[Jewelltrail]

Paperbag: Yes the quality out of this zoom is pretty incredible, especially for the price. If I find a good copy, I will be tempted again.

It's funny, I've read a lot about how it is an awkward zoom range on ASP-C. I actually find it more useful for an f2.8 lens (maybe more specialized, but more useful for it's "people" application).

Buy it new, at a dealer's, so you can try out copies first--this makes sense. This is what I did with my other Tamron lenses: I will not be buying anymore used ones.

I agree, the 28-75mm range makes it specialized for people shooting--that is why I bought it. But, of course, one must concede that when you mount it to Crop sensor you forfeit wide angle, which is why there is a Tamron 17-50 Di now. Also, peculiarly, the 28-75mm loses a lot of its appeal on Full Frame, where its performance drops off significantly.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone!

[dgaies]

I agree, the 28-75mm range makes it specialized for people shooting--that is why I bought it. But, of course, one must concede that when you mount it to Crop sensor you forfeit wide angle, which is why there is a Tamron 17-50 Di now. Also, peculiarly, the 28-75mm loses a lot of its appeal on Full Frame, where its performance drops off significantly.

I had read/heard that the 28-75 actually performs pretty well on FF (D700).

[Ash]

It does OK.
Photozone rates it as an average performer with significant barrel distortion at 28mm, vignetting wide open, weak IQ at 50mm at f/2.8 and ordinary corner sharpness all over.



Be weary that these absolute numbers are not comparable to those from APS-C tests since these ones reflect the lens's performance on the Canon 5D:



Some CA but not much LoCA:


Overall, could be better, but still considered an excellent value for money lens on FF.

[Jewelltrail]

dgaies: I had read/heard that the 28-75 actually performs pretty well on FF (D700).

I would love to read or hear about that application of the 28-75 --Can you please, direct me? Here is how the Photozone people sum it up on Canon FF:

Verdict
The Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR may shine with glory on APS-C DSLRs but it has found its master within the full format scope. The border resolution is generally soft at f/2.8 and you need stop down a bit in order to get a decent image quality across the frame. The lens produces very hefty vignetting figures at f/2.8 but the situation improves rapidly when stopping down a bit.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[dgaies]

I had read/heard that the 28-75 actually performs pretty well on FF (D700).

I would love to read or hear about that application of the 28-75 --Can you please, direct me? Here is how the Photozone people sum it up on Canon FF:

Verdict
The Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR may shine with glory on APS-C DSLRs but it has found its master within the full format scope. The border resolution is generally soft at f/2.8 and you need stop down a bit in order to get a decent image quality across the frame. The lens produces very hefty vignetting figures at f/2.8 but the situation improves rapidly when stopping down a bit.

The comment I made, "I had read/heard that the 28-75 actually performs pretty well on FF (D700)", was based on a conversation I had with a forum member who used to shoot Pentax and the moved to Nikon (D700). He shot with the 28-75 on the Pentax and then bought another copy in the Nikon mount for his D700. His opinion of the 28-75 on the D700 was favorable and looking at some of the samples he sent me I would agree with his overall assessment. These weren't test shots, and I don't know what focal length nor aperture they were shot at. So it's quite possible that while he was satisfied with the 28-75 performance overall, that it also has all the deficiencies that Photozone mentioned (vignetting at f/2.8, softness at f/2.8, etc). I was merely passing along the overall impression I had heard about from someone who used the 28-75 both in the Pentax system and on a FF system.

[yusuf]

Do we really care for FF for Pentax in near future?

[paperbag846]

Do we really care for FF for Pentax in near future?

I'm more excited by the idea of an APS-C, K mount EVIL.

[Jewelltrail]

Paperbag:I'm more excited by the idea of an APS-C, K mount EVIL.

Yes!!!