After posting my comparison photos between
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro and Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens, some folks have commented that my Tamron lens might be front focusing. So I did some tests and seems it maybe it's the case as i'm definitely getting front focusing when using Auto Focus mode, while in Manual mode it's fine.
I tested Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens at 45 degree angle and approximately 38cm distance from lens to target.
I tested Auto Focus @F2.8, F4.0, F8.0 and Manual Focus @F2.8, F4.0, F8.0.
AF Point = Center
SR = Disabled
2 second Timer set
All bullet point listed/linked images imported as DNG RAW into Lightroom 2 and 100% crops exported as JPEG 70%.
Here's resized @540pixel width JPEG @85% quality without sharpening
Auto Focus @F2.8 vs Manual Focus @F2.8
Auto Focus @F4.0 vs Manual Focus @F4.0
Auto Focus @F8.0 vs Manual Focus @F8.0
So is this front focusing ???
Tried the same tests with newspaper/magazine text and stationery objects around the house and similar results - Auto Focus was focusing in front of the point I had targeted. Manual focus didn't have any problems.
Didn't have any probs with my Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro lens.
I only received this lens on Friday Deember 12, 2008 last week. Grounds for replacement/repair/exchange ?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments you can provide
George
Update: I tested Sigma 18-50mm EX DC Macro f2.8 lens the same way and did some new tests to compare Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens in AF vs MF vs Sigma 18-50mm EX DC macro f2.8 lens in AF. As you can see Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 definitely front focuses i think!
Tested settings:
The focus point was the green MENU icon's middle cell/box (out of the 3 cell divided boxes).
- AF point = Center
- ISO = 125
- Aperture priority
- DNG RAW imported into Lightroom 2 exported as JPEG at 85% quality - resized not cropped.
- Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f2.8 AF vs Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f2.8 MF
- Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f2.8 AF vs Sigma 18-50mm @50mm f2.8 AF
- Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f4.0 AF vs Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f4.0 MF
- Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f4.0 AF vs Sigma 18-50mm @50mm f4.0 AF
- Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f8.0 AF vs Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f8.0 MF
- Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f8.0 AF vs Sigma 18-50mm @50mm f8.0 AF
Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f2.8 AF vs Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f2.8 MF
Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f2.8 AF vs Sigma 18-50mm @50mm f2.8 AF
Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f4.0 AF vs Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f4.0 MF
Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f4.0 AF vs Sigma 18-50mm @50mm f4.0 AF
Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f8.0 AF vs Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f8.0 MF
Tamron 17-50mm @50mm f8.0 AF vs Sigma 18-50mm @50mm f8.0 AF
Last edited by eva2000; 12-18-2008 at 10:18 PM.