Tamron 200-500 zoom test and KM7D

fastshot · 30th August 2005

Just acquired this lens to go to Africa in October. Here are 2 test pixs, both shot handheld with AS on, AP, AWB.

500mm (equivalent 750mm) ISO800, F8, 1/125. Shot during dull rainy day with a bit of PS touch up.

500mm (equiv 750mm) ISO200, F6.3 1/125. This pix is totally unretouched, only resized for posting.

I think the performance is quite good for the price, although not nearly equal to G lens. Hope to get good safari pictures if lighting is good. My first choice was to try and get the 1.4x APO II (D) teleconv to match my 200 APO G, but no one has one available here for me to try out

.
One issue I discovered with this Tamron lens is that in vertical format orientation (grip on top), the aperture sometimes don't close down during exposure, hence leading to overexposure. This problem can also be seen using the DOF preview. The horiz and other vert orientation works fine. None of my KM lens has this problem. I think this may have something to do with sticky aperture control lever in the long Tamron lens. I can see this lever from the back of the lens, so now thinking may be possible to apply a bit of white lithium grease.
Opinions anyone? Anybody else got experience with this Tamron lens?

Del_CtrlnoAlt · 30th August 2005

wow... nice lens.. . sharp pics with nice bokeh too...

Drudkh · 30th August 2005

I was in Africa in 2002 for military visit. I didn't get to see much wildlife as our location is at the most southern part. The weather is very good (1st quarter of the year) and it was sunny everyday. I started picking up photography about that time and brought my Canon A40 for the trip too. Mostly shot landscapes and the common sights. I love the sky and landscape there, it was very beautiful. I hope you'll be able to capture great photos there!

ileaf · 30th August 2005

hey dude, great pics there!
AS seems working very fine even with long tele end.

enjoy ur africa trip! and share with us lots of photos for poor people like me, who only sees africa wildlife from national geographic channel

TME · 30th August 2005

Hi fastshot, great shots... but for the yellow oriole (i that it?) is the focus a little off? I detect that the eye is not as sharp as the feathers of left wing.

One more question: Did u use a tripod? I always have problems stabilising such a long and heavy lens even with AS and getting it on a tripod, there is always the issue of slack. I use a Manfrotto 190B + 480RC ballhead. Total weight is 8kg and I believe that my 7D + grip + 70-210 f/2.8 can't weigh more than 3kg. So I was wondering if I am using the tripod the right way... if u are using a tripod, please advice, thanks!

Drudkh · 30th August 2005

why not a monopod? must easier to move around and maneuver.

TME · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by Drudkh

why not a monopod? must easier to move around and maneuver.

Cos that means I have to buy another piece of equipment... and I want to learn how to use what I have first... I have problem using my current tripod to take static objects. Can't get the camera to point where I want... not sure why either... always some slack such that on tightening the ballhead, the camera kind of sags a little and what I see in the viewfinder is not what I want... how?

Drudkh · 30th August 2005

that has to be the ballhead problem.

grado · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by TME

Cos that means I have to buy another piece of equipment... and I want to learn how to use what I have first... I have problem using my current tripod to take static objects. Can't get the camera to point where I want... not sure why either... always some slack such that on tightening the ballhead, the camera kind of sags a little and what I see in the viewfinder is not what I want... how?

Your ballhead cant support the weight of your camera and lens... What tripod are you using? Maybe its time to get a more heavy duty ball head/tripod, because a sloppy tripod is a pain to use and quite useless to me...

TME · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by grado

Your ballhead cant support the weight of your camera and lens... What tripod are you using? Maybe its time to get a more heavy duty ball head/tripod, because a sloppy tripod is a pain to use and quite useless to me...

As above in the 2nd post. My ballhead can take up to 8kg. That's medium format range.

Drudkh · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by TME

As above in the 2nd post. My ballhead can take up to 8kg. That's medium format range.

is there a fine tune knob or tension knob?

grado · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by TME

As above in the 2nd post. My ballhead can take up to 8kg. That's medium format range.

Hmm... Could it be faulty? Like cross threaded due to over tightening? Most Manfrotto tripods are quite heavy duty from what I see... A normal working manfrotto tripod should not have any problems with your set up, since it is rated to be able to hold 8kg...

TME · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by Drudkh

is there a fine tune knob or tension knob?

There are 2 knobs - one for horizontal pan and the other for tightening the ballhead. I suppose that is the tension knob? It's not that the ballhead sags but the quick release plate seems to yield as I push or pull the camera into place. Anyway maybe Thur u can show me lor...

Anyway fastshot, sorry hijack your thread...

Drudkh · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by TME

... 480RC ballhead.

I can't find the spec on the website. Are you sure it is able to tolerate 8Kg of weight?

grado · 30th August 2005

Originally Posted by TME

It's not that the ballhead sags but the quick release plate seems to yield as I push or pull the camera into place. Anyway maybe Thur u can show me lor...

Perhaps you didnt lock the quick release plate properly...

TME · 30th August 2005

The model is Manfrotto 488RCO. The box says 8kg max. I picked this ballhead cos of the two spirit levels on the quick release plate for both landscape and portrait directions.

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/cache...?livid=liv2212

Might be the way I secure the quick release plate. Maybe I didn't screw in hard enough. Grado, I dun think it is cross-threading the screwing motion is very smooth.

I think I dun know my ballhead very well as well.... I'll bring it along on Thur... Don it's the same tripod that I brought along during the 2nd KMOS at sulhan's place.

fastshot · 31st August 2005

Originally Posted by TME

Hi fastshot, great shots... but for the yellow oriole (i that it?) is the focus a little off? I detect that the eye is not as sharp as the feathers of left wing.

One more question: Did u use a tripod? I always have problems stabilising such a long and heavy lens even with AS and getting it on a tripod, there is always the issue of slack. I use a Manfrotto 190B + 480RC ballhead. Total weight is 8kg and I believe that my 7D + grip + 70-210 f/2.8 can't weigh more than 3kg. So I was wondering if I am using the tripod the right way... if u are using a tripod, please advice, thanks!

Your probably right that it is a yellow oriole -- to me (not a birdie) it looked like the regular black myniah (spelling?).

It was pretty much a grab shot at about 10m and the centre focus sensor picked the more contrasty feathers rather than the head. I did not use a tripod for the shot. I needed to practice using this long lens handheld with AS to get a feel of how slow a shutter speed is acceptable.

I had also used this lens on a tripod without AS with good results. Am using a Velbon Carmagne 640 carbon fibre tripod with Arca Swiss monoball and RRS plates. Works very well especially if the lens has tripod collar so the setup is more balanced. A ball head with drag control is almost a necessity if the lens/cam combo is heavy - so that the lens/cam won't flop around the moment you release the lock. Otherwise you can use one of those geared heads.

Since the KM7D has good antishake, it should work effectively with just a monopod and steady hands as suggested by the other posters. In any case for African safari, there is not much opportunity to use a tripod, so I will probably use a monopod or a beanbag. Any suggestions of where to get a beanbag or make one?

Drudkh · 31st August 2005

Originally Posted by fastshot

Your probably right that it is a yellow oriole -- to me (not a birdie) it looked like the regular black myniah (spelling?).

It was pretty much a grab shot at about 10m and the centre focus sensor picked the more contrasty feathers rather than the head. I did not use a tripod for the shot. I needed to practice using this long lens handheld with AS to get a feel of how slow a shutter speed is acceptable.

I had also used this lens on a tripod without AS with good results. Am using a Velbon Carmagne 640 carbon fibre tripod with Arca Swiss monoball and RRS plates. Works very well especially if the lens has tripod collar so the setup is more balanced. A ball head with drag control is almost a necessity if the lens/cam combo is heavy - so that the lens/cam won't flop around the moment you release the lock. Otherwise you can use one of those geared heads.

Since the KM7D has good antishake, it should work effectively with just a monopod and steady hands as suggested by the other posters. In any case for African safari, there is not much opportunity to use a tripod, so I will probably use a monopod or a beanbag. Any suggestions of where to get a beanbag or make one?

i've read somewhere that there's a kind of beanbag where it allows you to suck out all the air inside, creating vacuum and makes the shape of the bag sturdy.

gotta search for it.

AncientMariner · 2nd September 2005

Originally Posted by Drudkh

i've read somewhere that there's a kind of beanbag where it allows you to suck out all the air inside, creating vacuum and makes the shape of the bag sturdy. gotta search for it.

There's another kind of beanbag that can be used "window mounted".

The guys over at AWA are organising an MO:

http://www.avianwatchasia.org/forums...ead.php?t=1356

They are a very helpful group of enthusiasts.

sulhan · 2nd September 2005

Originally Posted by AncientMariner

There's another kind of beanbag that can be used "window mounted".

The guys over at AWA are organising an MO:

http://www.avianwatchasia.org/forums...ead.php?t=1356

They are a very helpful group of enthusiasts.

Hiee Pals..

I basically used a simple fabric bag and load three packets of green peas into a plastic bag, tie it up and put into the fabric bag. Used string to tie it up. Wallah....a bean bag...cost? less than $3.

Its been in my car since three months ago... All i need to do is pull it over the car window and put the 400/800mm lens over and shot without having much problem.

I also put this bag over my setup when i use tripod.

Rgds,
sulhan

30th August 2005	#1
fastshot Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 3rd Mile Stone Posts: 374	Tamron 200-500 zoom test and KM7D Just acquired this lens to go to Africa in October. Here are 2 test pixs, both shot handheld with AS on, AP, AWB. 500mm (equivalent 750mm) ISO800, F8, 1/125. Shot during dull rainy day with a bit of PS touch up. 500mm (equiv 750mm) ISO200, F6.3 1/125. This pix is totally unretouched, only resized for posting. I think the performance is quite good for the price, although not nearly equal to G lens. Hope to get good safari pictures if lighting is good. My first choice was to try and get the 1.4x APO II (D) teleconv to match my 200 APO G, but no one has one available here for me to try out . One issue I discovered with this Tamron lens is that in vertical format orientation (grip on top), the aperture sometimes don't close down during exposure, hence leading to overexposure. This problem can also be seen using the DOF preview. The horiz and other vert orientation works fine. None of my KM lens has this problem. I think this may have something to do with sticky aperture control lever in the long Tamron lens. I can see this lever from the back of the lens, so now thinking may be possible to apply a bit of white lithium grease. Opinions anyone? Anybody else got experience with this Tamron lens?

30th August 2005	#2
Del_CtrlnoAlt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Outside the Dry Box. Posts: 16,342	Re: Tamron 200-500 zoom test and KM7D wow... nice lens.. . sharp pics with nice bokeh too... __________________ Logging Off Permanently. Those who need to contact me will know where to contact me.

30th August 2005	#3
Drudkh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,019	Re: Tamron 200-500 zoom test and KM7D I was in Africa in 2002 for military visit. I didn't get to see much wildlife as our location is at the most southern part. The weather is very good (1st quarter of the year) and it was sunny everyday. I started picking up photography about that time and brought my Canon A40 for the trip too. Mostly shot landscapes and the common sights. I love the sky and landscape there, it was very beautiful. I hope you'll be able to capture great photos there!

30th August 2005	#4
ileaf Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Reservoir Posts: 410	Re: Tamron 200-500 zoom test and KM7D hey dude, great pics there! AS seems working very fine even with long tele end. enjoy ur africa trip! and share with us lots of photos for poor people like me, who only sees africa wildlife from national geographic channel

30th August 2005	#5
TME Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Clementi Posts: 6,188	Re: Tamron 200-500 zoom test and KM7D Hi fastshot, great shots... but for the yellow oriole (i that it?) is the focus a little off? I detect that the eye is not as sharp as the feathers of left wing. One more question: Did u use a tripod? I always have problems stabilising such a long and heavy lens even with AS and getting it on a tripod, there is always the issue of slack. I use a Manfrotto 190B + 480RC ballhead. Total weight is 8kg and I believe that my 7D + grip + 70-210 f/2.8 can't weigh more than 3kg. So I was wondering if I am using the tripod the right way... if u are using a tripod, please advice, thanks!