Compare lenses

Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 vs Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

The Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 and the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 if you want a lighter lens (116 g against 460 g). Pick the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.4 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it; and more reach (to 300mm equivalent).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6 and the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecSony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC
MakerSonyTamron
Focal length18-50mm (zoom)18-200mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent27-75mm on APS-C27-300mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/4-5.6f/3.5-6.3brighter
Made forAPS-CAPS-C
MountsSony ESony E
Stabilisednoyesstabilised
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range2.8×11.1×more range
Weight116 glighter460 g
Cameras it fits41 in this guide41 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080027-75mm equiv.Sony
Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6: 18-50mm on APS-C, like 27-75mm.
142435508513520040080027-300mm equiv.Tamron
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC: 18-200mm on APS-C, like 27-300mm.

Aperture

f/4
Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6: f/4 wide open.
f/3.5
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC: f/3.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

Sony at 18mm · 67°Tamron at 18mm · 67°Sony at 50mm · 27°Tamron at 200mm · 7°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

41 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Sony E 18-50mm f/4-5.6

and 31 more

Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

and 31 more

On their own pages