Recently, I was tempted to get myself the Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IF-ED and sell my Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR LD ASPHERICAL [IF], just for the sake of a longer reach and VR. Just when I was pixel-peeping and complaining about the Tamron not being sharp enough for my taste, I started looking up reviews of the Nikon 18-200mm VR with regards to sharpness. I came across reviews commenting on the lack of sharpness of this lens compared to the Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED but not the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Isisaxon did a good comparison of both Nikon lenses.
I was also discouraged from letting go of my Tamron and save up the money for something else. I decided to give my Tamron lens a chance, a chance to perform. I was bored enough yesterday and did a simple test just by shooting some simple things in my room, to evaluate the sharpness of the lens.
I was also discouraged from letting go of my Tamron and save up the money for something else. I decided to give my Tamron lens a chance, a chance to perform. I was bored enough yesterday and did a simple test just by shooting some simple things in my room, to evaluate the sharpness of the lens.
SHARPNESS EVALUATION
(D200, Manual exposure mode, shutter speed 1/60s, L FINE JPEG quality, Customs setting default)
ISO has been adjusted accordingly when a different aperture was used.
All images are cropped at 100% without adjustment in sharpness. Levels were adjusted.
CLICK ON THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE THE IMAGES (~500kb)
Figure 1. AF area is center. Focal point is neck area.
50mm at f/11
Figure 2. AF area is center. Focal point is the tetra-pack icon.
(a) Left, 50mm at f/2.8.
(b) Right, 17mm at f/2.8.
(D200, Manual exposure mode, shutter speed 1/60s, L FINE JPEG quality, Customs setting default)
ISO has been adjusted accordingly when a different aperture was used.
All images are cropped at 100% without adjustment in sharpness. Levels were adjusted.
CLICK ON THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE THE IMAGES (~500kb)
Figure 1. AF area is center. Focal point is neck area.
50mm at f/11
Figure 2. AF area is center. Focal point is the tetra-pack icon.
(a) Left, 50mm at f/2.8.
(b) Right, 17mm at f/2.8.