(Review by Markus Stamm and Klaus Schroiff, published May 2011)
The question of the day is, of course, whether it can beat or at least match the quality of its direct competitor - the Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR. Well, it gives and takes a little. Optically they're close regarding sharpness, but the Tamron has a little less distortion, a lot less CAs and a bit higher contrast at the long end wide open. In addition, it has a slight edge with respect to build quality. AF speed is basically on the same level. So, in summary the Tamron represents a slightly better value offer, however anyone interested in the lens should check for himself whether the very solid viewfinder image as described in the introduction is a welcome feature or an issue in the field.