Not All Tamron 17~50mm are Sharp??

[RealCaster]

I went to buy a Tamron 17~50mm today, spend a total of 3 hrs there hehehhehe.....

I brought my Nikon 50mmf1.4,85mmf1.8 & 18~135mm along to compare the sharpness and color contrast & tonal

I went throught a total of 3 Tammy before I find a sharp copy... yes, 3 lens!!

I thought all lens are suppose to be calibrate accurately before it left the factories??

The first 2 lens I tried was just not very sharp when I zoom in to check the pics, even the shop sales person was quite amaze, and have to agree with me when I show them the pcs. He took over the camera (D200) and tried and true enough it is not very sharp and I was just about to give up, when he brought out his last Tammy for me to try and lucky me... this copy was razor sharp repeatedly.

I start to wonder, is there some quality control issue with Tamron or is it so for all lens. I never had any problem with Nikon lens or was I lucky.....

Please share your experience in buying lens, have you encounter something like what I have describe? How do you guys normally check the lens you are going to buy??

Thanks

[TMC]

this will happen to every brand. Not handphones, computers, cars, cameras will work perfectly all the time. Only thing to do is to check before you hand over the cash.

[photobum]

I do notice that Tamron seems to have some QC issues lately..... and it is getting worse. On the other hand, Sigma used to be bad but their lenses are getting better.

[swimcraze]

thanks for the info

[londonray]

sorry OT a bit... thinking about getting the sigma or the tamron... what's the deciding factor for u? seems like u did quite a bit of homework 1st... that's why ask you... thanks!

[looka]

I bought my Tamron 17-50mm about 2 months ago. I just brought my D200 then to the shop and went through 3 copy of them before find one that has good sharpness from corner to corner. 1st one had right side softness throughout its zoom while 3th one at 17mm soft on all corner and right soft at 50mm. I can't say very sharp but at 17mm f/2.8 it show same sharpness from corner to corner as my 18-200VR at 18mm f/8 centre. BTW, all Tamron I tested "Made in Japan".

I did not do this test on my 18-200VR but lucky my Hong Kong trip 1397 shoots from it show better than I expected sharpness.

[photobum]

Originally Posted by londonray sorry OT a bit... thinking about getting the sigma or the tamron... what's the deciding factor for u? seems like u did quite a bit of homework 1st... that's why ask you... thanks!

The best way is to bring a laptop and test it out at the store before buying. Most reputable photo stores will allow you to do this.

For Nikon, I don't have such issues. But again, you will probably buy 3 or 4 times more.

[megaweb]

Usually not sharp issue is caused by focusing issue. You should perform a focusing test. If focusing problem, send it back to Service Centre to calibrate.

[RealCaster]

I do not have any issue with the rest of my nikon lens, so i doubt is focusing issue. Anyway, I am really happy with my Tamron now, great lens I would say

[TerryOng]

Not surprising, not all lenses in the market are perfect. Well, as what has been mentioned earlier, Tamron is well known for its QC problems and I would never ever buy a Tamron lens. Would try to stick with Nikon as much as I can, unless I want a particular lens where Nikon does not have any equivalent.

[swimcraze]

Originally Posted by TerryOng Not surprising, not all lenses in the market are perfect. Well, as what has been mentioned earlier, Tamron is well known for its QC problems and I would never ever buy a Tamron lens. Would try to stick with Nikon as much as I can, unless I want a particular lens where Nikon does not have any equivalent.

i have had sharp copies of Tamron 90mm, 17-50 and 28-75mm so far
i thought Sigma was the one with QC problem?

[apalah_u]

Hi guys,

I plan to buy Tamron 17-50mm soon.

Please advise how to check for a sharp copy.

Thanks

Originally Posted by RealCaster I went to buy a Tamron 17~50mm today, spend a total of 3 hrs there hehehhehe..... I brought my Nikon 50mmf1.4,85mmf1.8 & 18~135mm along to compare the sharpness and color contrast & tonal I went throught a total of 3 Tammy before I find a sharp copy... yes, 3 lens!! I thought all lens are suppose to be calibrate accurately before it left the factories?? The first 2 lens I tried was just not very sharp when I zoom in to check the pics, even the shop sales person was quite amaze, and have to agree with me when I show them the pcs. He took over the camera (D200) and tried and true enough it is not very sharp and I was just about to give up, when he brought out his last Tammy for me to try and lucky me... this copy was razor sharp repeatedly. I start to wonder, is there some quality control issue with Tamron or is it so for all lens. I never had any problem with Nikon lens or was I lucky..... Please share your experience in buying lens, have you encounter something like what I have describe? How do you guys normally check the lens you are going to buy?? Thanks

[raincool2005]

so far on Sony/Minolta mount, Tamron 17-50, 28-75 are very sharp, comparable to CZ1680.

[Vulpix0r]

Most of the time it's sample variation... Sometimes you get a sharp one, other times you get one that's a dud.

[thomaschan]

like megaweb say, lots of time is focusing issues ie, back focus/front focus.
not so much that the glass is bad that is causing unsharp, but the calibration is not exactly the same.

so for example, a lens that is unsharp for u, may be sharp on my camera, after all each camera itself is not exactly the same as all other.

[dannynys]

Originally Posted by thomaschan like megaweb say, lots of time is focusing issues ie, back focus/front focus. not so much that the glass is bad that is causing unsharp, but the calibration is not exactly the same. so for example, a lens that is unsharp for u, may be sharp on my camera, after all each camera itself is not exactly the same as all other.

I think if the camera is not even calibrated properly. all lenses will be affected including the original brands. If that's the case, it's not fair to put the blame on the third party's lens quality.
I do not think that if the lens is not sharp with a camera it will be sharp on the other. However, I do give my doubt about third party lenses as they are a fraction of the original, the quality might varies. It pays to check it first.

[zerartul]

third party lens sometime suffer from back/forward focusing resulting in unsharp picture. This is due to their AF being a backward engineered and not the original from the camera manufacturer itself. Some lens samples have their af abit out resulting in oof pictures. Usually though the glass has no problem and once properly calibrated will be as sharp as their expected quality to be.

[alanyeo]

heard that nikon D300 have a feature that can actually help to "calibrate" the lens including third party lens....

[AxeLa]

Originally Posted by alanyeo heard that nikon D300 have a feature that can actually help to "calibrate" the lens including third party lens....

So high tech ar...