| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: The Untied States Posts: 1,881 | | Review Date: December 22, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ is unbeatable -- period; Great Warranty service when bought new | | Cons: | Hefty (moreso than comparable lenses); Somewhat slow AF; Hunts a little; Aperture sticking problem (easily fixable) | |
There are a fair share of negative reviews here that are based solely on the sticking aperture lever problem that plagues this line of lenses. Yes, this is a real problem for the Pentax model of this lens. It happened to my lens that I bought new. However, to base an entire review on that one fault is incredibly unfair. If I could rate this lens a 30 to make up for them, I easily would.
As I said, I bought this lens brand new, and in doing so it came with the unmatched Tamron 6 year warranty. My lens had the sticking lever problem, like most if not all Pentax copies do, and wouldn't stop down at all. However, I sent it into Tamron and in less than a week they had received it, repaired it, and already shipped it back out. Fantastic service all around. I even included a $100 filter that I left on the lens to protect it, and they didn't pilfer it!  Really, talk about professional service.
So, they completely fixed the lens. They replaced the aperture lever assembly, and now there are no problems whatsoever with the lens. And of course, it cost nothing to do with the Warranty in effect. Not even a cost for return shipping, and I bet if I complained enough they'd problem reimburse my $15 shipping to them as well  So with the only problem that this lens has totally fixed, there's nothing major to fault.
The image quality of this lens is unbeatable. I have never seen a zoom lens perform this well, not even Pentax brand or Canon-L glass. The resolution is so high with this lens that there is literally no visible quality loss with a decent teleconverter. The contrast, sharpness, saturation, temperature, all of it. Perfect. The only optical fault I can see is some slight spherical aberration which leads to softened corners/sides of the frame when wide-open, and some slightly unappealing bokeh in some situations. In the vast majority of situations, though, the bokeh is gorgeous and soft frame edges are not noticeable.
There are some problems though. I used a Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX HSM for Pentax before, and it is no contest for AF speed. This lens is like an old man trying to run a marathon in comparison. It is *just* fast enough to be used for fast-moving sports action, with a little patience. No, it's not "slow" like you might think, but when you pay this much for a lens like this, for a lens that basically screams "use me to shoot sports and fast subjects!", the speed will be disappointing. It also hunts quite a bit, and gets confused about which direction it wants to move in, in order to get in focus when completely out of focus. But, I would much rather have the stunning macro range this lens offers (it effectively replaced my expensive macro lenses) than a lens that instantly focuses on its subject because it so confined to such a small area. That is a decision you'll have to make for yourself. The hunting could be fixed though -- but I don't think it's bad enough to even give this just a 9/10.
The lens is also a bit heavier than even comparable AF models, and a bit bulkier. But when you're using a type of lens where all of them are bulky and heavy, it's hard to be dissatisfied with one that is just a little heavier/bulkier. It is a little noisy, too.
I got this lens to be the end-all, be-all in terms of usefulness and image quality, and it does not disappoint at all. It really is as good as they say, possibly better. The only problems are non-IQ related, such as the (fixable) sticking aperture problem, and the comparably slow AF speed (the Sigma HSM really is fast). Neither effect me personally like a lens with poor image quality would, and I feel many other photographers would be in the same boat. A+ Tamron! Just make one with the same glass that focuses faster  | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Azores Islands, Portugal Posts: 2,236 | | Review Date: November 2, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp with great colors and contrast. No CA | | Cons: | Noisy AF (as all screw driven lens), big lens | |
About the lens it has a wonderfull IQ and a very pleasing bokeh.
Is not "very" expensive specially for f2.8 and brings the extra 1:3 macro.
Colour and contrast are outsdanding.
The AF speed is fast buf of course a bit noisy since it's screw driven.
Lens is FF capable and not only APS-C.
The only down point for me is the weight, normal for this kind of lens zoom (f2.8) but I would really like it was possible to have this kind of lens a bit ligther.
A very, very, very good zoom to have
Edit: had to change score to 10. It's really a great great lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Saint-Petersburg, Russia Posts: 410 | | Review Date: August 31, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp wide-open, tack sharp F4.0 and above, bang for buck | | Cons: | Focusing could be faster. | |
Great lens, sharp from wide-open. Smooth bokeh. Total winner in terms of value for money.
Would recommend to a friend.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: March, 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Posts: 23,920 | | Review Date: August 7, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $679.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | decent build, sharp above f/3.5, smooth bokeh, great colour contrast | | Cons: | soft & hazy at f/2.8 at close focus ("macro" range) | |
I held high expectations for this lens and was impressed by its solid feel and quality.
Real life tests wide open ranged from acceptable (mainly due to contrast and hazy softness in bright images at close focus) to very good depending on the subject and lighting conditions. Others have described this phenomenon with their copies and that it may not necessarily be a QC issue. This was really my only gripe with the lens, though I have made it produce sharp and brilliant images at f/2.8 in indoor/low-light settings.
In comparison, my stellar FA 100/2.8 macro outperforms the Tamron 70-200 wide open but the Tamron 70-200 produces significantly better results at all FLs and comparable apertures than those from my DA 55-300 and a previously tested copy of the Sigma 70-200 II HSM.
AF is no slower than the DA 55-300, and in fact, even with the Tamron 1.4x TC, the AF performs just as fast with less noise (from the AF motor) than that of the DA 55-300.
Overall, I give this lens an 8.5 given the sharpness issues wide open...
edit:
Two brand-new copies I received from B&H both suffered from an aperture lever stuck wide open. This kind of problem seems to be common with the lens. I only recommend it with a good warranty plan in anticipation of this and similar QC issues with the lens, but cannot discount that it really is an optically brilliant lens.
I believe it is significantly better in colour and sharpness than its Sigma counterpart.
| | | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: June, 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 57 | | Review Date: July 24, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | image quality, bokeh, AF accuracy | | Cons: | none yet | |
Only had this a few days so far but all is good.
Bokeh is outstanding in my opinion.
Af may be a bit slow but its accurate.
I like to manually focus alot anyway.
I havent had a big lense before so i am still getting used to the wieght of it.The sigma is heavier!!
I like the look and feel of this lense.
The package is great with its big padded pouch that actually firs the camera as well which is pretty cool.
The close focusing under a meter is wonderful and it is retraining me to manually focus VERY accurately.
A monopod is essential for me until i get used to the wieght but thats ok.
People look at the size and assume i am with the press so they think a news worthy story is happening in the nieghborhood hehehehe.
Do yourself a favour and try it out.
LOVE THE BOKEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Posts: 7,183 | | Review Date: July 23, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, built quality, colours | | Cons: | slow-ish/noisy AF, "teething problems" | |
I give this lens 9 with reservations.
let's elaborate.
The lens is big and heavy (though no bigger nor heavier than other 70-200/2.8 counterparts). It feels good, solid build quality. Tripod collar has good desing, I like the fact that with lens on tripod/monopod it's very easy to flip camera beween portrait and landscape mode without having to be afraid it'll slip out of the collar. This is possible thanks to screw fixing the collar.
Opticaly this lens is superb. Sharp, sharp, sharp. Precise AF, and very good bokeh, colour rendition and contrast.
It came with soft bag, which easily took the lens with K100D attached (even camera in the bag), in which cas you could just have the camera strap around the shoulder with both lens + camera in protective pouch.
So what are my reservations?
#1 AF could be bit faster, and less noisy. This lens is nearly as loud as my Sigma 105 macro (which is nearly as dentist drill just spinning slowly). Focus limiter would be great too. The lens focuses down to just under 1m to achieve 1:3 magnification. But if used as tele (presumably the primary objective) it slows the lens down. My copy had consistent focus.
#2 teething problems. Far too many users accross many brands are reporting all sorts of problems. Starting with inaccurate/inconsistent focus, decentering defects and sticky apreture lever. My lens fell victim to the last one. After about month the lever got stuck 3 times within 15 min taking maybe 20 shots. That was it. I simply wasn't willing to run the risk...
Still if you get a good copy, it's absolutely fantastic lens. With good range for APS-C for both portraits, and nature and the close focus is good too.
I hope Tamron will sort the issues out, because this lens has wonderfull potential.
in one word:
shame
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: June, 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 57 | | Review Date: July 14, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
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I have just ordered this lens and have much anticipation.....photos i have seen online using this lens give a more 3D affect with portraits than any other lens....I think it is the outstanding bokeh that gives that SPECIAL 3D affect....I can't wait to get mine...I will post review soon.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Istanbul Posts: 466
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 5, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $679.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very Sharp, Good Contrast, Good Colors | | Cons: | AF a bit loud. | |
I took this lens from B+H. Its very sharp and I would tell that its better than DA* 50-135. I like its extra mm.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: May, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 38 | | Review Date: March 20, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $630.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | F2.8, Solid build quality, Fantastic IQ, "Massive" enough to scare other photog.. | | Cons: | AF hunt, noisy AF, Slow AF | |
I bought this lens on December 08 and felt really ecstatic with the design and the build quality. It's a solid lens with massive lens hood. The IQ is fantastic and sharp enough at F2.8.
The negative point of this tele-zoom lens is that the slow and noisy AF. I found it really hard to get a sharp picture of the tennis player when I attended the Aussie Open 09 even the match was in a direct sunlight condition. The noise of the AF hunt somehow can disturb other people..
If you're looking for a tele-zoom lens not to hunt birds or sports, this lens is the answer.
Overall, I give 8 for this lens. I'd rather give 10 if only HSM system is built in this lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Posts: 3,381 | | Review Date: March 19, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $699.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, color/contrast, price, macro | | Cons: | AF hunts a bit, clutzy af/mf switching | |
This lens is very sharp and offers excellent color and contrast rendition and very good bokeh. The close focus/macro ability is a plus and it is hand holdable. The autofocus is decent, but not near that of HSM in the 'other' brand. Very good construction and an excellent value for the $.
HSM and a one touch af/mf switch would be welcome improvements.
Update: The above was written when I owned the K20D. The autofocus with this lens and the K7 is faster and locks on quicker and more accurately. Hunting is no longer an issue.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2008 Location: Region 5 Posts: 2,539 | | Review Date: January 3, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $699.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Bokeh, Macro Ratio, Weight, Price | | Cons: | Lacks HSM/SDM | |
This lens is a stellar performer. I find it quite sharp with great color and contrast. Performance is good wide open with some improvement in sharpness and contrast by stopping down a half stop or so. If the light dictates though I don't hesitate to use f/2.8 and expect good results.
The lens is long, but carries very nicely and is easily hand holdable, and very well balanced when mounted on a tripod using the collar.
AF is relatively fast on my K20D and locks focus better than my DA* lenses (16-50 and 50-135), but when it misses focus, there's a fairly long cycle to come back for another try due to the close focus available and the lack of a focus range limiter. This lens is internal focus and internal zoom and feels very well built. Manual focusing is very smooth though a little sensitive - it takes fine movements to dial in, but the action feels just like the Tamron 90mm Macro.
Zoom action is very smooth - almost effortless, and the lens shows no tendency to zoom creep.
The only improvement I could ask for would be to give this lens a HSM type focus motor which would be quiet and allow quick-shift style manual focus override.
I'll sum up this way... If I had to choose between this and the DA*50-135, the DA* would go bye-bye.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2007 Posts: 8,237
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 20, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $699.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, colors and contrast, no CA to speak of | | Cons: | AF is not the speediest, huge | |
This lens is exceptional, especially considering the price. IQ is equivalent to the wonderful Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, and nearly as good as the Pentax DA* 50-135 f/2.8.
The sharpness at f/3.5 or higher is great, with very good results even at f/2.8. The colors and contrast are outstanding.
It renders OOF areas wonderfully at f/4 and below - a very pleasing bokeh. The
1:3 macro is more than acceptable, especially for a zoom of this range.
It is very long & heavy, but that's to be expected for an f/2.8 long zoom.
The AF speed is acceptable, better than the Tamron 70-300, bt slower than any non-macro prime.
Overall, a very, very good zoom, super fun to own.
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