| Latest Review Posted | Tamron Di LD Macro 70-200mm F2.8
I bought this lens because I wasn't getting as much reach out of my 50-135/2.8 as I had hoped for. I looked at the legacy Pentax FA 80-200, the Sigma 70-200, and the Tamron 70-200, and, overall, I think I made the right decision for my use. WARNING: This review contains Canon L-series comparisons.
The Pentax-mount Tammy is probably the most economical 70-200/2.8 you'll find, as it doesn't have IS or an in-lens AF motor -- it's also a design that's been on the market for a while now, so there's a ton of them floating around used.
It has a solid construction blending metal and plastic where appropriate, and I feel like it's going to be able to handle as much of a beating as those funny-looking white lenses with the red ring.
Speaking of that, I sort of got spoiled shooting for my school newspaper, where I had 24/7 access to L-glass -- specifically 70-200/2.8s, 300/2.8s, 400/2.8s. That was several years ago, and since then, I've missed having long, fast glass that "just works" at all apertures and focal lengths. The Tamron 70-200 definitely fits in that category, with respect to optical performance. This lens is tack-sharp in the center, even wide-open, at all focal lengths except toward the extreme of the 200mm mark.
People mention the 200/2.8 center softness of the lens, but I think it's more of a contrast issue than a softness issue. Pushing up local and global contrast adjustments in images off of this lens make the frame look fairly snappy at 200/2.8... |
