+ Backlight protection. Some may think it's not such a big deal, but I myself think it is, especially considering what some backlight protection can cost. This lens comes with a backlight cover in the box! The backlight cover when not in use can also be screwed to the rear and used to protect so that your fingers do not touch the focus ring when driving on auto focus, Thumbs up!
+ Focal length. Obviously, it is hugely versatile with its 18-400 mm (28.8 mm - 640 (!) Mm on my aps-c Canon). This means you do not miss anything. Never had a lens where I can get as many objects in the picture on one day as with this one.
+ The close-up of 45 cm invites you to fine close-ups, especially at 400 mm so the background becomes very fine and out of focus.
+ Weatherproof. That Tamron even tossed a weather seal in this price range on such an objective beats many competitors by the fingers.
+ Focus engine, gives fast focus on all focal lengths and also quieter than all my other lenses.
+ Image stabilization. Can summarize it to be good, you can shoot pictures at the highest focal length and get good results. However, it seems that it chops a little, but it happens very rarely. Having read about this and with the help of an accessory from Tamron, this can be easily adjusted as well as update firmware. However, this is not something that I really bother with, so it doesn't.
+ Price. Quite self-explanatory considering everything I mentioned. One of the most affordable lenses for Canon aps-c.
- Focus ring. Why Tamron chose to let the focus ring move and was not free during autofocus can possibly be linked to a cost issue. But it also means that you should be careful and not be there with your fingers when the aufocus is running as it could possibly damage the engine. Had also wished that the focus ring could be turned on more in manual mode, it will be quite fine at some focal lengths.
- The aperture. At 400 mm, the aperture is 6.3. If you drive on it, tripod in low light may be required to get really sharp images. However, the image stabilization is good, as mentioned above, and it is actually possible to shoot sharp images in less good light with longer shutter. If I have a planned portrait photography, for example, I would rather take my prime lens at 1.8. Takes it even in indoor photography as Tamron's lenses do not deliver particularly good indoors in bad light, but not what a megazoom is usually used for either and in good light you get nice portrait photos.
+ - The weight. This is a bit of a plus and minus rating. In relation to how versatile focal length you get, it does not weigh very much, but it is not in any lightweight class either. There are lenses that weigh less with similar focal lengths. 16 lenses in 11 groups weigh a little.
Summary: Affordable! A good lens that will keep going as soon as I have no exact goal of what to shoot during the day or do nature photography. Versatility is its strength, you miss no object. Obviously a lens that will be used extensively and found its permanent place in the camera bag!
Review will be updated the more I tested it.
I have participated in a test panel of the lens.