Tamron 70-300mm: No reviews posted

jonhock · 12-20-2011, 01:11 PM

Hi guys! Has anybody ever had any experience with or own a Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 AF LD Macro? I looked it up in the review section and even though the lens is listed there aren't any reviews on it. I'm looking at an extremely inexpensive one and trying to decide if I should get it or not

.
This is the one that the "macro" is only 1:3.8. Thanks ahead of time!

bdery · 12-20-2011, 01:51 PM

It's supposed to be an ok lens, nothing special but not a doorstop either. You should get good results in good light.

Docrwm · 12-20-2011, 01:53 PM

Be careful with Shopgoodwill.

bluestringer · 12-20-2011, 02:03 PM

I've got the Quantaray rebranded one. It's does ok, PF is bad under certain conditions.

Last edited by bluestringer; 12-22-2011 at 02:29 PM.

**pacerr** · 12-20-2011, 02:05 PM

Consider the Tamron AF 75-300 DL as well. It's a full frame version of that lens and was cataloged until a year or so ago.

Tamron AF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 LD Tele-macro (1:3.9) Lens Reviews - Tamron Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

I'd rate it about the same quality of results as a good DA 50-200 through about 260mm, noticeably better than the 70-300 AF DL and not significantly different from the newer AF 70-300 LD Di in practical IQ.

H2

jonhock · 01-11-2012, 04:55 PM

I finally ended up with the TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2 and am happy with it so far. I also grabbed a Sigma DG 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 a couple of days later and now I'm just trying to decide which one to keep

So far, the Tamron doesn't "hunt" as much when inside but that's not really a deal breaker for the Sigma since I don't use 300mm much in the house

The close up ability is really close from one to the other as is the general IQ. If the sky ever clears up around here during a full moon I will be putting them to the dreaded purple fringe test

I had hoped to decide before my LBA kicked in again but in the meantime I found a Sigma "Scalematic" 200mm 1:3.5 prime with close focusing which so far I believe is fairly close to 1:2 but that is for another thread (which I did start) and possibly a future review. There's no review posted for this lens either but the darn thing looked so interesting just sitting there...by itself...in the corner.....in the dark... without a camera

Thanks again

yusuf · 01-11-2012, 09:14 PM

TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO is a fine lens for the price, sharp through the range and nice bokeh - PF is an issue though in high contrast shot. Personally I found it to be sharper than Sigma 70-300 at longer end.

Jewelltrail · 01-11-2012, 10:49 PM

Originally posted by jonhock

Hi guys! Has anybody ever had any experience with or own a Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 AF LD Macro? I looked it up in the review section and even though the lens is listed there aren't any reviews on it. I'm looking at an extremely inexpensive one and trying to decide if I should get it or not

.
This is the one that the "macro" is only 1:3.8. Thanks ahead of time!

Hi Jon:

I owned this precise version of the lens and shot it on my K20d. It provides, IMHO, about the best return on your crop sensor $$ you going to get. I'm not sure what you mean by inexpensive, but bought mine @ Keh in 2008, in Ex conditon, for $90. After using the lens, I thought the attached stigma it acquired as the "PF Monster" was mostly hyperbole. Here is a sample with it, @ 300mm, tiny crop:

Ordinal · 06-01-2013, 02:53 AM

I was a bit worried about getting this but after seeing some sample shots I think I'm going to dive in and get it.

12-20-2011, 01:11 PM	#1
jonhock Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 420	Tamron 70-300mm: No reviews posted Hi guys! Has anybody ever had any experience with or own a Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 AF LD Macro? I looked it up in the review section and even though the lens is listed there aren't any reviews on it. I'm looking at an extremely inexpensive one and trying to decide if I should get it or not. This is the one that the "macro" is only 1:3.8. Thanks ahead of time!

01-11-2012, 04:55 PM	#6
jonhock Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 420 Original Poster	Thanks guys! I finally ended up with the TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2 and am happy with it so far. I also grabbed a Sigma DG 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 a couple of days later and now I'm just trying to decide which one to keep So far, the Tamron doesn't "hunt" as much when inside but that's not really a deal breaker for the Sigma since I don't use 300mm much in the house The close up ability is really close from one to the other as is the general IQ. If the sky ever clears up around here during a full moon I will be putting them to the dreaded purple fringe test I had hoped to decide before my LBA kicked in again but in the meantime I found a Sigma "Scalematic" 200mm 1:3.5 prime with close focusing which so far I believe is fairly close to 1:2 but that is for another thread (which I did start) and possibly a future review. There's no review posted for this lens either but the darn thing looked so interesting just sitting there...by itself...in the corner.....in the dark... without a camera Thanks again

01-11-2012, 10:49 PM	#8
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Originally posted by jonhock Hi guys! Has anybody ever had any experience with or own a Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 AF LD Macro? I looked it up in the review section and even though the lens is listed there aren't any reviews on it. I'm looking at an extremely inexpensive one and trying to decide if I should get it or not. This is the one that the "macro" is only 1:3.8. Thanks ahead of time! Hi Jon: I owned this precise version of the lens and shot it on my K20d. It provides, IMHO, about the best return on your crop sensor $$ you going to get. I'm not sure what you mean by inexpensive, but bought mine @ Keh in 2008, in Ex conditon, for $90. After using the lens, I thought the attached stigma it acquired as the "PF Monster" was mostly hyperbole. Here is a sample with it, @ 300mm, tiny crop: Last edited by Jewelltrail; 01-11-2012 at 11:14 PM.

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12-20-2011, 01:51 PM	#2
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	It's supposed to be an ok lens, nothing special but not a doorstop either. You should get good results in good light.

12-20-2011, 01:53 PM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Be careful with Shopgoodwill.

12-20-2011, 02:03 PM	#4
bluestringer Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cotton fields of South Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,748	I've got the Quantaray rebranded one. It's does ok, PF is bad under certain conditions. Last edited by bluestringer; 12-22-2011 at 02:29 PM.

12-20-2011, 02:05 PM	#5
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,349	Consider the Tamron AF 75-300 DL as well. It's a full frame version of that lens and was cataloged until a year or so ago. Tamron AF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 LD Tele-macro (1:3.9) Lens Reviews - Tamron Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database I'd rate it about the same quality of results as a good DA 50-200 through about 260mm, noticeably better than the 70-300 AF DL and not significantly different from the newer AF 70-300 LD Di in practical IQ. H2

01-11-2012, 09:14 PM	#7
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO is a fine lens for the price, sharp through the range and nice bokeh - PF is an issue though in high contrast shot. Personally I found it to be sharper than Sigma 70-300 at longer end.

06-01-2013, 02:53 AM	#9
Ordinal New Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 6	I was a bit worried about getting this but after seeing some sample shots I think I'm going to dive in and get it.