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12-13-2006, 07:47 PM   #1
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Tamron converter or new lens?

I'm happy with my new k100d but I miss the great telephoto power of my old Canon S3 IS. I've remedied things somewhat by getting the Pentax 50-200 zoom, but I like to take photos of birds - will be photographing bald eagles and other fun fowl after Christmas - and I don't think the 200 is going to cut the mustard. Tamron makes a 70-300 and also a 28-300 lens. Is either any good? I don't need National Geographic quality and low cost is definitely a major factor, but I don't want to waste even $150 on a lens if it's unusably bad. I also have seen a Tamron 1.4x converter lens. Would that work on the Pentax 50-200?

12-13-2006, 08:05 PM   #2
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I've got a Tamron 1.4 and have been using it with my FA*300 on my K100 for wildlife shots. Does a pretty good job.

I haven't tried it with my 50-200, but if I get a chance in the next day or two, I'll take a few shots and post them.
12-13-2006, 08:10 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Lusk Quote
I've got a Tamron 1.4 and have been using it with my FA*300 on my K100 for wildlife shots. Does a pretty good job.

I haven't tried it with my 50-200, but if I get a chance in the next day or two, I'll take a few shots and post them.
Tom,

Thanks for the reply. I'm thinking I might get the 1.4x converter now. Will it work with the Pentax 50-200 lens? How does the Tamron converter attach to the camera? I'm a complete newbie both to DSLR and to the Pentax lens scene.

Will
12-13-2006, 08:34 PM   #4
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the tamron 70-300 works well.. so does the tamron tele 1.4..

the 70- 300 most definitely is not unusably bad.. its sharp at its full zoom and given reasonable light focuses well..

the 28 to 300 is okay but not as useable at the long end as the 70 to 300..

i cant comment on the pentax 200 plus tamron tele cos i havnt used the combination.. i am waiting for a sigma apo dg 70 to 300 to be delivered when it arrives i can make comparisons between the two third party mass market lenses..

the good 100d iso performance and sr makes these type lenses more usably than they are made out to be..

trog

ps.. my son started with the pentax kit lens plus the tamron 70 to 300.. the kits lens has been ebayed and replaced with a tamron 18 to 200..

when he tried my 18 to 200 he instantly said it take better pictures than the kit lens.. his chosen basic kit is 18 to 200 plus the cheapo tamron 70 to 300.. with a few old legacy primes thrown in.. he also has the 1.4 tamron tele..


Last edited by trog100; 12-13-2006 at 08:47 PM.
12-13-2006, 09:02 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by trog100 Quote
the tamron 70-300 works well.. so does the tamron tele 1.4.. ps.. my son started with the pentax kit lens plus the tamron 70 to 300.. the kits lens has been ebayed and replaced with a tamron 18 to 200..

when he tried my 18 to 200 he instantly said it take better pictures than the kit lens.. his chosen basic kit is 18 to 200 plus the cheapo tamron 70 to 300.. with a few old legacy primes thrown in.. he also has the 1.4 tamron tele..
Thanks for the reports, trog.

I will probably keep the kit lens for now. Doesn't look like it has much resale value, and I need a lens at the low end for shooting in close quarters. But right now I'm planning to use the Pentax 50-200 as my default 24/7 lens, and all I want is something else with more power than 200 for birding. The dilemma seems to be, which Tamron product to buy - the 1.4x converter or the 70-300 zoom? I'm leaning toward the latter. Although there's a goodish bit of overlap between the 70-300 and the 50-200, I would not use the 70-300 as a daily lens because 70 is not good for, say, a quick close-up shot of my daughter, while the 50 is.

What I'd really like is a 200-400 zoom for under $200. But I can't find one.
12-13-2006, 09:39 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by WMBP Quote
I'm happy with my new k100d but I miss the great telephoto power of my old Canon S3 IS. I've remedied things somewhat by getting the Pentax 50-200 zoom, but I like to take photos of birds - will be photographing bald eagles and other fun fowl after Christmas - and I don't think the 200 is going to cut the mustard. Tamron makes a 70-300 and also a 28-300 lens. Is either any good? I don't need National Geographic quality and low cost is definitely a major factor, but I don't want to waste even $150 on a lens if it's unusably bad. I also have seen a Tamron 1.4x converter lens. Would that work on the Pentax 50-200?
If you're thinking of the Tamron 1.4x converter that goes for sixty something bucks, then yes, it works quite well with the DA50-200. Autofocus even works at 200mm, even though it is said not to. I haven't had any problems with this setup myself.

One of my lightweight travel kits, when I want a big range and few lenses is the Kit lens (DA18-55), the DA50-200, and the Tamron 1.4x tc. That takes me from 18mm to 280mm with two (and a half) lenses. All fit into a waist fanny pack.

However, you may find 280mm a little short for birding. Unless you are using a blind, 280mm won't get anywhere close.
12-13-2006, 10:56 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by volosong Quote
If you're thinking of the Tamron 1.4x converter that goes for sixty something bucks, then yes, it works quite well with the DA50-200. Autofocus even works at 200mm, even though it is said not to. I haven't had any problems with this setup myself.

One of my lightweight travel kits, when I want a big range and few lenses is the Kit lens (DA18-55), the DA50-200, and the Tamron 1.4x tc. That takes me from 18mm to 280mm with two (and a half) lenses. All fit into a waist fanny pack.

However, you may find 280mm a little short for birding. Unless you are using a blind, 280mm won't get anywhere close.

I'm convinced, especially when I found that I could get the 1.4x converter for $60 from B&H. Everywhere else I saw it, it was over $100. I've placed an order.

You're right, it will be a bit short for birding, although the eagles I hope to see in Arkansas in a couple of weeks are sometimes very cooperative, sitting perching right above me on a branch and letting me walk around beneath them and shoot. But I have to stop somewhere. My next purchase will probably be one of the 70-300 zoom lenses with macro capability (either the Sigma apo lens, or the new Tamron). But at $200+, well, I'll put that in my 2007 budget. I've got enough to keep me busy in the meantime.

Thanks to everybody. This has been very educational.

12-13-2006, 11:20 PM   #8
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Tamron adaptor washed out colour

QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Lusk Quote
I've got a Tamron 1.4 and have been using it with my FA*300 on my K100 for wildlife shots. Does a pretty good job.

I haven't tried it with my 50-200, but if I get a chance in the next day or two, I'll take a few shots and post them.
I tried tamron 1.4 on ltd lenses

The colour tends to wash out a lot and I mean a lot in deed.

Softer images as well.

I wonder if you discovered that as well?
12-14-2006, 07:05 PM   #9
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"I tried tamron 1.4 on ltd lenses "

not our experience.. not tried it on the ltds but we tried it on many lenses.. we could not detect any sharpness loss at all.. however it will exagerate any flaws the master lens has.. but overall we were impressed.. we expected a noticable image degrade but just could not find any.. i would say pretty much pure gain no loss..

incidently my sigma 70-300 apo dg.. arrived today.. i have only fired off about 30 test shots but its looking good.. very good in fact..

i have plenty of example shots with tele without tele.. not long lenses thow.. they struggle enough as it is without a tele converter to hamper em.. my sigma 70/300 seems to work very nicely on its own but i would not expect it to with a converter.. the same applies to my tamron 18/200..

the very expensive faster long range glass will probably stand one but not the slower cheaper stuff..

the 1.4 converter does work well on shorter focal length lenses thow..

trog
12-14-2006, 07:20 PM   #10
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I find that it washes out the colour a bit, you loose that rich Pentax * series colour and get Tamron zoom colour (like my Tamron 70-300 had)...

P.S. Based on my Pentax F*300
12-14-2006, 08:03 PM   #11
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yes perhaps a little.. i tend to find my k100d overdoes the colour so losing a little perhaps isnt so noticable.. but its within the tweakable range i think.. in goodlight i dont think it would be a problem for most people.. in poor wishy-washy light it might be..

i like my exagerated colour penax but the purist in me niggles a bit.. he he

the tamron is a bit pale and does suffer from the "fringes" but for the money its a steal..

trog
12-14-2006, 08:49 PM   #12
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Tamron 1.4 converter

I have the Tamron and it works well with the 50-200, not as well with the 70-300. If you are looking for a good yet cheap zoom, I recommend you check e-bay for the Quantaray 70-300 (Tamron). It is a very good lens and can be found often for under $100. I shot most of these and many others in my galleries with it last year. BIG BIRDS 2005 Photo Gallery by James Williams at pbase.com It is by far the best value of any lens I have, even though I have some nice glass but a little pricey compared to the Quantaray.
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