[SirJangly]

Hey guys, I jsut got the 35mm in today, and it's nice. I am just wondering though....I can get the tamron on ebay for $360 shipped. How do the IQ's between them compare? I'd like to use either for a wedding, and I'm not sure if I should just return the pentax and get the tamron. I'd love for you guys to sway me either way. Thanks in advance

[dgaies]

Hey guys, I jsut got the 35mm in today, and it's nice. I am just wondering though....I can get the tamron on ebay for $360 shipped. How do the IQ's between them compare? I'd like to use either for a wedding, and I'm not sure if I should just return the pentax and get the tamron. I'd love for you guys to sway me either way. Thanks in advance

It's somewhat apples and oranges. Both lens represent great value for what they are. The 35/2.4 is a small, low cost prime with excellent IQ. The Tamron 28-75/2.8 is a great lens for shooting people and represents a lot of value as well as a fast zoom with great IQ.

So although I generally prefer primes, if I had to choose only one of those two lenses, it would be the 28-75/2.8.

[SirJangly]

Great points. I think either one would pair nicely with my 28-75. So do they both have similar IQ, or are the differences minimal?

[dgaies]

Great points. I think either one would pair nicely with my 28-75. So do they both have similar IQ, or are the differences minimal?

Not sure what you meant by both would pair nicely with your 28-75, did you mean a different lens you already owned?

Regarding the IQ, I would say from what I know of both lenses, they are on par with each other. That's is not to suggest they will look exactly the same for a given shot, but optically I wouldn't say one if significantly better than the other. I just got a copy of the DAL35/2.4, but I haven't had a chance to use it much yet so I can't really say specifically how it compares.

[SirJangly]

I already have a 70-300, and meant that I'd have a good focal range covered, sorry for the confusion

[dgaies]

I already have a 70-300, and meant that I'd have a good focal range covered, sorry for the confusion

Gotcha. Well certainly the 28-75 + 70-300 combo would cover a lot of ground.

[InlawBiker]

Why don't you try it for a while and see what you think. You just got it right? Give it a chance, maybe you'll like it maybe not. It's too early to think about replacing it :-)

Greg.

[yusuf]

28-75 offers amazing IQ. Unless you like to have a smaller lens, 28-75 should be preferred.

[SirJangly]

I must ask...I have read the 28-75 can have some bf/ff issues...if this is present on my K-X, what can I do to fix it?

[dgaies]

I must ask...I have read the 28-75 can have some bf/ff issues...if this is present on my K-X, what can I do to fix it?

Well, if you buy a new copy you could either exchange it or you could send it to Tamron to be fixed. I'm not sure if you'd need to sent the camera too, so maybe someone else can chime in and answer that point. If you buy a used one I'm pretty sure Tamron will charge you to calibrate the AF adjustment in the lens.

The other option is to use the "debug" menu in the K-x. It's a way of adjusting the global AF adjustment for the whole body. The downside to this is if your other lenses are accurate without any adjustment, you'd have to remember to change the adjustment bacj every time you change lenses.

[SirJangly]

Thanks dgaies. That sounds like a big problem :\ Is this common in only this lens, other tamron lenses, or lenses in general?

[dgaies]

Thanks dgaies. That sounds like a big problem :\ Is this common in only this lens, other tamron lenses, or lenses in general?

I don't know if I'd call it a big problem, but you should keep it in mind if you are buying a used lens without a return policy, especially if you can't be assured from the current owner that there are no major issues.

Overall, it seems to be a bigger issues on certain lenses more so than others. In general, most lenses can always benefit from a small adjustment. The issue becomes when they are way off and/or you have no way to correct for it. From my personal experience I've had far more trouble with getting a good copy of the Tamron 17-50 as opposed to the Tamron 28-75. I've never had a major focusing issue with any of the three copies of the 28-75 I've owned at different times. I can't say the same for the 17-50.

[SirJangly]

I don't know if I'd call it a big problem, but you should keep it in mind if you are buying a used lens without a return policy, especially if you can't be assured from the current owner that there are no major issues.

Overall, it seems to be a bigger issues on certain lenses more so than others. In general, most lenses can always benefit from a small adjustment. The issue becomes when they are way off and/or you have no way to correct for it. From my personal experience I've had far more trouble with getting a good copy of the Tamron 17-50 as opposed to the Tamron 28-75. I've never had a major focusing issue with any of the three copies of the 28-75 I've owned at different times. I can't say the same for the 17-50.

Thanks Good points. Although I did receive the 35mm, I don't know if it's really much different IQ wise from the kit lens, although I have only taken about two dozen pictures so far.