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Archive 2016 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)

  
 
Jeff
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


I've been through several 'utility' astro lenses (i.e. zooms) over the years, and aside from wanting a faster-than-f/2.8 UWA wide lens (that may not exist), after a few months with the Tamron 15-30/2.8 I've found it to be a stellar performer (no pun intended). I see lots of questions about both this lens and about the 5Ds for astrophotography, and since it's been awhile since I've posted, I thought I'd share a few, and highlight a some key points on this combo. [Also, for the record, over the years I've extensively used both 24-70/2.8L's (I & II), the first two 16-35/2.8L's (I & II), and the 16-35/4L IS. Although the 16-35/2.8L III certainly seems to address the flaws of the first two versions, after much internal debate I've realized that I would not use it for astro due to the 3+ stops of vignetting in the corners, thus it would really be a rather expensive replacement for the 16-35/4L IS. Maybe someday when I'm rolling in money I'll make the switch, but no need to.]

So concerning vignetting, I think that is where the 15-30/2.8 really, really shines, even at 15mm where I normally shoot. I do a lot of Milky Way panos, and the heavy corner vignetting of most fast ultra-wides means increased noise in those corners once you fix it. Let's just say that it bugs me to have noise cycling in and out of the upper edge of a panorama.

Speaking of bugging me, coma is the other aspect that the 15-30 performs quite well, all things being considered. It's about on par with the 16-35/4L IS, probably a touch better. Lack of coma was the main reason I gave this lens a shot, and I'm glad I did.

Sharpness is very, very good, across practically the entire field of view, thus field curvature is well controlled (can't say that about either 24-70/2.8L I've owned)

As far as the 5Ds is concerned, the bottom line is that I'll take its high-ISO 'performance' given that its increase in resolution allows me to make a bigger print than I otherwise might with the 6D (not tried, nor am I going to, a 5DIV; I'll take the 5Ds any day of the week). Shooting astro with the 5Ds user errors are certainly magnified, and good glass is a must. This camera is every bit the workhorse that my 5DIII was, and the images are significantly better; I do not in any way miss the fixed pattern noise of the 5DIII, that drove me nuts.

Now for the images:

The first Perseid composite was taken in UT the night of August 12-13, the night after the peak, which I unfortunately missed. The camera shot all night until the two batteries in the grip died, from when the moon set until right about the time the western horizon started to brighten. I got about 40 meteors in that timeframe, including two with persistent trains, one of which was visible for nearly 6 minutes). I started the sequence just as the moonlight disappeared, in order to keep just a bit of light on Castleton Tower.

The next two panos were shot during a houseboating trip on Lake Powell in the last week of May. Now let me tell you astro guys out there, there is no better 'vacation' for us than a moonless week on Lake Powell! Such a great trip, my only problem was being up most of the night, every night, and having to recover for daily activities. So much fun stumbling around out there in the dark, taking pictures. Anyway, first one with some light from the boat, before the Milky Way rose; a 14-image stitch to 23000x9000 pixels. The next is a 12-image pano, away from the light of the boat (20000x7000 pix).

Then, one daytime pano, just to give the lens some occasional daylight. The only thing that bugs me about the 15-30/2.8 is that it doesn't easily take filters, but honestly, if I'm shooting in the daytime I don't need the speed, so I can use the 16-35/4L IS.

Lastly, a couple of crops, just to get a feel for the detail, and to show a closeup of the amazing persistent train. I was lucky to capture that.

Cheers!

Jeff

PS: In case anyone wants any further details about the images, you can find them here:

http://jeffwarnerphoto.com/2016/08/15/81316-perseid-meteor-showers-from-castle-valley-ut/

http://jeffwarnerphoto.com/2016/05/31/53016-houseboating-on-lake-powell/





2016 Perseid Meteor Shower, Castleton Tower, UT







Glow of houseboat on Lake Powell, May 2016







Milky Way pano, Lake Powell, UT







Star trails and Castleton Tower, UT







Castleton Tower, UT; 270° pano



Edited on Dec 21, 2016 at 06:53 PM · View previous versions



Dec 21, 2016 at 12:41 AM
Jeff
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


The crops:





Crop of Perseid persistent train














Dec 21, 2016 at 12:43 AM
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Unbelievable!


Dec 21, 2016 at 06:11 AM
Max_Pain
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


This is great. I've been eyeing the Tamron but wasn't sure if it was worth trading my Rokinon 14mm 2.8 and Canon 16-35 f/4L IS to have the one Tamron. Hmmm.


Dec 21, 2016 at 07:16 AM
Jeff
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)



Max_Pain wrote:
This is great. I've been eyeing the Tamron but wasn't sure if it was worth trading my Rokinon 14mm 2.8 and Canon 16-35 f/4L IS to have the one Tamron. Hmmm.


Oh yeah, thanks for reminding! Spent some time with two different Samyang 14/2.8s two years apart, and recently gave the 24/1.4 a shot as well. Didn't have the intestinal fortitude to find copies that weren't pretty severely decentered.

I really want to try the Sigma 20/1.4, but the more I read the more I think I'd just end up sending it packing for the big netting (dang spell check, lol) and coma. Sigh...



Dec 21, 2016 at 10:21 AM
Ubuhle
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Thanks for sharing the pictures and information. I hadn't given any consideration to the Tamron lens, but your post has changed that. My old 17-40mm L is long in the tooth and needs to be replaced.


Dec 21, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Jeff
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Max_Pain wrote:
This is great. I've been eyeing the Tamron but wasn't sure if it was worth trading my Rokinon 14mm 2.8 and Canon 16-35 f/4L IS to have the one Tamron. Hmmm.


By the way, one thing to keep in mind is that the 15-30 is a huge beast of a lens, and I'd hesitate to own it as the only UWA zoom in the arena, at least if you intend on doing much walking around with it. You really can't appreciate its heft and girth until you actually put hands on it, it's impressive, which is probably partially why it works as well as it does.



Dec 21, 2016 at 12:27 PM
dgdg
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


The Tamron is a great lens.
Nice images!

Do you have any long exposures (say ~4 minutes) and how these compare with other full frame bodies?



Dec 21, 2016 at 01:07 PM
Jeff
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


dgdg wrote:
The Tamron is a great lens.
Nice images!

Do you have any long exposures (say ~4 minutes) and how these compare with other full frame bodies?


Thanks, glad you enjoyed.

I really do not, as I don't (yet?) have a tracker, and there's not much point shooting longer than 20-30s without one.



Dec 21, 2016 at 06:32 PM
Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Wow great post Jeff, very good information and excellent images. I'm waiting to see how the new Samyang premium 14 f2.4 performs before deciding which way to go.


Dec 21, 2016 at 06:55 PM
Jeff
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Thanks, Whayne. I don't know about that new lens, I'll have to take a peek, thanks for the heads up!


Dec 21, 2016 at 06:58 PM
Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Jeff wrote:
Thanks, Whayne. I don't know about that new lens, I'll have to take a peek, thanks for the heads up!


It's a new lens in Smyang's premium line-up including also a 85 f/1.2. Hopefully they will be released early in 2017.



Dec 22, 2016 at 02:32 AM
Jeff
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Pixel Perfect wrote:
It's a new lens in Smyang's premium line-up including also a 85 f/1.2. Hopefully they will be released early in 2017.


Sweet; sure would be nice if you cold use it wide open for astro!



Dec 22, 2016 at 05:09 PM
Kane Engelbert
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


I too shoot the 5dsr and Tamron 15-30 and for astro I simply have no desire to upgrade. If there's a better wide zoom thats better for astro below $2200, let me know. I routinely see this lens used for 800.00 and it make me shake my head concerning what a freakin steal of a deal.


Dec 22, 2016 at 06:11 PM
Chuck D
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


The Perseid shot is amazing! Well done.


Dec 22, 2016 at 07:48 PM
Jeff
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Thanks Chuck, that one was a little bit of work (both during and after)! Drove to Castle Valley from Denver to get that shot, door-to-door I was gone for 27 hours.

Chuck D wrote:
The Perseid shot is amazing! Well done.




Dec 23, 2016 at 10:33 AM
twodees
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


Milky Way pano is excellent, I'm guessing a lot of work went into that.


Dec 23, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Jeff
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


That one wasn't too bad, as I made sure to pan level, so the stitch was straightforward. Not a large ton of air traffic out there either, at least not at 2:00 in the AM...

twodees wrote:
Milky Way pano is excellent, I'm guessing a lot of work went into that.




Dec 23, 2016 at 12:04 PM
Tareq
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · 5DS + Tamron 15-30/2.8 for Astro (examples)


And that is why i bought this lens instead of 16-35 F4IS regardless we don't have any astro here, just for future proof, and also for some wide angle indoors shots, i know how great is that 16-35F4, but i wanted 2.8 [or it is not a true 2.8] over F4, and both have image stabilizer even if not in same league, still didn't use the lens at all, once i complete the filters set for it then i will give it a try i hope.


Dec 24, 2016 at 12:27 PM





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