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12-14-2008, 01:03 PM   #1
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Your thoughts on this budget lens?

Tamron | Zoom Telephoto AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD | AF276P700

With the change in my employment, I am going to have to watch my budget a little closer, but I still would like to replace my old manual lens with an autofocus lens for my K100d.

Will this lens give satisfactory results? I know it's a cheap lens, but for now, this is kinda where my budget is.

Thank you.

vmax84

12-14-2008, 01:08 PM   #2
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This is the kind of shooting I do.........outdoor action shots of the kids doing stuff:




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12-14-2008, 01:10 PM   #3
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Satisfactory, yes. If you're a pixel-peeper, you're going to find many faults, but with standard prints or resized images for the web, it's a very good performer with a nice macro range.
12-14-2008, 01:14 PM   #4
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Or, for roughly the same amount of money, is there another lens I should be looking at?

Can someone give a quick explanation between my first mentioned lens and this one? Thanks again.

Tamron | 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Lens | AF017P700 | B&H

vmax84

12-14-2008, 01:52 PM   #5
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Hey,

The second one you list is much better with a 1:2 Macro vs. the first you listed with only a 1:3.9 All in all the second one is better in every respect.

Regards,
Mike
QuoteOriginally posted by vmax84 Quote
Or, for roughly the same amount of money, is there another lens I should be looking at?

Can someone give a quick explanation between my first mentioned lens and this one? Thanks again.

Tamron | 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Lens | AF017P700 | B&H

vmax84
12-14-2008, 01:58 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by X Man Quote
Hey,

The second one you list is much better with a 1:2 Macro vs. the first you listed with only a 1:3.9 All in all the second one is better in every respect.

Regards,
Mike
Thank you. I just don't know enough about the "numbers" yet to come to a logical conclusion on my own with this stuff......yet!!

vmax84
12-14-2008, 01:59 PM   #7
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I'm not really up on the modern ones, but it doesn't appear to be difficult to make a decent lens of this kind of spec. I'll probably go with an old-school 70-210 or little 80-200: these'll easily equate to what I used to consider my 'big long lens' back in the day, and be faster and smaller besides.

Hey, btw, Vmax, you in the U.P.? And what are you using now?


Speed is good in the UP. Gets dark awfully early much of the time, particularly when the snowmobiles come out. You might just do better with a bit less reach and more speed and MF.


Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 12-14-2008 at 02:11 PM.
12-14-2008, 03:03 PM   #8
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Well, here's another type of pic that we do:




Shot with my old vintage (1984) Soligor 75-250 zoom. I have to work hard to get clear shots generally.

vmax84
12-14-2008, 03:14 PM   #9
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Here's a pic of my old Soligor:




It's been a good lens, but I'd like something easier to use.

vmax84
12-14-2008, 03:16 PM   #10
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Sorry, not in the U.P., but will be flying the Marquette MI to Milwaukee WI run mid January.

vmax84
12-14-2008, 03:19 PM   #11
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I have the LD Di version of the Tamron 70-300, and for the money, it is hard to beat. I bought it well over a year ago at $170, and i think they are going for about $130 now, an absolute steal if you ask me.. Here is a link to Amazon for this lens, $121.95 http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000EXR0VK/...9293401&sr=1-1

Few examples..

@ 300mm F8


120mm F8



Macro samples

300mm F8 macro mode.



300mm F8 macro mode.

12-14-2008, 03:24 PM   #12
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Looks very 80s.

I'm not sure how long the Soligor brand hung on, but what speed's that? Anyway, these were very popular lenses in the 80's, lots of steady f4's and even faster variable ones, some of which handled very quickly, could be worth a try on a budget.

There's just this tendency for amateur grade lenses to be wicked slow these days: if you can live with that, there's plenty out there. I don't know *when* the world got convinced beginners needed the equivalent of a 450mm 5.6 lens or so, but there's options there.

Ah, I crossed posts. Steady 4.5? That's pretty dim, actually, you could probably have an easier time *either* by going to something a little faster, or seeing what AF can do for you. I'd keep that Soligor, though, seems to have nice qualities.

Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 12-14-2008 at 03:38 PM.
12-14-2008, 03:24 PM   #13
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Now that I have my old zoom up on the screen, tell me, how bad is this lens? It takes pics, but is it really that bad of a lens? Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings!!

vmax84
12-14-2008, 04:09 PM   #14
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Well, the snowmobile pic was shot with my kit lens Pentax, where the soccer pic was taken with my old Soligor. It can get decent pics, but, it certainly makes me "earn" them!!

vmax84

Thanks for all the replies and the good link!!
12-14-2008, 04:13 PM   #15
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Make sure you get the LD Di II, It's the best 70-300 though some may argue the Sigma APO version is a little better but cost alot more.
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