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Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6 Review RSS Feed

Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6

Sharpness 
 7.3
Aberrations 
 6.0
Bokeh 
 7.8
Handling 
 7.8
Value 
 9.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
5 28,278 Mon December 30, 2019
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $86.25 8.20
Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6

Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6
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Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6
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Description:
Model 772D

"A silver-version of the lightweight, compact telephoto macro zoom lens with a Maximum Magnification Ratio of 1:2 at the 300mm setting. It's ideal for shooting sports, theatrical events, and wildlife. By switching to macro mode, subjects as close as 95cm can be shot within the focal range of 180-300mm, for true macro photography."

Aperture: f/4-5.6
Minimum Aperture: 32
Lenses Construction: 9 Groups / 13 Elements
Diaphragm Blade Number: 9
Angle of View: 34° / 8°
Type of Zooming: Rotation
Filter Size / Diameter: 62 mm
Minimum Focus: 1.5 m (59.0 in.) / Macro 0.95 m (37.4 in.)
Diameter x Length: ø 76.6 x 116.5 mm (ø 3.0 x 4.6 in.)
Weight: 435 grams (15.3 oz.)
Mount: Metal Ring
Max Mag. Ratio / Macro Ratio: 1:2
Focus System: Automatic
Year of Discontinuation in Production: 2005

(Note: Weight, diameter and overall length are based on Nikon mount.)

http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/data/af-lens/772d.html
Price History:



Add Review of Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6
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Veteran Member

Registered: February, 2019
Posts: 2,009
Review Date: December 30, 2019 Recommended | Price: $90.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Light, Reach, Aperture ring, Cheap, Image quality, Macro
Cons: Rotating front element, Purple fringing

This lens has supporters and detractors. Yes, it is cheap and feel cheap. Yes it has many flaws. But still, I love this lens.

To start this review, I will list the main flaws :
- Chromatic Aberrations : at the long end, purple fringing is very high in high contrast situation and will need corrections in post processing.
- Rotating Front Element : while focusing, the front element rotate ; this means that polarizers will be difficult to use ; furthermore, trying to mount the hood on while the lens is mounted on the camera body will force on the focusing system, and screw drive if AF is engaged. So if you don't want to risk breaking the screw drive of your camera, you have to put the camera in AF while mounting the hood.

These problems seems to be rather serious, but I can assure you this lens deserve to be in your bag despite these.

First, the maximum aperture is quite generous. F4 at 70mm, F5.6 at 300mm, of course it's not a F2.8 zoom, but it's light and does not cost an arm and a leg.

Second, the bokeh is excellent, creamy, thanks to its 9 blades and of course long focal length.

And image quality is rather good, even at the long end, I have nothing to complain about, except about this purple fringing I already mentioned.

Macro ability is a bonus. It's a switch that allows close focusing. You can only engage the switch when focal length is between 180mm and 300mm. You can still focus up to infinity while this switch is turned on, but you cannot zoom wider than 180mm. And to turn that switch off (in order to zoom wider than 180mm), you have to get focus out of close range. If conditions of turning on (or off) are not met, the switch appears to be stuck. It may startle some people, but it's in fact logical.

Macro allows up to 1:2 at 300mm, and approximately 1:3 at 180mm. Minimum focusing distance is rather large though : 95cm, you will absolutely need a good tripod to do macro at the highest focal length (and magnification).

I would add that this lens will teach you things about photography if this is your first telephoto-only lens. When you already have, like me, a superzoom like the Tamron 18-250, you have most of the focal length already covered, so why bother with the 70-300? Maximum aperture, macro? Sure, but the fact that 70mm is the minimum focal will force you to compose your image differently and you will increase in skills.

I recommend this lens, it will be a joy to use, as long as you know its flaws and how to deal with them.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: May, 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 892

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 24, 2018 Recommended | Price: $30.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Cheap and versatile
Cons: Not exactly sharp, some purple fringing, green fringing at wider apertures
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 5    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 7    Value: 10    Camera Used: Canon EOS 350D   

Apologies for reviewing this lens on a Canon but it came with the EF mount and I did not have much option.
The lens does not have an aperture ring so I presume it is the model just before the DI LD version, maybe it was just left off for Canon models. I am also presuming that the Tamron model branding of 572D means a black finished lens and 772D means silver. Mine is black.
The images from this lens seem marginally not quite as good as my DI LD, maybe Tamron did tweak the optics between models but that seems unlikely. Most probably it's age and using it on the 350D reduces my appreciation. Not having IBIS in the Canon is going to slightly reduce it's usefulness anyway in anything but good light circumstances.
AF seems a little slower than I remember from the DI LD which probably is due to the Pentax screwdrive being good.

Plus points are the fact that it is working well for a lens that is probably a decade and a half old.
It is quite versatile with it's 300mm long end and close focussing option. Long means a bit soft unfortunately but you could find it better than cropping a budget "to 200mm" zoom.
Can be had very cheap and it produces good enough images as a second lens enabling up to 300mm when out and about snapping holiday images for 6x4 or 7x5 prints.
It is light so easy to carry and has a metal mount.
If you are in the market for a lens allowing up to 300mm maybe the Pentax 55-300mm is a much better option but if you don't have the funds this will probably not disappoint much.
   
Forum Member

Registered: January, 2010
Posts: 92

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 18, 2017 Recommended | Price: $150.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: cheap, light, sharp with useful macro function
Cons: chromatic aberrations
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 5    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5   

I used the 70-300 mostly for travel purposes or when visiting places with long undisturbed views like mountains or beaches.
The lens is low priced, well built, very light, offers a fair working range and has a 1:2 macro as bonus on board.
Very good results are achieved when stopped down from f/8 and in the 70mm and 200mm range.
The long 300mm end lacks behind in optical resolution. Shooting wide open in high contrast situations will produce some chromatic aberrations.
Focus is accurate and fast. The focusing sound is noticeable, especially when the lens barrel is extruding its long way out.
I would recommend it to anyone on a tight budget who needs a long and light travel tele lens.



   
Forum Member

Registered: July, 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 90
Review Date: October 6, 2013 Recommended | Price: $75.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros:
Cons:
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10   

My inexperience with lenses caused me to ponder whether to review or not.
Seeing that I don't find a lot of information about this lens (772D), I thought I would chime in.
I bought this lens used a few days ago as a first 'all-round' lens for my K-30.
In a nutshell, I love it. Perhaps, because I haven't experienced higher-end lenses, yet.
For me, at this point, this lens is providing good results at the long end as well as with the macro function.
AF locks on fast in most cases.
The original owner claims he's had the lens for about 10 years and in his opinion, the optics then for this lens is superior to the newer version.
My only complaint: I wish it was black.
For the money, I think I made a good purchase and this lens will definitely provide me with fun, and experience with a zoom lens.
I look forward to some macro shooting of fungi and mushrooms.
These shots, other than the bee, are straight out of the camera.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: January, 2008
Location: Paris, TN
Posts: 3,349

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 16, 2013 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 8 

 
Pros:
Cons:
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 6    Handling: 7    Value: 8   

(Note: for those considering this lens, it's the same as the re-badged Promaster 70-300/4-5.6 LD AF and owing to unfamiliarity with the brand it's often less expensive.)

For casual family snaps and use as "training wheels" in the 200mm-plus range either one is a useful lens at the used price often asked.

Like most consumer zooms this will give satisfactory service for non-critical, outdoor, daylight shots. Purple fringing is a given at this level of quality but PP correction makes this easily corrected if you're addicted to shooting bare branches in bright sunlight.

The low resale value of the generic 70-300 zooms makes it very easy to hold on to them for high risk situations where snapshot quality is good enough. A fun choice for a day at the zoo or beach.

H2
Add Review of Tamron AF LD Tele-Macro [1:2] (772D) 70-300mm F4-5.6



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