Comparison images Tamron 17-50 vs DA 18-55II?

FHPhotographer · 03-04-2010, 10:44 AM

Anybody out there have comparison shots from a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Pentax DA 18-55II ? I can find comments, but no comparison images. Or, if you have a link I'd appreciate it if you would post it. Thanks,
Brian

BBear · 03-04-2010, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by FHPhotographer

Anybody out there have comparison shots from a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Pentax DA 18-55II ? I can find comments, but no comparison images. Or, if you have a link I'd appreciate it if you would post it. Thanks,
Brian

Sorry, cant help you with the specific question. But i am curious, are they in the same price range?

I thought the Tamron was considerably more expensive, if not, then i can see people not sure which way to go...

rockmaster1964 · 03-04-2010, 02:12 PM

The tamron is more expensive.

Astroguy12s · 03-04-2010, 02:50 PM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/88312-sharpnes...n-17-50mm.html

Comparison between the 18-55L and tamron 17-50. 18-55L is optically the same to the 18-55 II.

FHPhotographer · 03-04-2010, 04:40 PM

Astroguy12s, thanks for the link and many thanks to taurus9 for posting the original comparison. To my eye the Tamron is sharper until f/8 and then they're so close I can't really see any difference on screen. Since I do most of my shooting in outdoors daylight the faster and sharper and constant aperture Tamron seems the way to go despite the $300 price difference,
Brian

rawr · 03-04-2010, 04:57 PM

FYI, both lenses are also reviewed in a lot of detail on a number of sites - eg Lenstip and SLR Gear:

Tamron 17-50:
Tamron SP AF 17-50 mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) review - Introduction - Lenstip.com

Tamron Lens: Zooms - Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF SP AF (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

Pentax 18-55 AL II:
Pentax smc DA 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II review - Introduction - Lenstip.com

Pentax Lens: Zooms - Pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II SMC DA (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

The kit lens compares very well to the Tamron in the resolution dept, but not wide open. The Tamron apparently controls CA better than the kit lens too.

kathyk · 03-04-2010, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by FHPhotographer

Astroguy12s, thanks for the link and many thanks to taurus9 for posting the original comparison. To my eye the Tamron is sharper until f/8 and then they're so close I can't really see any difference on screen. Since I do most of my shooting in outdoors daylight the faster and sharper and constant aperture Tamron seems the way to go despite the $300 price difference,
Brian

I am not following, if you shoot mostly outdoors/daylight then wouldn't you be mostly at f8+?

Jewelltrail · 03-05-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

FHPhotographer: Anybody out there have comparison shots from a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Pentax DA 18-55II ? I can find comments, but no comparison images. Or, if you have a link I'd appreciate it if you would post it. Thanks,
Brian

Brian, a great place to compare images would be in our "Tammy Club" and in the "Kit Lens Club," both of which are just mouse clicks away for you. In fact, they are in the same section as is this thread.

Jewelltrail · 03-05-2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Kathyk: I am not following, if you shoot mostly outdoors/daylight then wouldn't you be mostly at f8+?

Well, it depends where you shoot outdoors. I often do a lot of hiking which, when below tree-line, means I'm in the woods. Light is scarce in the forest. In places like these, it can be nice to have faster apertures. Also, when you are looking for shallower DOF, it is also nice to have larger apertures.

Most lenses do compare similarly @ f8--it is at larger apertures where differences begin to manifest themselves. But, you are right in that, if shooting outdoors, in good light, f8 is often desired.

FHPhotographer · 03-05-2010, 12:14 AM

jewell, I must be doing something wrong, I did a search in the "Tammy Club" for the 17-50 and failed to find anything,
Brian

FHPhotographer · 03-05-2010, 12:27 AM

kathyk, I guess I don't understand your question. You may be confusing landscape with outdoors. I'm outside but 90% of the time the object is only several feet away and needs a shallower DOF to blur all that landscape in the background. Plus the sweet spot for the Tamron 17-50 (like many lenses) is in the f/4-5.6 range, and starts dropping off at f/8 and (usually) keeps dropping,
Brian

Jewelltrail · 03-05-2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

FHPhotographer: jewell, I must be doing something wrong, I did a search in the "Tammy Club" for the 17-50 and failed to find anything,
Brian

No, nothing you are doing wrong--I don't think--our search engine @ this forum is probably rated at 1, on a scale going to 10.

Seriously, in the Tammy thread there are a multitude of 17-50 shots. I know, because, not only have I posted more than 10 there, but have seen many by others as well. Instead of doing a search, just go through the thread, reading the title given to each post--usually each shot is labeled according to the lens used.

BTW, more of the 17-50 shots are on the more recent end of the thread--remember, the lens is relatively new (2 years old in Pentax mount.) Let me know if you can't find any--okay?

FHPhotographer · 03-05-2010, 03:34 PM

jewell, thanks for the feedback,
Brian

Jewelltrail · 03-05-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

FHPhotographer: jewell, thanks for the feedback,
Brian

Brian, anytime!

ajuett · 03-05-2010, 11:17 PM

After owning a Sigma 18-50 Macro f/2.8 and DA 18-55 (ver.1) in the past the only advantage the Tamron or Sigma f/2.8 constants have is they are brighter/faster for indoors or low light. I'm more than happy with my DA-L kit that came with the K-x. Spending another $500-600 Canadian for the low light is up to your needs/wants.

03-04-2010, 10:44 AM	#1
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297	Comparison images Tamron 17-50 vs DA 18-55II? Anybody out there have comparison shots from a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Pentax DA 18-55II ? I can find comments, but no comparison images. Or, if you have a link I'd appreciate it if you would post it. Thanks, Brian

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03-04-2010, 12:37 PM	#2
BBear Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT / NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 822	Originally posted by FHPhotographer Anybody out there have comparison shots from a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Pentax DA 18-55II ? I can find comments, but no comparison images. Or, if you have a link I'd appreciate it if you would post it. Thanks, Brian Sorry, cant help you with the specific question. But i am curious, are they in the same price range? I thought the Tamron was considerably more expensive, if not, then i can see people not sure which way to go...

03-04-2010, 02:12 PM	#3
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382	The tamron is more expensive.

03-04-2010, 02:50 PM	#4
Astroguy12s New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 12	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/88312-sharpnes...n-17-50mm.html Comparison between the 18-55L and tamron 17-50. 18-55L is optically the same to the 18-55 II.

03-04-2010, 04:40 PM	#5
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297 Original Poster	Astroguy12s, thanks for the link and many thanks to taurus9 for posting the original comparison. To my eye the Tamron is sharper until f/8 and then they're so close I can't really see any difference on screen. Since I do most of my shooting in outdoors daylight the faster and sharper and constant aperture Tamron seems the way to go despite the $300 price difference, Brian

03-04-2010, 04:57 PM	#6
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	FYI, both lenses are also reviewed in a lot of detail on a number of sites - eg Lenstip and SLR Gear: Tamron 17-50: Tamron SP AF 17-50 mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) review - Introduction - Lenstip.com Tamron Lens: Zooms - Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF SP AF (Tested) - SLRgear.com! Pentax 18-55 AL II: Pentax smc DA 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II review - Introduction - Lenstip.com Pentax Lens: Zooms - Pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II SMC DA (Tested) - SLRgear.com! The kit lens compares very well to the Tamron in the resolution dept, but not wide open. The Tamron apparently controls CA better than the kit lens too.

03-04-2010, 10:27 PM	#7
kathyk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan/USA Posts: 173	Originally posted by FHPhotographer Astroguy12s, thanks for the link and many thanks to taurus9 for posting the original comparison. To my eye the Tamron is sharper until f/8 and then they're so close I can't really see any difference on screen. Since I do most of my shooting in outdoors daylight the faster and sharper and constant aperture Tamron seems the way to go despite the $300 price difference, Brian I am not following, if you shoot mostly outdoors/daylight then wouldn't you be mostly at f8+?

03-05-2010, 12:03 AM	#8
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: FHPhotographer: Anybody out there have comparison shots from a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Pentax DA 18-55II ? I can find comments, but no comparison images. Or, if you have a link I'd appreciate it if you would post it. Thanks, Brian Brian, a great place to compare images would be in our "Tammy Club" and in the "Kit Lens Club," both of which are just mouse clicks away for you. In fact, they are in the same section as is this thread.

03-05-2010, 12:08 AM	#9
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: Kathyk: I am not following, if you shoot mostly outdoors/daylight then wouldn't you be mostly at f8+? Well, it depends where you shoot outdoors. I often do a lot of hiking which, when below tree-line, means I'm in the woods. Light is scarce in the forest. In places like these, it can be nice to have faster apertures. Also, when you are looking for shallower DOF, it is also nice to have larger apertures. Most lenses do compare similarly @ f8--it is at larger apertures where differences begin to manifest themselves. But, you are right in that, if shooting outdoors, in good light, f8 is often desired.

03-05-2010, 12:14 AM	#10
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297 Original Poster	jewell, I must be doing something wrong, I did a search in the "Tammy Club" for the 17-50 and failed to find anything, Brian

03-05-2010, 12:27 AM	#11
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297 Original Poster	kathyk, I guess I don't understand your question. You may be confusing landscape with outdoors. I'm outside but 90% of the time the object is only several feet away and needs a shallower DOF to blur all that landscape in the background. Plus the sweet spot for the Tamron 17-50 (like many lenses) is in the f/4-5.6 range, and starts dropping off at f/8 and (usually) keeps dropping, Brian

03-05-2010, 01:11 AM	#12
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: FHPhotographer: jewell, I must be doing something wrong, I did a search in the "Tammy Club" for the 17-50 and failed to find anything, Brian No, nothing you are doing wrong--I don't think--our search engine @ this forum is probably rated at 1, on a scale going to 10. Seriously, in the Tammy thread there are a multitude of 17-50 shots. I know, because, not only have I posted more than 10 there, but have seen many by others as well. Instead of doing a search, just go through the thread, reading the title given to each post--usually each shot is labeled according to the lens used. BTW, more of the 17-50 shots are on the more recent end of the thread--remember, the lens is relatively new (2 years old in Pentax mount.) Let me know if you can't find any--okay?

03-05-2010, 03:34 PM	#13
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297 Original Poster	jewell, thanks for the feedback, Brian

03-05-2010, 11:07 PM	#14
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: FHPhotographer: jewell, thanks for the feedback, Brian Brian, anytime!

03-05-2010, 11:17 PM	#15
ajuett Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,100	After owning a Sigma 18-50 Macro f/2.8 and DA 18-55 (ver.1) in the past the only advantage the Tamron or Sigma f/2.8 constants have is they are brighter/faster for indoors or low light. I'm more than happy with my DA-L kit that came with the K-x. Spending another $500-600 Canadian for the low light is up to your needs/wants.