[Carniflex]

Is there any real life difference in photos between Tamron DI vs Pentax SMC vs "normal" coatings on the lens assuming it's the same lens overall. For example the 28-200 mm zooms that are available in all mentioned coatings.

I have googled around for a little while but have failed to find any text with good comparison between those coatings. Most of the texts seem like shampoo commercials with descriptions how your life will be better but no numbers seem to be presented.

[axl]

My personal experience with coatings:

SMC - the best I've tried, period. Very good in "into the light source" (ITLS) situation, greatly annihilates or reduces flare, glare, ghosting. Keeps high contrast in nearly all situations
Sigma EX DG/DC lenses - not as good as SMC but still fares well under most conditions. Very usable in ITLS situations.
Tamron Di - big reflections, colorful shapes (depends on number of iris blades) across the frame in many situations, holds contrast well, flare and glare are OK
Hoya HMC (as on old lenses) - very bad contrast in ITLS situations, but nearly no reflections!

bottom line: if you put in front of me three optically identical lenses with different coatings, I'll always pick SMC...

Regards
Peter