Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Review Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras From Here Now!
28-75mm f/2.8 Di LD Aspherical (IF) Tamron zoom lens (A09NII) * effective focal length: * 28-75mm with 35mm film and full-frame (Nikon FX) sensor digital cameras * 42-113mm with APS-C (Nikon DX) sensor cameras * compatible with Nikon 35mm film and digital SLR cameras * built-in motor for full autofocus capability with Nikon digital SLRs, including the D40, D40x, D60, and D5000 models * advanced optical design with low-dispersion, aspherical, and extra refractive index glass elements for superior image quality * internal focusing design maintains constant lens length for better balance and easier operation * special internal surface coatings to eliminate ghosting and flare * minimum focus distance: 13 inches (throughout zoom range) * diaphragm blades: 7 * attachment/filter size: 67mm *
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Technical Details

- Minimum focus distance of 0.33m over the entire zoom range for 1 - 3.9 maximum magnification
- Mechanical design improvements for downsizing the maximum diameter while minimizing changes in zooming torque
- Zoom lock mechanism for convenience in carrying the outfit
- 75 to 32-degrees Angle of view
- f/2.8 to f/32 Aperture
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 "a great value for money" 2010-02-09
By W. Mahraddika (Durham, NC USA)
I love the f2.8 as it allows me to shoot under low light condition. As in autofocus speed, some people say it doesn't do as fast and as quietly as Sigma but I don't find it as a problem since the pictures that I take are family events, moreover for the 1/2 of Sigma's price, it's a great lens for the money.

One suggestion that I could make for the manufacturer, maybe for the future models they could consider adding optical stabilizer / vibration reduction feature.

 "Save your money..." 2009-12-30
By Mohammad Hamidi (San Francisco, CA)
Well it's been 3 months since I've owned this lens and from the first day I got it, I've had problems. Most notably the autofocus lockup. I have a Nikon d90 and it works fine with all my other lenses however everytime I would use this lens it would lock up on me every few hours or so. Basically I would have to unmount it and mount it back on for it to work. I was told I should clean the contacts on my camera and the lens (don't know why on the lens since it was brand new but i still did) and it still locked up on me. As if that wasn't bad enough the focus on this thing is horrendous! It is manageable when there is plenty of light but even then it would tend to refocus even though I was stationary and so was the subject. As far as low light goes forget it! this thing is slower than the slowski's. the picture quality is great with landscapes but I didn't find it very good with portraits. Didn't seem that sharp to me. Of course it could be b/c of the focus issue i was speaking about earlier. I know many on here rave about the pic quality, and will be happy to consider the drawbacks I pointed out, a fair trade for the price, but I completely disagree. If I am spending $400-$500 for something that is brand new it should work flawlessly-no matter what the cost of the 1st party lenses are. That is like saying that if i buy a benz and I don't get the highest rated tires then my car should be skidding every once in a while b/c I get what I pay for. lol. What a bunch of bologne. Money is money and if your selling a brand new lens and its compatible with my camera then it should work properly, if not there's a problem. I shouldn't have to return it and get a different copy b/c the quality control is the issue. that says to me that your company is more concerned with just selling junk than selling quality. As a customer I would never buy tamron again b/c of my first hand experience. I do have another 3rd party lens, a tokina 12-24 f/4 and let me tell you that it is a beauty. I have no complaints what so ever. I only point this out to show you that nikon isn't the only one that can make good quality lenses. I'm going to try out the sigma 18-50mm 2.8 and I will post a review to that and see how it compares. For now I'd rather be using my Nikon 18-70mm 3.5-4.5 instead of the tamron.

 "Not even remotely professional grade." 2009-12-17
By E. Russo
I'm a wedding photographer. Picked up an additional D700 to go along with my other D700 & primes. Figured I would give a mid-zoom a shot. Well I did and Amazon just received my return. This lens was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!! The auto focus was the SLOWEST I have ever experienced on ANY lens. The image quality & bokeh were nice, if you could get it focus on the point you wanted. I had to make a +20 adjustment in my camera just to get the focus on point. I refused to even bring this lens with me to a wedding for fear of missing every shot. I have since picked up the Nikon (Nikkor) 24-70 f/2.8 as my mid zoom and THAT LENS is SPECTACULAR! Highly recommend no one waste their time on this lens unless your shooting still subjects in a laid back environment.

 "Superb Everday Walk Around Lens." 2009-12-16
By Edward G. Dickau (Alexandria, Virginia)
I have other lenses that occupy this range. Though they also are excellent they dwarf this lens and that is a good thing. Sometimes I get the feeling that other reviewers don't know what they are doing. The sharpness of this lens is tack on and huge prints from a Nikon D700 file required little preparation for print. If you need a walk around; buy it. For me everything about the lens was intuitive. This lens will remain of the D700 at the ready and will be taken off only when I need a different focal length. Enough said.

 "Great Product, enjoyable to use!!!" 2009-11-24
By Jesse E. Stewart (Newark, DE)
This product is great for any beginning photographer and a well rounded lens, with great focus, DEP and ease of use.


Images Product

Buy Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Now
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Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR

Review Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR

Buy Cheap Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR From Here Now!
This Tamron SP AF 17-50 F/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) high performance optic delivers amazing color and contrast with it's fast 2.8 aperture and LD glass. This lens has aspherical elements which give the ultimate sharpness you would expect from a professional quality lens in a very small and compact size. Also included is a flower shaped lens hood is specifically designed to yeild highest contrast with no vignetting. Includes the manufacturer's 6 year warranty.
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Technical Details

- Built in motor for use on the new Nikon Cameras
- Zoom lock
- Includes lens hood
- 6 year Tamron Warranty
- 67mm filter size
See more technical details

 "A Nice Fit for Your Nikon" 2010-01-03
By Tiffany Ann (Black Diamond Bay)
This is a very good lens and I used to use it all the time, till I bought the Nikon 17-55 f/2.8. The Nikon lens weighs twice as much, but it's pictures are sharper at the edges at f/2.8 then this lens. Still, I've taken thousands of shots with this lens, it focuses fairly fast, the pictures, once you get up to f/4, are every bit as sharp as the Nikon's and it's light.



I have read about the problems others have had with this lens, but it's worked flawlessly for me and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone. One thing I particularly like about this lens is the smooth zoom action and that there is no lens creep. I've dragged this lens all over heck and gone. You can lock the lens at 17mm, but I've never had to do that. The lens only extends a hair over an inch at 50mm and for me, and probably for you too, it's not a big deal. I should mention that the focus ring rotates during autofocus, for me also not a big deal.



I use this lens, even though I have the Nikon 17-55, because lots of times I don't want to carry the weight around. If you can't afford the Nikon lens, I really believe you'll be happy with this one.

 "sharp but have quality problem" 2009-07-25
By fz50 (nj)
The biggest reason I bought this lens is its sharpness. It is even sharper than its Nikon/Canon counterparts. On dpreview.com when people post comparison pictures I can tell which one is taken by Tamron - the trick is to compare at the corners since the Tamron is much sharper. You can see the difference visually.

Other reviews are correct - the lens has quality problem. It loose contact sometimes and you get no f value. You have to remount the lens. I even got dark corner once, again if you change your aperture setting it's fixed - for a lens that cost more than $400 buck these problem is not tolerable and looks like Tamron did nothing to fix them. The good thing is, Tarmon has 6 year warranty and that would compensate the problem to some extent.

 "Excellent - good performance in low-light situations" 2009-07-24
By Isaac Alonzo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
Update at the bottom (04-dec-2009)



I am an event and wedding photographer and first i was more keen to the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G but i did my research and even asked in a Wedding Photography group on Flickr and a friend of mine told me that he switched to tamron after he discover the performance was comparable to the three times more expensive lens made by Nikon.



You wont get the metal lens or the internal focusing that comes with the Nikkor one, but to be honest that does not matter that much in a lens this small, it comes out like a bit over an inch when you zoom in but i don't see why that would be a problem to anyone. I shoot events that last for hours and the lightweight is a plus.



I have taken over 3,000 pictures already and they are just perfect. I did a test with both lenses mounting the camera in a tripod and taking the picture of the same subject and i couldn't tell which one was taken with Tamron or Nikkor (not even in my big screen).



The focusing is pretty fast, well suited for fast paced situations such as weddings and concerts where everybody is in constant movement, also very quiet! If you are on budget i strongly suggest you to buy this lens and you wont be disappointed. My copy serial is almost 30,000 so i guess previous issues have been solved. The only problem i have found is that on the wide end (17mm) corners are a bit soft (not too much to notice at first sight) but that doesn't bother me because i use it between 20mm and 28mm most of the time.



Note that i have been using the lens on a Nikon D300 and i take around 500 pictures per event average.



I think it's not fair call this lens "junk" just because you have a bad copy, please be fair. If that is your case ask for a replacement and I'm sure amazon will work things out for you, then make a review based on the good copy.



Isaac



Update 04-dec-2009:

The lens it's been focusing really slow for the past 2 months and even though the focusing speed was OK and a bit noisy the pictures were fine, now I'm going to repair it and then sell it, just purchased the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G and wont buy anything from Tamron ever again and stick to Nikkor lenses. Maybe i got a bad copy and i know some of my fellow photographers don't have the money to purchase a 1,400 dollar lens, but if you can do it just don't think of it twice just for the sake of avoid a focusing failure in the mid of a job. If you are just an amateur photographer having fun with the camera, i encourage you to try every lens before spending your hard earned money in something that will just stop working few months later.

 "Excellent general purpose lens" 2009-05-24
By Paresh Gupta (India)
This is an excellent general purpose lens which works pity well in low light also.

 "Excellent Lens" 2009-05-21
By B. Steinagel (Greenville, WI)
I was a little hesitant to purchase this lens after some of the experiences people were having with front focusing on Nikon bodies. However, I decided to buy anyway and do some tests of my own. First off, I think what some people are seeing as front focusing is a combination of a few things: handholding the camera at slow shutter speeds and using a wide aperture. All lenses are at their sharpest when stopped down about two stops from their widest aperture, so for this lens expect to get your sharpest photos at apertures around f/5.6. It really helps to mount the camera on a tripod whenever you're photographing to eliminate any blur caused by handholding. Use a cable release as well. If you must hold your camera while photographing, use a shutter speed that's at least the reciprocal of the lens focal length. In other words, if you're shooting at the 50mm setting with this lens, make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/50 sec. or faster.



If you're shooting in RAW format, remember that these images need a little sharpening during post-processing because in-camera processing is usually not applied to RAW images like it is with jpeg images. This may be another area where people are seeing front/back focus problems where they don't really exist.



In my tests, I haven't found anything that would indicate front or back focusing with this lens mounted on a Nikon D90. I did get a Japanese-made lens by the way with a serial number of 029xxx.


Images Product

Buy Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Now
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Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Review Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras From Here Now!
Tamron's new SP AF 17-50mm F/ 2.8 acts RDI II VC covers the heavily used 17-50 MM focal distance range (angle of view equivalent of 26-78 MM when converted to the full frame format) making it an extremely versatile, high performance zoom lens. Achieving sharpness and striking contrast, the lens produces beautiful images that are enhanced by the shallow depth of field afforded by the maximum aperture F/2.8 and enriches the user’s range of photographic expression. The new lenses equipped with Tamron’s proprietary vibration compensation (VC) image stabilization mechanism, which provides more opportunities for handheld photography, such as low light conditions like evening, night scenes and indoors, leading to dramatically enhanced level of photographic freedom. Technical specifications: focal length 17 - 50 MM: format size APS – C: maximum aperture F/2.8; minimum aperture F/ 32; diagonal angle of view 78 degree and 45 minute - 31 degree and 11 minute; lens construction 19 elements, 14 groups; minimum focusing distance 11.4-Inch (0.29m); maximum magnification ratio 1:4 0.8; filter diameter 72 mm; overall length 3.7 inches maximum diameter 3.13 inches; weight 20.15oz. 570g; diaphragm blades-seven; standard accessory flower shaped lens hood; Nikon mount.
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Technical Details

- Compact Fast Zoom with VC (Vibration Compensation).
- Fast Constant F/2.8 Aperture.
- For use on APS-C size DSLR cameras.
- 11.4-Inch minimum focusing distance / 1: 4.8 Maximum magnification ratio.
- Internal Focusing.
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 "A very good lens with some shortcomings that you may be able to live with." 2010-02-16
By F. Membreno
The title of my review pretty much sums it up. The two major features of this lens are its constant aperture of f2.8 at all focal lengths, and the new VC (anti-shake) feature. The previous version of this lens was superb, but lacked stabilization, so the VC is a welcome feature.



Design/Build

It's a very well built lens with a metal mount. Its not pro-quality, but definitely better than any kit lens I've owned. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars for build quality and design. It's quite a bit thicker than the previous version, but not much heavier. It looks huge on my D80, but its not too heavy so it works well and balances perfect on a D300.



VC

The vibration compensation works very well. It works just as effective as any Nikon VR lens I've owned. No complaints on the effectiveness of the VC system. Some people reported it as loud when the VC motor kicks in, but I found it to be acceptable. Not as quiet as the Nikon VR2 system, but definitely not "loud" either. Others have reported that the VC doesnt kick in as fast as Nikon VR2, and its true (very very slightly) but again, not a problem. You'll be taking your time to take a picture whenever your using VC anyhow, so it really doesn't affect real-world performance.



Optical Quality

The lens is very good. It's not quite as good as the previous version wide open at f2.8, but the previous version was so good that you can lose a bit of sharpness and still get fantastic results. With that said, wide open at f2.8 I find it very good for my type of pictures, which are generally of people. If you're into photographing brick walls or textbooks, you may be disappointed. If you're concerned more with getting great pictures, you will be pleased. From f4 on, there isn't much to complain about except the outer most part of the picture. You have to be at f5.6 or f8 to get good sharpness throughout the frame including the corners. If you need sharpness in corners as well as the center, like when photographing architecture or landscapes, you'll typically be at smaller apertures anyhow, so it may not be an issue for some. Distortion is definitely there at 17mm, but not any more than most other zoom lenses and you'll notice only on certain subject.



Focus Speed/Accuracy

This is likely where most people will find the lens a bit disappointing. I find the focus speed to be quite good. Better than the previous version. It doesn't hunt as much. The noise is about the same, not intrusive but definitely noticeable (to the photographer). The focus accuracy is what I would like to see improved the most. I've gotten occasional unsharp photos and what I realized is that if i take 2 or 3 frames of the same shot, one may come out sharper than the other. Many people will mistake this inconsistent focus for the lens being soft, especially wide open. It's not that bad and its only occasional, but it does happen more often than with my Nikons, which almost never mis-focus. You have the option to send it in to Tamron and they can calibrate and possibly improve it (which I'm going to do), but many people may not want to go through that. The reason I'm willing to do that is because I know this lens can be spectacular with just a bit of improvement. You can't get an f2.8 zoom from Nikon for less than $1200.



Sample Variation (a.k.a "bad copy)

There is a chance you could receive a "bad copy". Tamrons and 3rd party lenses in general are infamously known (online forums) to be hit or miss. It's a chance many people may not want to take but they do carry a 6 year warranty and customer service is very good about "calibrating" the lens if you think yours front or back focuses. Again, not everyone will want to deal with that, but I have to tell you that its a small inconvenience when you compare it to the years of great pictures you'll make. If you're really into photography, I think you can live through it.



Summary

For those who know the benefit of a constant f2.8 lens, you know how valuable that is. Sure you can get slightly better picture quality from other, more expensive lenses, but the attraction here is constant f2.8 at this price point. It's relatively cheap when compared to Nikon offerings. Also, most of us dont view pictures at 100% magnification, which is the only way to see the lens' shortcomings. You may never see the flaws in a 4x6 or 8x10 print. Most casual to enthusiast level photographers will never know the difference between this and a pro equivalent. I also own the nikon 16-85 VR lens (not a pro lens but exceptionally good) and I would say it favors very well against it. Although, the Nikon is a bit better at any setting, you cant get the shallow depth of field and creamy background blur with the Nikon that you can with the f2.8 Tamron. Also, once you stop down the Tamron to f5.6 or f8, the difference between the two is hardly noticeable. For me it's not all about sharpness, especially when photographing people. You don't want to highlight wrinkles and skin imperfections so I typically soften them up anyhow. Plus, when I want really sharp photos it's also up to the challenge. I've taken some exceptional images with this lens and that is the bottom line. There are trade-offs and you need to know your type of photography to know what lens will suit you best. With Amazon's awesome return policy, you've got nothing to lose. Pixel-peepers and lens-snobs need not apply.

 "An great lens at a reasonable price" 2010-02-14
By John P. Mcclellan (Verona, NJ USA)
The Tamron 17-50mm VC lens does everything that the ads said it would do and more. I read a couple of online reviews that thought the VC & focus motor were too noisy. I have to disagree. If nothing else you know for sure that it is working when you can hear it. I put this lens on my Nikon D300. I compared it in two different camera stores with the comparable Nikorr lens. The Nikorr focused a fraction of a second faster. But then again at three times the price, I would expect it to do something at least a little better or faster. I took several test photos with both lenses, and if I hadn't taken notes, I would not be able to discern the difference. The pictures were sharp and crisp throughout the focal range and at several different apertures. I read a review that stated the pictures were too "soft" at the wide apertures. I believe the reviewer was not focusing carefully enough. At f2.8, you don't have much depth of field, and these auto-focus cameras can certainly have a mind of their own when it comes to where it wants to focus. I find fault with the photographer here, not the camera or lens. All in all for the money this is a fantastic bargain. It is the fourth Tamron lens that I have purchased, and Tamron has made me a believer in their products.

 "Its a good lens optically but does not work when cold" 2010-01-28
By B. Smith (Denver)
This is a very good lens optically. It is extremely sharp and the VC seems to work very well. Its construction is ok. It is well build but mostly plastic.



It does have two flaws. The first is that if the lens is just slightly rotated while mounted on my D90 I get the "E---" Error indicating that the electrical contacts are not communicating with the camera. I have had this with other third party lenses.



The other more serious flaw is that this lens will NOT WORK below about 20 degrees F. I have had this failure every time I take it out in the cold. As I do a lot of mountaineering and hiking this is a serious flaw. When I press the shutter release nothing at all happens. No focus, no mirror slap, no sound. Nothing.



Sometimes I might get a shot or two out and then it goes back to its "inert" behavior. My Nikon D90 works fine with any other lens in very cold temps. It just does not work with this Tamron.



This seems to be a characteristic of this particular lens as I have seen other posts on it. I sent the lens in to Tamron for service and they found no issue but wrote back, "The minimum operational temperature is 23 degrees F." However, this limitation is NOT stated anywhere in the literature for this lens.



As long as you will be using this lens where it is relatively warm I can recommend it.

 "An affordable alternative" 2010-01-19
By Anthony Loh (NY, USA)
I have recently purchased a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 VC, and subsequently a Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8.



I think the Tamron is a very sharp lens in its own right, especially when you use a smaller aperture. At the largest aperture of f2.8, however, I think the Tamron is a bit softer when compared to the Nikkor counterpart. Also, Tamron is a bit slower in a low light situation and a bit noisier with the VC. Furthermore, Tamron doesn't appear to be weather sealed, but the Nikkor is. The Tamron has a VC, while the Nikkor doesn't.



If you don't plan to spend $1400 or so for a lens but are still looking for something sharp and fast, Tamron would be the perfect affordable substitute. However, if budget is not an issue, and you want to be able to use the largest aperture in a low light condition and still producing the sharpest images, and that weather seal is important to you, then Nikkor would be recommended.



I decided to keep both lenses, though the Tamron will be used primarily by my wife with her Nikon D90 due to the lighter weight, while I will use the Nikkor with my Nikon D300S.

 "very good walk around lens" 2009-12-14
By rubyrudi (Mississippi,USA)
I have only had this lens for about 3 months and I have used it a lot. I just used it in Amsterdam at night walking around with out a tripod. Very good, better than I expected. I have a canon 20d.


Images Product

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Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Review Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

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The new lightweight and compact SP AF10-24mm Di II, the first-ever 2.4X ultra wide-angle lens for digital SLR cameras, features an unprecedented focal length range equivalent to 16mm ultra wide-angle to 37mm semi-wide-angle. With this versatile ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, photographers can capture magnificent vistas and extraordinary close-ups, bold compositions and unique perspectives, creating imagery impossible with standard wide-angle lenses. This lens comes with Tamrons 6 year limited warranty. Maximum Aperture F/3.5-4.5; Diagonal Angle of View 108 degrees 44 — 60 degrees 20 (APS-C equiv); Lens Construction 12 elements in 13 groups; Minimum Focus Distance 9.4 inches (over the entire range); Maximum Mag. Ratio 1:5.1 (at f=24mm); Filter Diameter 77mm; Overall Length 3.4 inches; Maximum Diameter 83.2mm; Weight 14.3oz; 7 Diaphragm Blades; Standard Accessory Flower-shaped Lens Hood and Case Included.
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Technical Details

- The world's first 2.4X zoom with an equivalent 16-37mm (when converted to full frame)
- The best magnification ratio in this class of 1:51
- Extremely compact and light
- Flower-shaped Lens Hood and Case Included
- 77mm Filter size
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 "Useful focal range but it's not very sharp" 2009-11-14
By Pedro G. Grance (Asuncion, Paraguay)
I bought whis lens to give it a try to Tamron after reading several reviews and comparing against the Sigma and Tokina. I use it with a Rebel XTI (400D) and a complementation of a 24-105L. I like it, construction is good, distortion very well controlled, cromatic aberrations is just ok, sharpness is just ok on the center but regular to bad on the corners, even at f5.6, f8 or f16. I did some home test with some friends that own Canon 10-22 and Sigma 10-20. I believe that Canon is the best choice between these three options. Second place to Sigma (sharp a little better)I don't mention tokina because a have not try it.



Conclusion: It's ok but it is not impressive to say "WOW!!!!".

 "NOT SURE" 2009-09-03
By hurricane survivor (jacksonville FL)
I have been wanting a super wide angle lens for my cannon EOS 30D, and this was a great price, and I have another Tamron lens! BUt not sure if they are not truly compatible?

Takes GREAT pictures outdoors and in good light, depth of field, range, ...... no fish eye, ... BUT in doors ( where I really wanted it) I take a picture, look at it in the view finder, looks good. Get to a computer, pictures are all dark? NOT at all the light values when pictures was viewed earlier? Canon dealer, said, "should have bought a canon lens" (what a stupid response!), and just to busy to figure out what is wrong? So for now, I really haven't used it?

 "Quality build, more distortion than expected" 2009-08-25
By J. Koppell (Connecticut, United States)
Using this lens with a 40D, I was underwhelmed with the results and will return it and try with the Sigma. The build quality and feel of the lens was very good. I use the excellent Tamron 18-270 so the company has satisfied me in the past.



As with any wide angle lens, the principal concern is going to be distortion and my expectations were realistic. Some barreling is normal. What surprised me is how often the aberrations crept out of the corners to the heart of the images. Not always, mind you. The problem is most severe when you've got the lens wide open -- but then isn't that part of the point of this lens? Also you do get different results depending on stop but i didn't find a consistent solution. Moreover, I'd rather not have to factor that in for every shot.



A couple of other points. Focusing was really good in the center of the image but pretty soft at the corners. Again, there was variation. Color representation was good and consistent.



This lens may turn out to be better than the competitors and I may end up having to re-purchase it but first I'll check out the Sigma and, if necessary, the Canon.

 "A Good Performer especially in this zoom range" 2009-07-30
By E. Martin (Miami, FL USA)
I acquired this lens to provide me with an ultra-wide zoom for landscapes and indoors uses. I do not routinely shoot in this focal length range, so I was hesitant about spending so much on the Canon 10-22mm, although the Canon 10-22mm is by all accounts, fantastic. I have had very positive experiences with Tamron in the past, and decided to give this lens a try over the Sigma equivalent. Cosmetically, the lens is very lightweight but feels solid in the hands, and the zoom ring takes some getting used to as it rotates in the opposite direction as Canon brand lenses. The finish on the lens is very nice and the included lens hood fits nicely, but provides only minimal protection to the front element. This is understandable since this lens is an ultra-wide zoom, and larger lens hoods would cause vignetting and shadowing problems. The lens hood does a nice job of protecting from lens flare issues. The lens extends only a small amount when zooming. Performance wise, the lens is quite soft wide open, which is somewhat disappointing but not a major issue for my own uses. It is something to be acutely aware of nonetheless. However, stopped down to f/8 or narrower fixes this problem, and at f/8 and narrower, the lens is very sharp with very nice color contrast and saturation. Sharpness falls off again at f/16 due to diffraction, but between f/8 and f/16, the lens is excellent. CA is nicely controlled as is barrel distortion, both of which are common big problems for many lenses in this focal range. I was pleasantly surprised with this lens's control of CA as I was expecting it to be much worse than it is. I borrowed a friend's Tamron 11-18mm lens, and my 10-24 was VASTLY superior with regards to problems with CA and barrel distortion and adds a complete stop of speed. The upgrades that Tamron has made with this lens are very noticeable and worth the extra cost over the previous generation Tamron ultra-wide zoom lens. The autofocusing is very quiet, accurate, and fast. Overall, this is a very nice alternative to the vastly more expensive camera-branded lenses like the Canon 10-22mm or the extremely expensive Nikon super-wide angle lenses and provides very good quality in this zoom range.



UPDATE: Recently, this lens took a serious tumble from about 3 feet off the ground onto a hard tile floor. The only damage was a ding on the lens cap! I'm impressed.

 "Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 for Canon. Biggest bang for the buck" 2009-03-25
By Michael J. Schnepf (Solana Beach, CA United States)
As a professional photographer since 1969, I've worn out more equipment than I care to admit. Carrying Nikon, Canon and Maymiya cameras all over the world sometimes becomes a burden. I decided to give this lens a try after reading the specs on Tamron's website. I use a Canon 50D for my daily point & shoot. It's light and with a vertical grip fits my hand better than my D700. I'm just beginning to use the Tokina. On the surface it appears well made (6 year warranty.) It focuses quickly albeit a little noisy compared to Canon 10-22. The range of the lense (10-24mm) is an asset to a non-full frame sensor camera. Team this lens up with 28-135mm & 75-300 zooms and you have a bag that you can actually carry for most circumstances encountered. So far so good. Next thing to do is run it through my battery of tests. I'll update this review as soon as tests are done. Initial perspective. Good focal length range, appears shape with low vignetting. Very low distortion with no fisheye effect. Small size. Great lense cap.


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Buy Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Now
Buy Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras |
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Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Review Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras From Here Now!
Tamron's new SP AF 17-50mm F/ 2.8 acts RDI II VC covers the heavily used 17-50 MM focal distance range (angle of view equivalent of 26-78 MM when converted to the full frame format) making it an extremely versatile, high performance zoom lens. Achieving sharpness and striking contrast, the lens produces beautiful images that are enhanced by the shallow depth of field afforded by the maximum aperture F/2.8 and enriches the user’s range of photographic expression. The new lenses equipped with Tamron’s proprietary vibration compensation (VC) image stabilization mechanism, which provides more opportunities for handheld photography, such as low light conditions like evening, night scenes and indoors, leading to dramatically enhanced level of photographic freedom. Technical specifications: focal length 17 - 50 MM: format size APS – C: maximum aperture F/2.8; minimum aperture F/ 32; diagonal angle of view 78 degree and 45 minute - 31 degree and 11 minute; lens construction 19 elements, 14 groups; minimum focusing distance 11.4-Inch (0.29m); maximum magnification ratio 1:4 0.8; filter diameter 72 mm; overall length 3.7 inches maximum diameter 3.13 inches; weight 20.15oz. 570g; diaphragm blades-seven; standard accessory flower shaped lens hood; Canon mount.
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Technical Details

- Compact Fast Zoom with VC (Vibration Compensation).
- Fast Constant F/2.8 Aperture.
- For use on APS-C size DSLR cameras.
- 11.4-Inch minimum focusing distance / 1: 4.8 Maximum magnification ratio.
- Internal Focusing.
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 "This is a night owl lens" 2010-02-11
By KamikazeAce
If you like low light photography this is the one lens you can get away with 1/2 shutter speeds and ISO 400 wide open. Before this I had the Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 and I can tell you that to get such low shutter speeds I had to increase the ISO 1600 and wide open which produce unflattering grain on the pictures. I wish I had this lens for those situations. One note of caution tho and that is the recommended shutter speed to freeze people is 1/60. They have to stand very still for you to get any lower but this creates also some creativity. I have gone to car shows and taken pictures of cars at low shutter speeds and you can see people streaking by like in those magazine pictures. What I didn't like about the lens was a shown vignetting wide open which shows in bright day light when shooting the sky. I thought it was my lens but upon some further research on the internet I am not alone. It is a short coming of the lens but corrects itself by f4. I usually use vignetting correcting software. Nevertheless, this is a night owl's lens and I like shooting in low light so I am happy with it besides who is selling an f2.8 constant with some vibration control. In regards to the reach, well, I thought about it, 17-50mm is not much but then again if you go longer you will need to increase the shutter speed further. They probably thought of this. I will now put it to use in museums, car shows, festivals, the works. Happy shooting!

 "I am not impressed at all with this lens" 2010-02-09
By Tayaran
OK, first I am not a professional photographer, but photography is my hobby and I have been doing for a while. My ratings are in line with my expectations from the lens, so please when deciding if you want to purchase this item take this into consideration. What did I need this lens for: basically just to take shots of my kids inside my house, lit with incandescent lamps. the 50mm f1.8 did not do it for me since my rooms are small and I am only able to take pictures of half the body shot. After looking around I wanted a lens that gives me a wide range and will work without flash in my environment. I used an XSI with this lens and I had to crank the ISO to 800. The first surprise was that the lens rotates in an opposite way to the Canon lenses I had, so this was awkward for a while. The lens is not very heavy which is good. I took about 150 pictures in the environment I described above and I was very very very disappointed. The pictures were very soft, no contrast and noisy (granted the noise is generated from my high ISO). At best I was able to get 1/30 from this lens which honestly I thought it would be a little bit faster. Again, I did not try it in broad daylight or outside because I already have my canon lenses for that. I ended up returning it.

 "great lens" 2010-02-05
By Theodore Post
I've had this lens for three months and it is sharp. The lens is well made and the zoom works smoothly and quietly. I would highly recommend it

 "Great upgrade over non-VC version, best bang for the buck!" 2009-12-28
By A. Malske (WI, United States)
I've been using Tamron 17-50mm non-VC version for about a 1.5 years and while I was upgrading XTi on 7D I decided to pull the trigger on VC version of the lens and placed a pre-order. Some reviewers, including the-digital-picture.com which opinion I highly respect mentioned that the lens isn't sharp wide open and generally quality is not as good as non-VC. I was extremely happy with non-VC and expected nothing less than amazing results from VC version. I had both of them for about a week and had a chance to compare side-by-side and do some tests.

So my tests revealed that my copy of VC is as good or in some instances better than my old non-VC (which was extremely sharp!). It's absolutely fantastic at 2.8 and there is a slight improvement stepping down. My guess is that people who commented on bad quality just got a bad copy.

It's not a Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM since it's doesn't have USM motor, but on VC version motor is much better, quieter and if VC is Off it's reasonably fast. Image quality wise I think this lens is very much on par with Canon so if you want to save a bit, have a 6 year warranty and have similar quality - go with Tamron!

 "You will not be disappointed" 2009-12-22
By HDYjr.
I purchased this lens when it became available in late November and have had a few weeks to shoot with it. This lens is used in conjunction with a Canon Rebel T1i. I originally purchased the non-VC version of this lens but returned it after a week or so simply because I was not "WOWED" with its performance (relatively slow auto focus, somewhat soft wide open, color and contrast seemed a bit lacking and it seemed to produce more noise than other lenses I've used on this camera).



This lens has none of those problems. I really can't get over how well it performs in low-light situations. I get a lot of keepers at 1/5 of a second. It's really sharp also. I have a 5D Mark II and a few L lenses and I find myself picking up my Rebel and this lens more and more often. If you are considering this lens I recommend it 100%.


Images Product

Buy Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Now
Buy Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras |
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Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Review Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Buy Cheap Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras From Here Now!
The SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 is a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras, expanding the product concept of the popular SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 zoom lens. In addition, portrait shots are made beautiful with the natural out-of-focus effect characteristic provided by the fast F/2.8 aperture. Additionally, a broader photographic expression through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture offers enhanced photographic pleasure. The lens boasts one of the best close-up shooting performances in the class of fast standard zoom lenses designed exclusively for digital cameras and featuring an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, to ensure stress-free photographic shots at all focal lengths and distances.
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Technical Details

- 17-50mm aspherical zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture for Canon DSLR cameras
- Delivers fast shutter speeds and natural soft-focus effect to produce sophisticated results
- 3 elements of XR glass, 2 hybrid aspherical lens elements, and 1 element of LD glass
- Minimum focus distance of 10.6 inches; internal coatings eliminate ghosting and flare
- Measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 3.3 inches long; weighs 15.2 ounces; 6-year warranty
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 "I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could..." 2010-02-14
By S.S. (Lexington, VA)
I'm not sure I can add much to the very comprehensive reviews already submitted for this lens. Because there is already so much written about this lens, I'll try to keep this brief. By and large, I agree with others: this is a solidly built lens, it covers a very convenient "walk-around" focal range for a 1.6x APS-C DSLR, it has most of the features I was looking for, and it has very good optics.



Like many others, I was unwilling to shell out the dough for the comparable Canon model (17-55 IS), which would have cost me about two-and-a-half times more money. I also decided not to pay extra for the Vibration Controlled (VC) model, based on reports that the optical quality of the VC version was inferior. I opted for better sharpness and a lower price-point over the extra 3-stops or so of hand-held shooting that the VC offers (plus, I've heard that the VC is a bit loud in operation, but I've not tried one).



I've had the lens for only a few days, but my initial impressions are very positive. I did a quick comparison between this lens (at 50mm) and the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Wide open, the prime lens was much sharper in the corners, but the Tamron held its own in center sharpness. When the Canon was stopped-down to 2.8 (to equal the Tamron wide-open), the disparity was much more glaring; the Tamron wide-open at 50mm just cannot compete with the sharpness of the prime at f/2.8. But I think the Tamron's corner sharpness tends to fall off as you move outward in the zoom range, so corner softness seems less of an issue at the wider focal lengths. Stopped down to f/4, the Tamron starts closing the gap, and by f/5.6 or so, I would say the advantage is negligible (though still noticeable if viewed at 100%). My conclusion from this unscientific comparison? This Tamron is excellent glass. For an inexpensive zoom to compete with (even if not surpassing) the sharpness of a notoriously sharp prime lens is impressive (the 50mm 1.8 is pretty sharp, and it is exceptionally so for its price). Yes, corner sharpness lags a bit, but that is to be expected from a zoom that isn't priced at four digits or above. All things considered, including price, this lens performs very well in the area of sharpness, in my opinion. One other note about this comparison: the Tamron at 50mm was slightly wider than the Canon 50mm. This is neither good nor bad, just noteworthy.



Some other notes: build quality is sturdy. The lens mount is metal, and the barrel is plastic, but the plastic could be mistaken for metal. The lens does not feel cheap or chintzy--you can tell there is plenty of glass in there--but it is reasonably light-weight. It zooms fluidly but not sloppily: there is a good level of resistance in the zoom ring. I was pleasantly surprised with the focusing speed--pretty quick--and accuracy seems very good, too. But, focusing is a bit noisy, with a high-pitch buzz coming from the motor. Definitely not on par, sound wise, with the USM lens I replaced with this (but probably not quite as loud as the Canon 50mm f/1.8). Not a big deal for me, but if you wanted to shoot events with this lens (such as weddings), the focus motor will make it harder to remain inconspicuous.



Some other very minor nits: There is no full-time manual focus, and the focus ring turns during auto-focusing. This is not really a big deal, but I have to be careful not to interfere with the focus ring with my support hand during shooting. The lens is fairly compact, so if you have big hands you may need to train yourself to stay off the focus ring. I really with it featured full-time manual focusing. Also, while the lens is quite compact, it does grow 30-40% or so as it zooms out. There is a zoom lock switch to lock the lens at 17mm during storage. The included hood is a nice touch, but feels a bit cheap.



All in all, bravo to Tamron. I don't think this is a perfect lens (hence the 4.5 stars), but it is a very practical lens. For its price and its type, it is very sharp. I can't fault it for the lack of full-time manual focusing, because I knew it lacked that feature when I bought it. This lens is a fantastic and inexpensive alternative is the DSLR "walk-around" zoom class.

 "expectations?" 2010-01-20
By RGR (USA)
Not a big "reviewer", but I have to comment on this piece of equipment. This was my first non-Canon lens purchase. MAN, did I have my expectations "set too low". This is a very high quality lens, every bit as high quality as any Canon lenses I have shot.

 "there is a new version of this lens, with VC" 2009-12-16
By J. Wilkinson (Baltimore, MD USA)
FYI, Tamron has released a new version of this lens, with VC (vibration compensation, aka image stabilization)



This has always been an excellent lens, well regarded by most photographers, so it will be interesting to see how the version with VC does.



See it listed here on Amazon as:

Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (Vibration Compensation) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

 "Decent lens but some quirks..." 2009-12-15
By Douglas D. Love (CA USA)
OK, I wanted a 17-55 mm zoom to complement my Sigma 35-300 zoom for my Canon Rebel XSi. After trying both the Sigma 18-55 mm f2.8 and this lens I chose the Tamron. While it is not quite as sharp as I like (Sigma has soft focus issues too) I could not justify the price of a Canon L series lens. This lens has met my expectations. It is reasonably fast. The autofocus is a bit noisy but not overly so and it allows me to have a lens that is an effective 28-88 mm zoom when factoring in the 1.6 crop factor for the APS-C sensor in the Rebel. There seems to be a bit of distortion when shooting at 17 mm at f2.8 but it is not extreme. Is it as fast and as tack sharp as a Canon L? No, but for the price it is a very good lens. The only complaint that I have with it is that it zooms in the opposite direction from Canon and Sigma lenses. For the price, I am happy and now I have a lens that allows me to shoot in low light without a flash in most conditions.

 "Very sharp... even wide open. Auto-focus in low-light so so..." 2009-12-08
By Pharmasian
Yesterday, I used this lens for a Christmas in a very low-light restaurant. I'm kinda dissapointed. Missed some good moments because of the slow auto-focus. But the good shoots are extremely SHARP. Loving it! I can`t really manual focus when it`s so dark in the viewfinder... plus my viewfinder is so small (Canon T1i). Great lens for low budget people. Very sharp. For extreme low-light... try another lens (ex. Canon 16-35L -too expensive- or Canon 50 1.4 or 1.8 = fix focal length though =T).


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Buy Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Now
Buy Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras |
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