Tamron 70-200 f2.8 Macro

[eas01010]

Hi,

Has anyone got their hands into one and tried it?

Read rave reviews on this one. Wonder how good the Macro is.

[TangKF]

I think there have been several threads on this.

I have one, from Hong Kong.

In short, my comments are as follows:

1. Good colour
2. Good Bokeh
3. However, not for sports photos due to non-IS (or something like that).

To me, it served my needs since I dont take fast shots..

Sorry but I don't have a photo hosting site to post my photos

Regards

[TangKF]

Okie Just got myself a Flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tangkf/

All shots in there were taken with this lens.

The shots were processed and not out-of-camera. Processing was by Canon Digital Photo Professional. Mainly changing the contrast and colour saturation.

The original photos are pretty sharp to start with.

[eas01010]

Wow, thanks for sharing. The shots are sharp and nice.

From the reviews, one common downside is the AutoFocus accuracy. Subjects will randomly get out of focus. Did you experience that?

[mybearbrick]

i think this lens has only two problem for me.
1) soft at f/2.8 at 200mm.
the canon mount of this lens has better IQ than 70-200hsm and slightly edge over EF 70-200f4L.
2) slow AF indoors and low light.

for me (1) is the biggest problem, since i like it fast at f/2.8 and max. magnification only achievable at 200mm. but IQ matches EF 70-200f4L once stopped down to f/4 or 5.6.

quite a good lens!
but most shops in SG quotes this lens to ex!! ~ S$1300.
export or grey might be worth considering.
or learn from TangKF, get it from HK or US! priced ~ S$1050

[eas01010]

Thank you guys for your comments. Thinking of getting one now. Thanks for spreading the poison....

[TangKF]

Originally Posted by eas01010 Wow, thanks for sharing. The shots are sharp and nice. From the reviews, one common downside is the AutoFocus accuracy. Subjects will randomly get out of focus. Did you experience that?

I dont have problem with autofocus accuracy for the limited shots I have. YOu can see that in the tap and fence shots (both using autofocus; can't remember the focal length though)

But the only problem I found with this lens is the slower than usual autofocus (non-HSM or similar). I'm still okie with it as I came from the manual-focus lens era more than 20 years back. So I chose to utilise what I have instead of complaining

or if you can wait, they should (PURE SPECULATION) come out with IS+HSM (or similar) version in future haha

[mybearbrick]

Let me post an example of a test shot:
200mm f/2.8 ISO100 1/60s (why? because i want to use 200mm to shoot with minimum noise, so I have to open wide to get maximise light entry)
image is shot handheld with on-body flash fired.

Resized shot with focus on knob:


100% crop:


why others are still favouring Sigma HSM despite it being inferior to the Tamron?
I believe HSM is really important because I shoot with AF-C mode (with no delay setting) and the focus tracking for this lens is just not fast enough to catch a fluttering flower in a breeze. SWM (AF-S) or USM will be useful here but hell the AF-S 80-200 f/2.8 and even AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VR does not have the pseudo-macro capability like sigma and tamron's.

[mybearbrick]

I once let go of my AF-D 80-200 f/2.8 due to slight back focusing, poor AF ring quality and soft at 80mm and 200mm at f/2.8.
Now, I think Nikkor optics still


Lotus shot handheld with AF-D 80-200 f/2.8
image resized:
200mm f/2.8 ISO200 1/640s


100% crop:



though not razor sharp, but once stop down to f/4 or f/5.6.
both lenses are indistinguishable and razor-sharp.

[eas01010]

Thanks again guys. Tang, would like to ask you. Do they sell grey set of this lens in HK? (how much savings can you get?) And if you buy original set, does Tamron lens come with International Warranty?

[TangKF]

Originally Posted by eas01010 Thanks again guys. Tang, would like to ask you. Do they sell grey set of this lens in HK? (how much savings can you get?) And if you buy original set, does Tamron lens come with International Warranty?

I dont know whether they sell grey set in HK. The one I have comes with China/Hong Kong warranty ONLY. No international warranty for mine.

I paid approx. SGD1050 (I think.... I posted somewhere.. haha cant remember.. getting old). May not be the cheapest though.

It wasnt the saving but the availability that prompted me to get from HK. Noone selling in Singapore early this year. And since I was going to HK, so might as well.

[mybearbrick]

Originally Posted by TangKF I dont know whether they sell grey set in HK. The one I have comes with China/Hong Kong warranty ONLY. No international warranty for mine. I paid approx. SGD1050 (I think.... I posted somewhere.. haha cant remember.. getting old). May not be the cheapest though. It wasnt the saving but the availability that prompted me to get from HK. Noone selling in Singapore early this year. And since I was going to HK, so might as well.

yes even till today,
no shops have stock for you to choose.
I have called up JELCorp and they have reaffirmed that the stocks are already available in singapore stores and RRP is S$1.5.
quotes from stores are around $1.3 to $1.4.
some shops confirmed that they are not stocking it and only bring in based on orders,
which means you cannot pick the best of copy for yourself (though Tamron have better QC than other third party manufacturers).
in such a situation, I would have followed your footsteps and get it from HK.
furthermore, US prices and HK prices are both around $1050, i am better off using that extra cost to offset my air ticket while I can still tour at the same time.

warranty? A lens without much electronics like swm/hsm/vr and when carefully used, should be rather durable bah.
nevertheless, IMO, JELCorp is just distributor, they are probably not able to service ur lens. so u might either get a replacement or wait for them to ship to their nearest service centre.

[eas01010]

yeap makes sense..... i emailed Tony Leung and his response was very fast and prompt.... I even emailed Tin Cheng and they don't have stock at moment.... looks like I have to ask Tony to reserve a set for me first....

[TangKF]

Originally Posted by eas01010 yeap makes sense..... i emailed Tony Leung and his response was very fast and prompt.... I even emailed Tin Cheng and they don't have stock at moment.... looks like I have to ask Tony to reserve a set for me first....

Tony is a nice guy..... got mine from him

[mybearbrick]

hey guys,
TrailSeeker shared great pics from his Tamron 70-200 f2.8 on a Pentax!
Sure leaves you drooling eh?

[eas01010]

basket.... you owners really know how to suck other people into the game

[mybearbrick]

Originally Posted by eas01010 basket.... you owners really know how to suck other people into the game

which mount are u using?

[eas01010]

planning to get a canon mount

[racoon31e]

Spent 5 minutes walking around downstairs... Haven't really had the time to put this lens through its paces.

No PP done except for resizing to 800*600 in LR, and cropping to 100% in PS.

Otherwise images are straight out of my Nikon D40. Exif data should be intact.

Common Mynah [F2.8]



100% Crop



Chameleon/Lizard? [F4]



100% Crop



More to come when I can find the time.

Btw, for the benefit of the others, here are 2 other threads on CS discussing this lens. Here, and here.

Cheers.

[racoon31e]

Originally Posted by mybearbrick Let me post an example of a test shot: 200mm f/2.8 ISO100 1/60s (why? because i want to use 200mm to shoot with minimum noise, so I have to open wide to get maximise light entry) image is shot handheld with on-body flash fired. Resized shot with focus on knob: 100% crop: why others are still favouring Sigma HSM despite it being inferior to the Tamron? I believe HSM is really important because I shoot with AF-C mode (with no delay setting) and the focus tracking for this lens is just not fast enough to catch a fluttering flower in a breeze. SWM (AF-S) or USM will be useful here but hell the AF-S 80-200 f/2.8 and even AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VR does not have the pseudo-macro capability like sigma and tamron's.

"200mm f/2.8 ISO100 1/60s" - Possibility of handshake?