Originally posted by pacerr I acquired/used this lens for about six months last year and I really wanted it to to "succeed" as a one-lens solution for rural, mid-distance landscape/buildings scenes but I just couldn't quite get comfortable with it. My personal critique may be useful to potential users:
- It was overwhelming in size and weight for my K200D's -- especially with a battery grip, which simply made it even more awkward to carry in the field. It may be a better fit for the K10/K20 bodies.
- The larger hood, ND and polarizer filter size was inconvenient.
- I thought that while sharp, it was a little too "contrasty" for most of my uses.
My opinion is that it's optical formula required a little too much glass to efficiently cover that FL range, speed and IQ at that point in the design process. I suspect the optical corrections to satisfactorily cover both 24- and 135mm were incompatible at that time with less bulk. Today, the Tamron 18-250/270mm zooms indicates those issues may be solved and lessens the value of the more limited zoom range. I wondered what Tamron could have produced with that package at, say, 24-105mm/f2.8 at that time had they backed off from the super-zoom marketing niche.
H2
In any case, your "2 samples" sure make it look 'good-er'.
Pacerr. thank you for the input--much appreciated. I read your writeup of this lens over in our Lens reviews--here
Tamron SP AF 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF] Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database I agree, the lens has a little weight to it, though I love it on my k20d. Things to consider about its weight;
The build is excellent--lots of metal=more weight
It is designed for Full-Frame--means more glass=more weight
The DA 16-50 is heavier than this lens--Da is only APS-c
It weighs about the same as the Tamron 28-75 2.8
Important to bear in mind the Tamron 18-250 is an APS-c only lens.
Its hood is about the same size (bayonette) as the 28-75 hood--easy to work on and off. 72mm filter thread is excellent for a FF lens coverig this focal range. Vignetting is tough to subdue on FF.
On full frame it has a much more valuable range. It is perfect on my D700 when I only want 1 lens, acting as an APS-c lens which covers 16mm--90mm. It is very sharp from 24-40mm, and sharp @ longer lengths. It is as sharp as my 28-75 was. though it is missing f 2.8 of course. It handles distortions and CAs splendidly. It is the best AF Tamron lens I have used, really saying something too since it is missing the large aperture of the 17-50 & 28-75--accurate focus, consistently. Fantastic colors on this lens too.
This lens is the highest rated Tamron zoom, by C & N folk, over @ the Fred Miranda site, beating even the venerable 28-75, easily.
FM Reviews -'
EDIT: change 28-40mm to 24-40mm