You NEED a SUPERZOOM lens!!

Superzoom lenses have a massive focal length from wide-angle to super-telephoto. They let you keep ONE LENS on your camera for almost anything - never have to stop and dig through your bag to change lenses! In fact, leave your backpack at home, because with a superzoom lens you need only your camera, one lens, and a strap on your shoulder.

Here's our recommendations for superzoom lenses for different platforms:

0:00 Tony tries acting 😬
0:22 Introduction
1:46 Milford Photo promo
2:15 Versatility
3:36 Drawbacks
4:44 Portraits
6:41 Sports
7:42 Which superzoom should you get?
8:27 Milford Photo promo
9:15 Summary

[TonyAndChelsea]

Here's our recommendations for superzoom lenses for different platforms:

[stefanbecker]

Don't forget the ultimate "people photography superzoom": the Tamron 35-150mm f2.0-f2.8. Sharpness and bokeh of this are amazing. The focal range is huge and very useful.

[dxmeister]

I learned this many years ago. I always travel, or go on vacations, or I’m out with “normal” people doing “normal” stuff, with just one lens, a super zoom. Never take any other lenses with me. If it’s not a photo trip, or an outing where I know exactly I go to shoot and what I’m shooting, I don’t bother bringing any other lenses. The result: much, much better photos. Because for photos on the go, you’d never have the right lens on the camera, most of what you’ll do is changing lenses, hurry, and distress everything and everybody. However, when I do ho on photo trips and outings alone or with my photographer friends, I bring the big boy toys. I love primes especially.

[kevenspargo]

I have and love the Tamron 28-200 for Sony. It provides an unbeatable combo of zoom range, image quality, size, weight, and price. Small correction for the video, though: It does not have vibration compensation. You have to rely on IBIS and shutter speed for sharp images.

[LuisCabanzonGutierrez]

The Tamron 28-200m is definitely a versatile lens (my latest acquisition, replacing the 28-75mm as my always-with-me lens) but, despite of the opposite being said several times in this video, it DOES NOT HAVE image stabilisation!!

At least one can mitigate that (to some extend) with the in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) from Sony cameras.

[frederickbrault]

Last winter we went on a 4 months family trip and I had brought the Canon RF 24-240mm. Amazing lens and I'm super happy with the pictures quality! About 95% of the pictures taken were with that lens and the remaining was with the 35mm 1.8 for low light situations or for when I wanted to carry a lighter kit.

[ERNReed]

As a Pentax DSLR shooter, my most versatile lens is the Pentax 18-135. It’s a little shorter than the superzooms you discussed, but it covers a good range on the APS-C format. It’s also weather-resistant, like the camera bodies.

[buggersofoz]

Great video! This consideration (and lack of the Tamron 18-300mm at the time) drove me away from my A6000 and into M50+Tamron 18-400mm with even crazier reach. When I switched the body to 7D2, this gear became too heavy for hikes though, so I replaced it with an Olympus E-M1 and M.Zuiko 14-150mm for half the price of the Canon kit! It has the reach of 28-300 on full frame and when I slap it on my second body (E-PM2 that I almost got for free on eBay), it weighs the same as a pint of beer! And still takes great pictures! Gotta love super zooms!

[bobgolfs]

I purchased the Tamron 18-300 for Fuji in early December during one of their promotions. Great price, but after seeing the results, I would have paid full price. During the holidays, I used the lens almost exclusively versus my primes. Thrilled with the results. And as you said in your video, the versatility really made it so much easier to take photos of kids and grandkids doing their thing!

[PhotoTrekr]

I miss brick and mortar camera stores. They were not only convenient, they were a place were photographers gathered.

[benstone]

The Tamron 28-200 is, in my humble opinion, the absolute best lens for landscape photography on sony. Good enough at all focal lengths. But also light, and covers so much focal length. I just hike with it and the 16-35.

[gel]

THANK YOU! I was going back and forth between so many videos to find a good all in one lense. I have a little one so carrying a million things is not an option for me since my little one runs around everywhere. This video was super helpful!

[WanderWithAdnan]

how important is the body, APC vs full frame and full frame mirrorless - ? do you have a video on that ?

[suziechampagne]

I have a Tamron 18-270 mm 3.5-6.3 with VC. It is mounted on a Canon SL1. It's the only one I have and fits my needs perfectly. When I bought this 9 years ago, it was intended for travel photography saving myself the hassle of struggling to change lenses when the travels and visits are fast paced. The choice of the SL1 was because of it's smaller size and lighter weight (short person with small hands). I still consider myself a beginner in photography besides travel, I've been doing photography on and off because: 1) It's only a hobby 2) Life happens, I get busy elsewhere and hobby has to be put aside 3). I'm still learning. For the moment, I'm satisfied with what I have and don't intend to upgrade in the upcoming future.

[benicetoyou]

The Olympus 12-100/4 is a great lens. It combines great optical quality with exceptional built quality and weather resistance, which is rare for a superzoom.
Panasonic Lumix mFT: 14-140/3.5-5.6.
No Superzoom for L-Mount (yet).
You might also consider a Bridge for maximum Zoom range and convenience.

[sabaof]

The superzoom is invaluable with international air travel where carry-on weight limits are severe. It is a single, versatile lens instead of multiple lenses covering the same focal range but weighing considerably more.

[kot-duott]

I settled on 24-105 f/4 as the optimal compromise. It's bright enough with f/4 and can provide at least some bokeh, while I very rarely encounter situations where I have to go beyond 105mm (and when I do, cropping is usually enough).

[alejandromedina]

This got me back years ago when I was considering to get my first serious camera. I saw a video from Tony @ Chelsea that drove me into FUJI. Great recommendation! In that video they also recommended a super zoom, the 18 135 as a first lens. Not that great. I needed years of prime shooting to really get into zoom for good composition and control of the lens. The variable aperture drove me crazy so many times! My recommendation for a beginner> get a prime. If really into zoom, then use it as a set of fixed lenses: 18 35 50…avoid for a while the intermediate ones until you get it.

[dr.alanmarcus]

I am a long time Sony user, I recently purchased the Sony A7RIV and the Tamron 18-300mm lens. I am extremely satisfied with the crop equivalent of 27-450 that this lens provides especially since the camera gives 26 mp with the crop. This combination of camera and lens provides a fantastic one lens travel camera kit that is relatively light.
The full frame 61MP devotees (fanatics) really don’t understand the great flexibility and quality of this combo. Having owned the A7RII and since I have the A6000 and have used the RX10IV for along time, I find that the advanced features of the A7RIV and the overall sharpness of the 18-300mm really give you an opportunity to create great images and provide advantages over other camera & lens combinations during traveling.

[MrOsantosjr]

Great vid guys, but please note Rich no longer works at Milford Photo. He left in September, but Milford is definitely a great place to get gear and often they have things B&H and Adorama don’t have so I love purchasing from them!