Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Andi Lo · 08-08-2009, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by Igilligan

Hey how did my name get pulled into an AF lens thread...??? Without any Russian names??? This can't be right!

Ack, my mistake, I mistyped Jay as Gus...

I blame lack of sleep plus a day of slavery at school. My bad, you two. I meant to say BOTH your lenses always look perfect anyway.

**Ash** · 08-08-2009, 12:49 AM

Originally posted by happyant

A few more, all at 200mm f2.8

How do they look sharpness wise?

Yeah, I get similar results to these - haziness seems to be the norm here, though Jay's wide open captures are a world sharper and contrastier (a neology, I know) than these (and mine).

Hence my concern.
Jay, do you get any soft wide open results as these?

**Ash** · 08-08-2009, 02:11 AM

I have used this lens at a concert event today and have come up with these results shooting at f/2.8:

Not too bad under these low-light conditions... all at ISO 1600 with some NR by PS.
More to follow...

**Ash** · 08-08-2009, 05:38 AM

Some more from this indoor event...

All captured at f/2.8 from 130-200mm with ISO 1600:

I note slight green hazy halo above her hair on my screen - not there in real life when taking the shot...

Comments?

Andi Lo · 08-08-2009, 07:01 AM

The photos looks nice and quite well composed, but I really cant tell whether the lens is good/not from these shots since these are less than optimum conditions. my 2c

**Ash** · 08-08-2009, 07:33 AM

You're right Andi, and I haven't posted 100% crops - a little lazy at the moment, or maybe just exhausted...

I'm just keen to know, from anyone who may know, under what conditions would such a lens produce a hazy image when used wide open?

jsherman999 · 08-08-2009, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Yeah, I get similar results to these - haziness seems to be the norm here, though Jay's wide open captures are a world sharper and contrastier (a neology, I know) than these (and mine).

Hence my concern.
Jay, do you get any soft wide open results as these?

.

My copy wasn't really 'soft' wide-open at 200mm - softer than f/4, but most
of my missed shots had to do with the system locking on a point in the foreground
or background (not the same as FF/BF.) All my long telephotos have that
tendency wide-open, it's just tougher to nail the shot.

Here are some 200mm f/2.8 shots, some of these are cropped a bit:

here I think focus locked on blossom petal in foreground

Crop:

jackbullet · 08-08-2009, 03:58 PM

this is an action shot at 200mm 2.8...pretty sharp i reckon!!
AF is spot on.

**Ash** · 08-08-2009, 10:29 PM

For the results one can get from this big lens, it certainly is value for money.

Thanks for all your contributions.

jackbullet · 08-09-2009, 02:58 AM

more pics at 200mm wide open.
The 2nd shot is 100% crop of the 1st.....no other shots are cropped.
No PP either. All shots hand held.

raider · 08-10-2009, 03:24 AM

This is a little OT but what sort of tele-converter will work with the Tamron 70-200?

Will the Sigma 1.4x Tele Converter EX DG APO Ptx work? If so, the 200mm tele-end will become 200 x 1.4 = 280mm. Is the Tamron 70-200mm with TC still sharper than say DA50-300?

**Ash** · 08-10-2009, 03:32 AM

Originally posted by raider

This is a little OT but what sort of tele-converter will work with the Tamron 70-200?

Will the Sigma 1.4x Tele Converter EX DG APO Ptx work? If so, the 200mm tele-end will become 200 x 1.4 = 280mm. Is the Tamron 70-200mm with TC still sharper than say DA50-300?

G'day Raider.
I have the Tamron Pz-AF 1.4x SP teleconverter, which is a screw-drive TC that works very well with the Tamron 70-200.

AFAIK, the Sigma TC will only work with the older Sigma 70-200 (ie. not the HSM II) an there is no HSM TC produced yet, but wouldn't THAT be great...

I asked myself that question you asked about the 70-200+TC being sharper or not than the 55-300, and I've come to appreciate they're in different leagues - the 70-200+TC becomes a 100-280 f/4 approximately and produces images that are comparatively as sharp or sharper at equivalent apertures to the 55-300, esp. at f/5.6-8, where the Tamron appears to render colour contrast and the 3D effect just that little bit better. But as mentioned in another thread, if comparing at f/8, there's little between them.

The DA 55-300 really is a good consumer lens - I'm going to be keeping mine for when I don't want to lug around that bazooka of a lens.

raider · 08-10-2009, 03:57 AM

Hi Ash. I don't quite understand when u say the Sigma TC will only work with the older sigma 70-200 without HSM. The Tamron 70-200 has no HSM and is a screw driven lens. Won't this work with the sigma TC or the sigma TC has different contacts and such which prevent the Tamron from being recognized?

Yes. I quite like my Tamron 70-200 but it is a huge lens to carry around. That is the only weakness I would say.

**Ash** · 08-10-2009, 04:07 AM

I'd have to refer to the more esteemed forum members to answer whether Sigma AF TCs would allow AF with the Tamron 70-200 - I don't have any experience with that combo.

As for the Tammy's weight - to me this is no weakness, it's simply part and parcel of desiring a fast telephoto zoom...

shane33 · 08-10-2009, 03:08 PM

i use the sigma 1.4x on the Tamron 70-200 it works ok no dramas just the usual af hunt but it does work

08-08-2009, 02:11 AM	#18
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Other f/2.8 examples I have used this lens at a concert event today and have come up with these results shooting at f/2.8: Not too bad under these low-light conditions... all at ISO 1600 with some NR by PS. More to follow...

08-08-2009, 03:58 PM	#23
jackbullet Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 57	this is an action shot at 200mm 2.8...pretty sharp i reckon!! AF is spot on. Attached Images

08-09-2009, 02:58 AM	#25
jackbullet Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 57	more pics at 200mm wide open. The 2nd shot is 100% crop of the 1st.....no other shots are cropped. No PP either. All shots hand held. Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A variety of images with FA* 200/4 Macro (no bugs) - VLF competition images	Marc Langille	Post Your Photos!	28	08-22-2008 07:28 PM
Request for a Tamron 28-75 shot	Katsura	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	09-21-2007 03:27 AM
Some flower shots with a tamron 18-200 (large images)	rhermans	Post Your Photos!	3	07-08-2007 01:50 AM

08-08-2009, 12:36 AM	#16
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Originally posted by Igilligan Hey how did my name get pulled into an AF lens thread...??? Without any Russian names??? This can't be right! Ack, my mistake, I mistyped Jay as Gus... I blame lack of sleep plus a day of slavery at school. My bad, you two. I meant to say BOTH your lenses always look perfect anyway.

08-08-2009, 12:49 AM	#17
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Originally posted by happyant A few more, all at 200mm f2.8 How do they look sharpness wise? Yeah, I get similar results to these - haziness seems to be the norm here, though Jay's wide open captures are a world sharper and contrastier (a neology, I know) than these (and mine). Hence my concern. Jay, do you get any soft wide open results as these?

08-08-2009, 05:38 AM	#19
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Some more from this indoor event... All captured at f/2.8 from 130-200mm with ISO 1600: I note slight green hazy halo above her hair on my screen - not there in real life when taking the shot... Comments?

08-08-2009, 07:01 AM	#20
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	The photos looks nice and quite well composed, but I really cant tell whether the lens is good/not from these shots since these are less than optimum conditions. my 2c

08-08-2009, 07:33 AM	#21
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	You're right Andi, and I haven't posted 100% crops - a little lazy at the moment, or maybe just exhausted... I'm just keen to know, from anyone who may know, under what conditions would such a lens produce a hazy image when used wide open?

08-08-2009, 12:57 PM	#22
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Ash Yeah, I get similar results to these - haziness seems to be the norm here, though Jay's wide open captures are a world sharper and contrastier (a neology, I know) than these (and mine). Hence my concern. Jay, do you get any soft wide open results as these? . My copy wasn't really 'soft' wide-open at 200mm - softer than f/4, but most of my missed shots had to do with the system locking on a point in the foreground or background (not the same as FF/BF.) All my long telephotos have that tendency wide-open, it's just tougher to nail the shot. Here are some 200mm f/2.8 shots, some of these are cropped a bit: here I think focus locked on blossom petal in foreground Crop:

08-08-2009, 10:29 PM	#24
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	For the results one can get from this big lens, it certainly is value for money. Thanks for all your contributions.

08-10-2009, 03:24 AM	#26
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	This is a little OT but what sort of tele-converter will work with the Tamron 70-200? Will the Sigma 1.4x Tele Converter EX DG APO Ptx work? If so, the 200mm tele-end will become 200 x 1.4 = 280mm. Is the Tamron 70-200mm with TC still sharper than say DA50-300?

08-10-2009, 03:32 AM	#27
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Originally posted by raider This is a little OT but what sort of tele-converter will work with the Tamron 70-200? Will the Sigma 1.4x Tele Converter EX DG APO Ptx work? If so, the 200mm tele-end will become 200 x 1.4 = 280mm. Is the Tamron 70-200mm with TC still sharper than say DA50-300? G'day Raider. I have the Tamron Pz-AF 1.4x SP teleconverter, which is a screw-drive TC that works very well with the Tamron 70-200. AFAIK, the Sigma TC will only work with the older Sigma 70-200 (ie. not the HSM II) an there is no HSM TC produced yet, but wouldn't THAT be great... I asked myself that question you asked about the 70-200+TC being sharper or not than the 55-300, and I've come to appreciate they're in different leagues - the 70-200+TC becomes a 100-280 f/4 approximately and produces images that are comparatively as sharp or sharper at equivalent apertures to the 55-300, esp. at f/5.6-8, where the Tamron appears to render colour contrast and the 3D effect just that little bit better. But as mentioned in another thread, if comparing at f/8, there's little between them. The DA 55-300 really is a good consumer lens - I'm going to be keeping mine for when I don't want to lug around that bazooka of a lens.

08-10-2009, 03:57 AM	#28
raider Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,989	Hi Ash. I don't quite understand when u say the Sigma TC will only work with the older sigma 70-200 without HSM. The Tamron 70-200 has no HSM and is a screw driven lens. Won't this work with the sigma TC or the sigma TC has different contacts and such which prevent the Tamron from being recognized? Yes. I quite like my Tamron 70-200 but it is a huge lens to carry around. That is the only weakness I would say.

08-10-2009, 04:07 AM	#29
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	I'd have to refer to the more esteemed forum members to answer whether Sigma AF TCs would allow AF with the Tamron 70-200 - I don't have any experience with that combo. As for the Tammy's weight - to me this is no weakness, it's simply part and parcel of desiring a fast telephoto zoom...

08-10-2009, 03:08 PM	#30
shane33 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 51	i use the sigma 1.4x on the Tamron 70-200 it works ok no dramas just the usual af hunt but it does work

Request for images from Tamron 70-200 at f/2.8

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!