Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 sharpness

[XenoPhoto]

I own a 300D using a 17-50mm f2.8 lens and 18-200mm lens (both Tamron)

However, i find that when shooting wide open f2.8 with my Tamron 17-50mm, the picture seems to be not focus or not sharp.

It will only be sharp if i go up to f4. Is this normal? I would very mush like to have sharp picture taken in f2.8. Any advise?

[Headshotzx]

Post a 'not sharp' pic at f/2.8 for us to review?

[Kit]

As usual, make sure you are not confusing shallow depth of field with lack of sharpness.

[XenoPhoto]

nope. I'm not confuse with depth of field and sharpness. have been taking wedding and events for 4 years already
i will post the photos later tonight. mosty probably will provide 100% crop on using centre focus

[boyboy]

it's like that la. u have to stop down, or put ur intended focus point in the centre.

i was playing with my camera AF fine tune to try to correct this until the "truth" dawned on me

try cranking up ur camera sharpening. seems to compensate well for me. using it on d300. of course, innate sharpness is always better but make do lah..

not sure what u using, but for non-low light situations, a cheepo 18-55 f3.5-5 lens is just as good and a bit sharper even.

[falcon007]

Hi Xenophoto, I own a tammy 17-50 too and I have the exact same problem. My tammy always front focus a bit and the problem is most severe at 17mm. I thought I got a lemon at first when I look at the soft image I took. However, when I manually focus, even at f/2.8, the images are crystal clear and tack sharp like what most reviews said.

I am going to send this lens back to calibrate...sigh...

[XenoPhoto]

Hmm... my whole picture at f2.8 is soft, sharper at the centre. however, no focusing issue as I have tested with a focus chart before adn is still the sharpest on the line.

[jonlock]

Yep I agree too that it is front focusing, based on your experience, cannot be you so blur dunno focus point. I too got a front focusing 17-50 tamron. Some idiot sold me one. I should have been more careful when I checked the lens. Now sent for calibration too. When buying 3rd party lenses, got to be vigilant when checking. I kena sigma before now Tamron. So far never had a lemon Canon original lens.

[bigbird17]

my 2875 ok leh. at first i tot was blur than i found out was my handling i tried the 1750 tooo sharp wide open as well.. i doubt their QC so bad la.. try again with tripod

[calebk]

Originally Posted by boyboy it's like that la. u have to stop down, or put ur intended focus point in the centre. i was playing with my camera AF fine tune to try to correct this until the "truth" dawned on me try cranking up ur camera sharpening. seems to compensate well for me. using it on d300. of course, innate sharpness is always better but make do lah.. not sure what u using, but for non-low light situations, a cheepo 18-55 f3.5-5 lens is just as good and a bit sharper even.

Not entirely true. I've used a Tamron 17-50 that is sharp wide open. I think this is down to sample variation.

Cranking up sharpness in-camera does not really help to remedy the situation; remember, you cannot sharpen detail that doesn't exist to begin with, so if the image is soft, cranking up in-camera sharpness will not put back the detail that the lens has failed to resolve.

[casio]

Where do you have your lenses calibrated?

I'm experiencing focus issues as well.

[boyboy]

true true. maybe mine is not sharp copy. =(

with this bombshell, my tamron is now unsellable on CS.. hahahahahahhaa

honestly, i'm satisfied though. satisfied enuff not to gian the nikon 17-55 f 2.8 which cost abt 3 times the price.

[bigbird17]

Originally Posted by boyboy true true. maybe mine is not sharp copy. =( with this bombshell, my tamron is now unsellable on CS.. hahahahahahhaa honestly, i'm satisfied though. satisfied enuff not to gian the nikon 17-55 f 2.8 which cost abt 3 times the price.

oops!!! haha.. maybe some one with D300 andD200 wants it?

[spartacus.ret]

NPNT!!!

[geraldkhoo]

I bought my Tamron 17-50 2nd hand and is sharp wide open. I was very satisfied with the results on my D200, but after getting a D300 and learning about AF Fine Tuning, I checked my lens with test charts and found that it had a slight front focusing, so I fine tuned it, but still, the pictures are sharp wide open. The copy of the Tamron 17-50 I have is the older version without the in-built motor

[boyboy]

Originally Posted by bigbird17 oops!!! haha.. maybe some one with D300 andD200 wants it?

why would he?

actually i love my tamron lens to bits.. and with a bit more testing, i realised that the focus is usually quite accurate and center IS tack sharp even wide open

won't be selling anytime soon. i usually only buy things which i intend to use long term.

[bigbird17]

Originally Posted by boyboy why would he? actually i love my tamron lens to bits.. and with a bit more testing, i realised that the focus is usually quite accurate and center IS tack sharp even wide open won't be selling anytime soon. i usually only buy things which i intend to use long term.

wah v fast cover up backside, like roti-prata man peng prata and words. u blacklisted by me liao jk bro ahaha..


yea me too at first i tot got prob with mine too than later i found out was my own fault super sharp even wide i using 2875

[boyboy]

nvm dun dig up when i wanna sell can liao :X

but seriously, i not keen to sell. if i do a flip on this, then u better be wary. maybe the lens suddenly spoil.. Choy choy!

Imho, the price i got (new) vs 2nd hand prices, i rather buy new. but i bought it in malaysia. warranty issues i think must go JB n settle.. haha

[XenoPhoto]

might it be because i have my focus at the right side and therefore, it is unable to focus well at f2.8?

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7 point system

[copikau]

Originally Posted by jonlock Now sent for calibration too.

where did U send for calibration ?