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10-08-2008, 08:25 PM   #1
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Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 first test shots

.

The UPS man came about 40 minutes before sundown, the bastard.

Had to hurry to a regular shooting area to get some test shots - not a
lot of time for composition, and some of the shots have handshake, but
overall, I'd say this is a very good lens. Good sharpness wide open, very
good contrast, very good infinity focus. Can't wait to have some time to
really put it through it's paces.


70mm f/2.8 1/30s ISO 400:

70mm f/5.6 1/500s ISO 400:

200mm f/5.6 1/500s ISO 400:


Here's the dreaded 135mm wide open - doesn't look too bad to me:
135mm f/2.8 1/2000s ISO 400:

crop:

200mm f/4.5 1/1000s ISO 200:

200mm f/4.0 1/350s ISO 400:

200mm f/4.0 1/500s ISO 400:

200mm f/4.5 1/350s ISO 400:

200mm f/4.5 1/350s ISO 400:

160mm f/3.5 1/90s ISO 200: (crop)

200mm f/2.8 1/180s ISO 400:

130mm f/5.6 1/750s ISO 400:

70mm f/5.6 1/125s ISO 400:


10-08-2008, 08:36 PM   #2
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I must say, those samples are impressive. Much better than the Sigma samples of the same lens I have seen. Where did u find the lens?
10-08-2008, 09:34 PM   #3
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Looks like a sweet lens indeed. Now I can just keep telling myself, "I don't need a 70-200 lens. I don't need a 70-200 lens." I'll keep telling myself that over and over. You sure make it look like an excellent lens though.
Oh yeah, btw, where did you get this lens already?
10-08-2008, 09:41 PM   #4
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how's the build quality and focus speed?
i can imagine the price was certainly right

10-08-2008, 09:51 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by jgredline Quote
I must say, those samples are impressive. Much better than the Sigma samples of the same lens I have seen. Where did u find the lens?
B&H Photo. I've seen a lot of samples from both lenses now, and I think the
Sigma is just about as good, except possibly 200mm wide open - Tamron
seems to pull ahead there.


QuoteOriginally posted by LaRee Quote
Looks like a sweet lens indeed. Now I can just keep telling myself, "I don't need a 70-200 lens. I don't need a 70-200 lens." I'll keep telling myself that over and over. You sure make it look like an excellent lens though.
Oh yeah, btw, where did you get this lens already?
Thanks, I plan to try it out in better light the next couple days.

QuoteOriginally posted by k100d Quote
how's the build quality and focus speed?
i can imagine the price was certainly right
I had a chance to try one on a Canon EOS Xsi in a store a little while ago,
so I saw that the build was very sturdy & professional. The Canon felt like
a cheap toy at the end of real photography equipment The DA* 50-135
is built a bit better, though, but just slightly.

Re focus speed - faster than the Tamron 70-300, that's all I can say so far
without further testing.

200mm f/2.8 1/1000s ISO 400:

200mm f/2.8 1/180s ISO 400:

200mm f/4.0 1/30s ISO 400:

Last edited by jsherman999; 10-08-2008 at 10:14 PM.
10-09-2008, 02:58 AM   #6
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Nice shots, looks good and I have more or less decided on this lens but I would really like to see some taken with the 1.4x MC4 Tamron teleconverter attached.
10-09-2008, 11:18 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Mike.P® Quote
Nice shots, looks good and I have more or less decided on this lens but I would really like to see some taken with the 1.4x MC4 Tamron teleconverter attached.
Ditto. I have the same teleconverter, and am looking to replace my (broken and currently in the shop; the repairs are to cost $10 less than I can purchase a new one for...) Tamron 70-300mm. Perhaps you could do a comparison? It might be interesting to see how this fairs at 200mm cropped to the equivalent of 300mm, in addition to how well it looks with the teleconverter, to the 70-300mm. I used the latter with success in Alaksa, photographing wildlife, often with that teleconverter, and this would have to function well as a wildlife lens, and I want to make sure it has enough reach to do so.

Also, what is the size of it like? Is it too big or heavy to walk around with it for an extended period of time? How does it compare, size-wise, with the 70-300mm?

Thanks for the information, and the photos look fantastic!

10-09-2008, 01:48 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by ballgofar Quote
Also, what is the size of it like? Is it too big or heavy to walk around with it for an extended period of time? How does it compare, size-wise, with the 70-300mm?
LOL. If you have to ask how much a 70-200/2.8 weighs....

I plan to keep my 70-300 as my 2nd vacation lens...
10-09-2008, 03:16 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by kenyee Quote
LOL. If you have to ask how much a 70-200/2.8 weighs....

I plan to keep my 70-300 as my 2nd vacation lens...

Hey, at least it's lighter than the Bigma. :-)
10-09-2008, 05:02 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by ballgofar Quote
Ditto. I have the same teleconverter, and am looking to replace my (broken and currently in the shop; the repairs are to cost $10 less than I can purchase a new one for...) Tamron 70-300mm. Perhaps you could do a comparison? It might be interesting to see how this fairs at 200mm cropped to the equivalent of 300mm, in addition to how well it looks with the teleconverter, to the 70-300mm. I used the latter with success in Alaksa, photographing wildlife, often with that teleconverter, and this would have to function well as a wildlife lens, and I want to make sure it has enough reach to do so.

Also, what is the size of it like? Is it too big or heavy to walk around with it for an extended period of time? How does it compare, size-wise, with the 70-300mm?
Thanks for the information, and the photos look fantastic!
No longer have the Tamron 1.4x TC, nor do I have the 70-300 anymore, so
I cant do any direct tests now. Its much heavier than the 70-300, but on my
K20D with grip, it balances very nicely and I have no problem with handheld
shots. Its sharper than the 70-300, but not by much, the 70-300 is a very sharp
lens. It has better contrast than any long zoom Ive used, though, with the
exception of the 50-135.

At 200mm, the 70-300 is already at f/6.2 I believe - with this, you have f/2.8
available at 200mm. A different world, at least as far as DOF and shutter
speed/available light shooting goes.

QuoteOriginally posted by kenyee Quote
LOL. If you have to ask how much a 70-200/2.8 weighs....

I plan to keep my 70-300 as my 2nd vacation lens...
The 70-300 is a great vacation lens, as is the 18-250 and 50-200. Lighter.
This is a better safari lens, though!

QuoteOriginally posted by Clem Nichols Quote
Hey, at least it's lighter than the Bigma. :-)
Indeed.

More shots from today:

200mm f/2.8:

200mm f/4.5 1500s slight crop:

200mm f/3.5:

200mm f/4.5:

200mm f/5.6:

200mm f/5.6:

200mm f/4.5 1/1500s:

Crop:

200mm f/2.8:
10-09-2008, 05:13 PM   #11
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That looks like a cracking lens, good shots as well. Have fun.
10-09-2008, 05:34 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by jsherman999 Quote
.

The UPS man came about 40 minutes before sundown, the bastard.

Had to hurry to a regular shooting area to get some test shots - not a
lot of time for composition, and some of the shots have handshake, but
overall, I'd say this is a very good lens. Good sharpness wide open, very
good contrast, very good infinity focus. Can't wait to have some time to
really put it through it's paces.

No doubt the hand shake must have been from excitement. Thanks so much for the great test shots. I'm now torn between the Sigma and Tamron. If you could do me a favor and run inside a school gym and take some shots wide open for me, it might help me to decide.
10-09-2008, 05:37 PM   #13
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ty

I'm going into NYC on sunday to do some lens shopping at B&H too bad they're out of these at the moment or i'd be snapping one up.

I'm still curious to see what people think of the autofocus, but anything is going to be better than what I have currently (sans my FA 50 /1.4 which is a low light BEAST)

keep the shots coming there are so many people who have been clamoring for them... also can you post an image of the lens on the camera... all the photos I've seen of the lens are stand alone (I'm really looking for it on the k100d but i can extrapolate from a k20d)

thanks for the photos!
~Shiva
10-09-2008, 05:44 PM   #14
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The bokeh looks pretty good too, hmmmmmmm, tax time !! hahaha
10-09-2008, 06:54 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by TYOsborn Quote
No doubt the hand shake must have been from excitement. Thanks so much for the great test shots. I'm now torn between the Sigma and Tamron. If you could do me a favor and run inside a school gym and take some shots wide open for me, it might help me to decide.
Excitement, cold, hurrying before everything above f/4 was unusable.
I'll try to get some inside shots soon.

QuoteOriginally posted by Shivaess Quote
I'm going into NYC on sunday to do some lens shopping at B&H too bad they're out of these at the moment or i'd be snapping one up.

I'm still curious to see what people think of the autofocus, but anything is going to be better than what I have currently (sans my FA 50 /1.4 which is a low light BEAST)

keep the shots coming there are so many people who have been clamoring for them... also can you post an image of the lens on the camera... all the photos I've seen of the lens are stand alone (I'm really looking for it on the k100d but i can extrapolate from a k20d)

thanks for the photos!
~Shiva
Ill try to get some shots of it on both the K100D & K20D, maybe with the 50-135
and 16-50 as comparisons, or something.

Re autofocus - actually very good. Noticeably faster than the Tammy 70-300.

QuoteOriginally posted by Stratman Quote
The bokeh looks pretty good too, hmmmmmmm, tax time !! hahaha
The bokeh is surprisingly good. Dont wait until tax time!

A couple more:

200mm f/2.8:

100mm f/5.6:

70mm f/3.5:

200mm f/8:

200 mm f/2.8:

200mm f/2.8:

200mm f/4:

200mm f/2.8:

200mm f/4.5 crop:

200mm f/4:

Last edited by jsherman999; 10-09-2008 at 09:51 PM.
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