lens and it's lighter, but if that doesn't matter, the Tamron is probably the better option.

When it comes to travel, I try to travel with as little gear as possible, meaning I will sacrifice some sharpness for convenience (ie. one lens versus 2 or 3) although aside from the 28-400 Nikon doesn't have much else in the way of long travel zooms, so sometimes I have to supplement my 24-120 with something longer (I don't have a 28-400 or the Tamron 50-400 btw). This is really where I wish they would maybe revised the 24-200 or make a new 24-240mm like Sony and Canon have with improved optics, but that's probably a lot to ask and a long shot. Maybe Nikon will allow Tamron to make something like a 28-300 for the Z FF at some point.

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* PLEASE NOTE: I generally unsubscribe from forums/comments after a period of time has passed, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. *

I have the 28-400 and use it for travel, walking around and outdoor events. It’s terrific. I have gotten many shots I would have missed if I was using a 2 lens setup. I have the 24-120 which is a lovely lens but it’s very hard to forgo the tremendous extra reach of the 28-400 so the 24-120 sees much less use nowadays. The aperture hasn’t proven to be a problem as the VR is great so I’m able to drop the shutter speed.

I tried the Tamron which is also a very good lens but the difference between 50-400 in both lenses was minimal or non-existent imo.
28-50 is too much to miss out on and so the Tamron requires another lens, with extra weight and hassle, missed shots etc.

The Tamron is also a brick, a nuisance to carry around, while the Nikon feels like a prime on the Z8.

Try out both lenses before buying is my advice

You have not said what you intend to do with your photographs - small prints? Large prints? Display on Instagram? That is an important consideration.

Some of the most vocal proponents of the 28-400 on this forum either do not print at all, or print very small, and they shoot it on DX cameras to crop out the bad bits. So keep that in mind as well.

For any more demanding use case I would second TonyNC, and get the Tamron.

Here's my take on the Tamron 50-400, based on how I use it. I'd say it really depends on your shooting style. For me, the 50-400 stays on my camera and I rarely swap it out.

For example, when I'm at the zoo or shooting birds and other animals, the 50mm wide end is great for capturing landscapes or group photos, which is super convenient. So in my opinion, the 50-400 acts as a nice compromise between a 28-400 and a 100-400.

If the zoom range is the most important factor for you, then the 28-400 might be a better choice. I personally don't worry about the 28-50mm range because I always have my Ricoh GR3 (which is 28mm) as a backup, and that makes things incredibly convenient.

mrbr said:

Hi,

I would like to know your point of view and why what lens you would prefer to use on a Z50 and also on Z6 ??

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Review

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Review

Nikon 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

I owned these two lenes simultaneous for 1 year, on z8, I would pick tamron 50-400, much better image quality, z28-400 is pretty soft in 200-400mm.

But on z5, z6, I don't see much difference, so I would pick up z28-400 for its range and portablility.

mrbr said:

Hi,

I would like to know your point of view and why what lens you would prefer to use on a Z50 and also on Z6 ??

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Review

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Review

Nikon 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

I’ve found the 28-400 to be a great nature walk about lens when I want to go light. I use it for butterflies and passing birds.it is sharper than I expected.

mrbr said:

Hi,

I would like to know your point of view and why what lens you would prefer to use on a Z50 and also on Z6 ??

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Review

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Review

Nikon 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens Review | Thom Hogan

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Thank you all very much for your very helpfull insights. They give me a better idea of what I can expect of both lenses.

How do I want to use that lens ?

Not for long walks that is clear , I would prefer a lightweight solution to be able to take the lens with me for shorter walks in nature , and I would like to start taking pictures of birds in flight when that is presenting itself.

The idea is to use it on my Z50 mainly , I have a 12-28 dx lens on the way and already have the dx 16-50 lens. I can also take my Z6 + the Z 24-50 lens with me if I want.

I shoot RAW and use dxo photolab.

I don't print bigger then A3 ( extern ) , my printer at home is max A4 ( canon 5 cartridges ) .

I will as suggested go to a store to "feel" both lenses mounted on my Z50 and Z6.

I have some homework to do now to get a clear overview off all the arguments given in your responses and try to make a list of all the + and - points for both lenses and try to make a decision taking into account how I want to use that lens.

I will keep you informed.

mrbr said:

How do I want to use that lens ?

Not for long walks that is clear , I would prefer a lightweight solution to be able to take the lens with me for shorter walks in nature , and I would like to start taking pictures of birds in flight when that is presenting itself.

Click to expand...

My experience with those two lenses was no more than holding them, in the same day (actually same hour, within a few minutes), at a camera store. The Tamron 50-400 is actually kind of heavy for a slow, f6.3 tele zoom.

Neither is probably really ideal for birds in flight, but I would go with the Tamron for being a bit faster lens by 2/3 of a stop.

The Nikon 28-400 is probably a very good, one size fits all, super zoom. I considered it around late 2024, early 2025 when it was discounted to $999 in the US. Eventually I decided against it due to the really slow f8 maximum aperture.

mrbr said:

The idea is to use it on my Z50 mainly , I have a 12-28 dx lens on the way and already have the dx 16-50 lens. I can also take my Z6 + the Z 24-50 lens with me if I want.

I shoot RAW and use dxo photolab.

I don't print bigger then A3 ( extern ) , my printer at home is max A4 ( canon 5 cartridges ) .

I will as suggested go to a store to "feel" both lenses mounted on my Z50 and Z6.

I have some homework to do now to get a clear overview off all the arguments given in your responses and try to make a list of all the + and - points for both lenses and try to make a decision taking into account how I want to use that lens.

I will keep you informed.

Click to expand...

I really like the 28-400 because it has good rendering, contrast and is remarkably light for a 14x super zoom. Perfect for travel and just being ready for anything.

The 50-400 is a good lens, but it is a replacement for a 100-400, not for an every day catch all lens like the 28-400. In the context of a 100-400 replacement it is exceptional, and would be even better if it could take a TCL.

But I think you need to think about how you are going to use the lenses and the choice of which to use will be clear.