| Author: | | New Member Registered: February, 2010 Posts: 16 | | Review Date: April 25, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $769.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | color, very sharp, bokeh, price | | Cons: | slow AF | |
I have owned and used this lens for about a couple of months now, this is my first 70-200mm f2.8, and I am quite satisfied. The image quality in good light condition is excellent. The only problem I have with this lens, as most other users in this forum is the slow AF - in good light or bad light - it just cannot catch up any fast action in line with the camera (toward or backward from me). That's something I can live with considering it's price though. Strangely, or luckly, I did not yet have any problem with the aperture sticking wide open. It does overexpose once in a while, but I'm not sure that's my K10D mis-metering or the lens. My copy gets tiny bit soft at 200mm wide open, otherwise it's razor sharp at all aperture and focal lengths. Color is breathtaking.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Gothenburg, aka Göteborg Posts: 234 | | Review Date: May 10, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Amazing lens, not least when complemented with a big flash | | Cons: | Weighs a bit, not least when complemented with a big flash | |
A Zoom Macro, with f2.8 and 70-200 focal length, and sharp as anything I've come across, yet.
Last night I used it in complete darkness, with my Metz 580, and my monopod, attached. Amazing that it focused correctly - I sure couldn't see if it did in the viewfinder!
See for yourself:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5376374738/photos/290895/bonzai
Addendum:
I have now used it quite a bit, and I think I'm in love  ! As always, it is some time before you get used to a camera, or a lens, and it sure is getting used more than I expected. I do have to increase EV one step (at least), when using it on my K-x to get correct exposure, when using iPhoto. Lovely results when taking RAW!
Another Addendum:
I have now some dust (?) inside my lens - which doesn't seem to affect picture quality, but is still irritating. But the results are still great:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/5376374738/photos/373501/imgp9909
Addendum III:
It is still an amazing lens, even if it had been as costly as the Sigma 70-200, or a Nikon, or a Pentax, but it isn't, and the Tamron's price is nowadays lower than when I bought mine!
The recent review here, comparing similar 70-200 lenses from Pentax, Sigma and Tamron, is a bit unfair to the Tamron, as dpreview found the optics of the Tamron far better than the Sigma in their tests.
I do have the Sigma 120-400, too, but that is nowhere as sharp as the Tamron (at the same focal lengths), and is much more fussier about proper settings. In very bright light it can be stunning, too, but that is a rare event!
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2006 Location: So California Posts: 16,482
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $729.00
| Rating: 10 |
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Very sharp. I never use the words "bokeh" or "rendering", but those are good, too. Weighs a ton, but this can help stabilize it so I'm not counting it as a con (a monopod is very useful to hold it up:-)
Focusing speed is about the same as my other lenses, so not a pro or con.
Have to reevaluate my carrying bag - want to always have it with me but I have to rearrange the bag....
The lens comes with a storage bag that has a short handle and no shoulder strap.
(I also got the Tamron 90 macro which is excellent - so I'm giving Tamron 2 thumbs up).
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 10, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $699.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Image quality, contrast, solid construction | | Cons: | Monopod is desirable | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I'm really enjoying this lens, I'm a bit of a naturalist.
Give it some bright sunlight, and this lens will not disappoint.
At F5.6 or higher, the contrast, IQ and color rendition is wonderful.
Some hunting occurs with my K-x, but none at all now with my K-7 running fw 1.10
Cheers, John
Taken at 200mm, F11, 1/250 ISO 200, no PP, just resized
 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 187 | | Review Date: September 16, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
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After using the Sigma 70-200 HSM II lens, I've been spoiled. This lens has fast, but not as fast autofocus as the Sigma. There is a noticable difference. And in general, it's just not as smooth as the Sigma. Loud autofocus, plastic feel... and I never thought those things would matter to me. Optically, this Tamron might be marginally better than the Sigma, I don't know. But I just can't get into it. Maybe you can though.  | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 723
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 1, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $730.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp! beautiful bokeh, true color, fast AF | | Cons: | monster size (but for 2.8, a light lens) | |
As so many others have said, this lens is a fantastic lens by any definition - especially for the money. Sharp as a tack from 3.2, it's even really sharp at 2.8 - it just gets sharper even slightly stopped down.
Gorgeous true color, saturated, neither too warm nor too cool. Of the 3rd party lenses I've had, it's the only non-Pentax lens whose color I truly like. I never find myself adjusting my colors in PP.
Amazing micro-contrast for a zoom, almost as good as the DA Limited lenses. I miss my DA70mm for it's pixie dust, but the 70-200 is about its equal in every other way (my DA70 was sharper at 2.4 than the 70-200 at 2.8...but it's really that special mysterious pop that separates the DA70 from everything else at this focal length).
The lens is well balanced and easy to hold. Zoom is smooth & never creeps. The focus ring has a long enough through for easy fine tuning in manual, but focuses plenty snappy in AF. I'm shooting with a K-x and the AF on this lens is fast & accurate, no hunting problems at all. Lens feels solid, a good mix of metal and plastic. The hood is a huge hunk of plastic that locks on solidly - I never worry about my front element, cause that hood will protect the lens against anything I may run into when I forget I've got a foot of lens sticking off the front of my camera :P
I see very slightly purple fringing wide open with high contrast, but it's really slight and only wide open. I *hate* PF, so trust me when I say it's very very minor 
I bought this lens to shoot a wedding (for which it was invaluable - a perfect application for it), and it's just been a stellar performer at everything I've turned it towards since - portraits, semi-macro spider shots, baby mountain goats & mountain flowers
200mm f/3.5
200mm f/3.5 ISO 200
200mm f/2.8 ISO 200
70mm f/3.2 ISO 800
200mm f/2.8
200mm f/3.2
 | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2009 Posts: 137
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 20, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | good quality glass | | Cons: | heavy | |
I really like this Tammy and I use it for Outdoor photography
With the K20D ít has a good balance for handheld shots; e.g these ones all handheld (Iso 640):
cheers Marcel
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 7
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, bokeh, build, IQ generally, very little CA, close focus, IZ/IF, lens hood, bag | | Cons: | Size (what do you expect at f/2.8, IZ, IF?), AF not the fastest | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I really love this lens. It's the sharpest telephoto I've used (I just bought the PENTAX-DA* 300mm f/4, (literally, I've had it two days) so we'll see how that compares with time.) I love the IQ, it's just gorgeous and eye-popping. Great sharpness corner to corner (it's a full-frame lens, so this isn't too surprising), contrast, from f/2.8 right on up through f/8 or f/11. The bokeh is fantastic in my estimation. The only lens I have with better bokeh is the PENTAX-DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited.
This lens beats any of my old A-Series PENTAX teles hands-down. Beats my old TOKINA ATX 80-200 f/2.8 (which was a very sharp lens with Kodachrome 64), hands down.
Flare is really well controlled -- never been an issue. Essentially no chromatic aberration. Just a hint of yellow/blue at high contrast edges in maximum closeups and wide open, and it never is bothersome. (The great CA control is what made be choose this lens over the SIGMA 70-200 f/2.8 and the PENTAX-DA 50-135 (well, also the zoom range of the PENTAX, 70-200 is the perfect mid-tele zoom range (APS-C), IMO.) The shot linked below (it's a dumb-ed down shot) shows the worst CA I've seen -- no big deal:
http://www.berettaconsulting.com/barbarossa/PandJ-Family/2010/2010-04-12/Bloodroot%203.jpg
(look at the edges of the petals, also note the sharp rendering of the pollen and the specular reflections in the petals -- love it.)
I love the packaging of this lens: Everything is handy and works and feels really well. Very accurate and reasonably quick AF. (Noisy though, as always with the screw drive. First time I used the 300mm DA* SDM, I thought the AF was broken!  ) I really like the lens hood: easy to use and stow, quick to mount and hasn't gotten loose with a lot of usage; and very effective. The tripod mount is well balanced and works nicely, very solid.
I just love this lens and I never leave it at home unless I'm going super light. The best non-PENTAX lens I've ever owned.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 141
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 24, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $629.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great Picture quality & close up ability My Favorite Lens | | Cons: | Slow autofocus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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Is this a perfect lens? No. Will you sometimes be frustrated by the autofocus? Yes. Will you be blown away by the great pictures it takes? Yes, probably 98% of the time. Can you get better optical quality? Not on any other Pentax compatible lens I've ever seen.
Every lens represents a compromise of some sort and so does this one. However, with this Tamron I feel you are actually getting more than you pay for.
The only other 70-200 f2.8 lenses available are the two Sigma variations and from everything I've read optically both of them simply fall short of what a 70-200 f2.8 should be today. I've not compared the lens to the older Pentax 70-200 f2.8, but as those lenses are older, I doubt they surpass the picture quality of this Tamron.
I have decent, though not fully professional glass, and optically I think this lens shines in a way nothing else in my kit does. Colors are very rich and bokeh is nothing short of exceptional. This lens isn't a true macro lens, but it will focus a lot closer than anything else in the category and the results are nothing short of spectacular.
I've had the lens for nearly 24 months now and anytime I'm taking a picture of something requiring a telephoto lens, this is the first lens I go to. It's also the lens I nearly always reach for when I'm shooting close ups as well.
With this lens the problem that everyone talks about is autofocus speed. It's a legitimate complaint, but for someone who doesn't do a lot of sports photography it's also a constraint with which I can live.
If someone were to steal my camera bag, I would buy a new walk around lens first and this lens would be next. It's versatile, dependable and takes incredible pictures. As I said in the positive aspects above... it's my favorite lens.
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,622
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 2, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $769.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | great IQ, bokeh, f/2.8 | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K3II
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In short, I am amazed at the quality of the images from this lens, at this price. Sure, there are faster sharper teles, but not in this price range. I am also impressed with the bright colors, especially the blues from this lens. Contrast is very good and overall ease of use is good. At f/2.8 it is somewhat soft, as one might expect, but clicked down to 4.0, it sharpens up beautifully.
My first copy was front focusing at short range and back focusing at distant ranges, pretty much across the focal lengths. I returned it for a new replacement which is perfectly dialed in and requires no further adjustment.
It is a big lens but no bigger than the other 2.8 lenses in this range. I had rented both the Pentax DA*200/2.8 as well as the DA*50-135/2.8 in the past and those did not outperform the Tamron in image quality, in fact, i liked the sharpness, bokeh, and colors of the tamron better.
I am a satisfied customer.
[img] Long Jump
 Alcatraz At Daybreak
 Owl
 Flame Skimmer
 The Minefield | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: Varaždin, Croatia, Europe Posts: 295
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 14, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, very nice bokeh, light (1,1kg) | | Cons: | focus hunting, wish it were made of more metal | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 10
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I was deciding between DA*50-135, sigma 70-200/2.8 and this. Found it used localy and it had the aperture already replaced so I didn't hesitate much. The aperture tends to get stuck at f/2.8 on most of these Tammys as I've read.
It's a big lens but that's normal for its range and aperture. I usually leave the tripod collar mounted as it balances nicely in my hand.
The image quality is very good starting from f/2.8 and it only gets better. Colors are a bit on the cold side which is specific for Tamron lenses, but that can be easily worked out in PP. Bokeh is smooth, especially for a zoom lens. It has a 9 bladed aperture so that helps
The negative sides are focus hunting which occures sometimes (on several different cameras) and build materials. I wish the whole outer barrel were made of metal, not just the part closest to the mount where the tripod ring is mounted. But I suppose at the price, you can't expect more
Here's a test shot; wide open, only adjusted exposure in PP
This one is at about f5.6 and 200mm:
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Posts: 478 | | Review Date: June 7, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, Build, | | Cons: | sticky aperture, screw drive | |
This is a great fast zoom. If you like the rendering of the Tamron 28-75 you would definitely like this one. The IQ is superb and the build and finish is excellent. I actually like how the Tamron finish matches the pentax body. I prefer this lens' finish to the sigma. Too bad that I had to return two copies of this lens and settle on a sigma due to sticky aperture and ff issues.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2011 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 856
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 5, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $770.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, Price, Build | | Cons: | AF/MF mechanism | |
Considering the price ($1700 cheaper then Canon or Nikon 70-200mm 2.8) the total package is a bargain. The screw drive AF on the K-5 is FAST! (I am sure the micro motor in the Canon and Nikon versions is probably pretty bad.)
The IQ is as good as any lens, even those much more expensive ones.
The only 2 things you lose are:
1.) No weather sealing.
2.) Switching from AF to MF is a pain. The lens mechanism is good, but it doesn't also disconnect the screw drive, you have to turn the AF off on the camera as well.
You gain: $1700 in your pocket. The images look the same.
Unless you shoot for SI, save your cash. Hey, if SI calls and wants you to work for them, you can always get a 1DIV and a EF 70-200mm! Untill then enjoy the Tamron and make great images!
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: La Ciotat Posts: 15 | | Review Date: August 5, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Piqué, AF, Price | | Cons: | poids | |
Très très bon caillou, je le recommande, il a un excellent piqué et est assez vif en ce qui concerne l'af
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 147
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 21, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $769.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, IQ, F2.8, Best value, Light for its class | | Cons: | Focus can hunt | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I did a lot of researching between this lens, the Sigma, and the Pentax DA 200mm and 300mm primes. People really blast this lens for the screw-mount focus. I don't find it to be that big a deal as long as the focal point is contrasty. It focuses as fast as any of my other non-SDM Pentax lenses.
Everything else is listed in the number ratings. I am really enjoying this lens. It is a few hundred bucks less than the Sigma and Pentax versions. If the SDM focus is that important to you then go for it but I'm perfectly happy with this lens the way it is.
A sample below:
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