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Archive 2017 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2

  
 
SSISteve
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


The new Tamron 150-600mm G2 is now available for $1,099 and has anyone had the opportunity to compare this lens to the Nikon 200-500mm in terms of AF and sharpness?




Jan 13, 2017 at 11:22 PM
AvianScott
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I've heard of people getting sharp copies of both and not-so-sharp copies of both. I think sample variation is a bigger worry with both lenses. That being said, I've owned both and was happier with the 200-500, but I don't think I had ample time to fully test the Tamron G2.In my opinion the Tamron has slightly faster AF and the Nikon was a bit sharper...YMMV.

Sorry, that probably doesn't help much.



Jan 13, 2017 at 11:43 PM
CanadaMark
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I have seen a couple threads on DPreview with some reasonably good comparisons - each time the OP kept the Nikon. I haven't seen any 'professional' head-to-heads with lab tests yet though. As mentioned above, all superzooms seem to be more prone to sample variation than some other lenses, so even comparing one sample of each to the other may not be conclusive. Personally I'd be surprised if it was sharper than a good copy of the Nikon. I'd love to see some more controlled tests though.


Jan 14, 2017 at 12:34 AM
Tyr-Sog
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


From what I've read be user reviews, there seem to be some AF and VC(combined maybe?) issues.




Jan 14, 2017 at 07:18 AM
Lance B
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Tyr-Sog wrote:
From what I've read be user reviews, there seem to be some AF and VC(combined maybe?) issues.



The new Tamron G2 is a very good lens, a friend of minehas one and lent it to me for a couple of weeks for evaluation - I own the Nikon 200-500. However, I was getting a few slightly OOF images with it and couldn't really find what the issue was. When it nailed focus it was sharp, probably just as sharp as the Nikon - I didn't do any back to back comparisons as I feel that even the best tests are prone to errors and careful test setups are not real world shooting. In other words, I just use the lens as intended and see what results I get as that I how it is used in the real world. The new version has much faster AF than the old version and faster than the Nikon, but I think that the fast AF is at the expense of accuracy. Yes, you may nail a few and get sharp photos, but you will also miss a few. Whilst the Nikon is slower to AF, it is also more accurate, IMO. As much as I would like the extra 100mm reach, I have decided to keep my Nikon. I also like the build quality and the VR of the Nikon better.

Can you complain about this image quality?

D810 + 200-500 f5.6, 1/400s f/7.1 at 500.0mm iso720



100% crop of above



D810 + 200-500 f5.6, 1/250s f/8.0 at 500.0mm iso1250




Jan 14, 2017 at 07:14 PM
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Some great colors in that first image.


Jan 14, 2017 at 09:39 PM
Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Who is selling the Tamron for $1,099 ? , the current B/H price is $300 higher.


Jan 15, 2017 at 12:27 AM
SSISteve
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Kingfishphoto wrote:
Who is selling the Tamron for $1,099 ? , the current B/H price is $300 higher.


BuyDig via EBay has it at this price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322388813339?customid=2b96bd26dae711e6a9e95a678dbb01410INT&pub=5574652453&campid=5335869999&afepn=5335869999&icep_id=117&ipn=icep&afepn=5335869999&rmvSB=true&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-53200-19255-0%252F1%253Fpub%253D5574652453%2526afepn%253D5335869999%2526type%253D4%2526campid%253D5335869999%2526toolid%253D10001%2526customid%253D2b96bd26dae711e6a9e95a678dbb01410INT%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fitm%25252F322388813339%25253Fcustomid%25253D2b96bd26dae711e6a9e95a678dbb01410INT%252526pub%25253D5574652453%252526campid%25253D5335869999%252526afepn%25253D5335869999%252526icep_id%25253D117%252526ipn%25253Dicep%2526srcrot%253D711-53200-19255-0%2526rvr_id%253D1153696973288&ul_noapp=true




Jan 15, 2017 at 12:56 AM
johnctharp
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Think Lance nailed it, but beyond that, pluses for this lens also include weather sealing, which is a real steal at this price where it competes against the Sigma C lens that lacks sealing and for the picky has a zoom ring that turns the wrong way for Nikon-bred shooters.




Jan 15, 2017 at 03:26 AM
Tyr-Sog
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Lance B wrote:
The new Tamron G2 is a very good lens, a friend of minehas one and lent it to me for a couple of weeks for evaluation - I own the Nikon 200-500. However, I was getting a few slightly OOF images with it and couldn't really find what the issue was. When it nailed focus it was sharp, probably just as sharp as the Nikon - I didn't do any back to back comparisons as I feel that even the best tests are prone to errors and careful test setups are not real world shooting. In other words, I
...Show more

No complaints here but I also had no complaints with the G1 shot on a 7Dmkii/6D in regards to IQ.

My complaint with the G1 was the skittish and clunky AF. Too many times it didn't know what to do, especially with moving subjects or contrasty scenes. When I came back to Nikon with the D810/ 200-500 the AF was night and day.
The 200-500 be it a little slow from end to end but is accurate like you mentioned. Also once in the vicinity of the subject it micro-adjusts pretty quickly and holds well.
One afternoon I was out shooting next to a gentleman with a D750 and G1 setup and again I got to witness the AF behavior as he was struggling to acquire focus lock on BIF(gulls, ducks) while the D810/200-500 had no issues at all.
His issues were the same that I had on the Canon body.

Anyways I know I mentioned it before but I sold all my dslr equipment last year(Nov of 15'). Bought again last November right after the release of the G2. There were few reviews on it but it still peaked my interest. I was torn between buying the 200-500 again or the new G2. The G2 looked awesome on paper.
Then a few of those user review's on the AF issues started to pop up and I knew then it was with the proven 200-500.

The 200-500 on the D500 is a whole new beast, even coming from the awesome D810 imo.
My only complaint that it is not weather sealed.

Also something to not to over look is the 200-500 can be shot wide-open all day long with stellar results. The G1 needed to be stopped down to f7.1 or 8 for optimal results. I'm not sure if it's the same with the G2?





Jan 15, 2017 at 06:26 AM
Joe Marquez
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I'm planning a project where I need as much reach as possible so I jumped on the $1099 price and picked up a Tamron G2 150-160mm lens. Although I own the Nikon 200-500mm --- 600mm is 600mm. I shot the Tamron for an hour today at dusk and my initial impression is the Tamron is quicker to focus and has that extra reach whereas the Nikon has more reliable focusing and is a tiny bit sharper. Hoping to get a free morning to try some BIF shooting and of course waiting for big waves to see if the Tamron can handle surf photography. In the meantime here are a couple of black crowned night herons at 600mm with the Tamron. Both shot wide open at f/6.3 with the first at 1/200 sec, iso 1000 and the second at 1/400 sec, iso 2500.

http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s4/v9/p2177324674-6.jpg

http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s11/v34/p2177324675-6.jpg



Jan 19, 2017 at 01:27 AM
morris
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I've only had experience with them in very low light handheld and the Nikon did much better on my D300s. The Nikon could focus when the Tamron could not. I also found stabilization was better on the Nikon. You should also be looking at the two Sigma models. I've found the contemporary to be better than the Tamron G2 and the Sport better though very close to the Nikon.

Morris



Jan 20, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Matisha
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


tamron is still an unknown quantity. in the first version there were enough problems with mounting the nikon. I would either wait a while to find out if there were any problems, or just go to Nikon and not worry about the problems.
But for beginners, I would advise you to check it out!

Edited on Apr 17, 2018 at 03:30 AM · View previous versions



Apr 15, 2018 at 05:50 AM
jbear
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I think the Tamron is a super lens, but...you're going to get that 7.1 sharpness at 500/5.6 with the Nikon along with constant aperture (important if you shoot manual mode...not as impt if you don't), and the best VR I've encountered. Just things to think about.


Apr 16, 2018 at 11:01 AM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Whilst the Tamron may not be as sharp, it has these advantages over the Nikon:

50mm more on the short end and 100mm more on the long end.
A tad lighter.
6-year warranty versus 1 with the Nikon (extendable to 4 with registration) (6 & 10 years in Canada)

For what they are worth:



https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4086160

http://www.davemclelland.com/lens_comparisons/nikon-200-500mm-vs-tamron-150-600mm-g2/

https://photographylife.com/reviews/tamron-sp-150-600mm-f5-6-3-g2





Apr 16, 2018 at 01:50 PM
nuclearjock
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I owned both at the same time and after careful comparison, kept the nikon 200-500 for constant f/5.6 and most importantly, IQ.


Apr 16, 2018 at 06:13 PM
Imagemaster
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


I have no doubt that the Nikon has better IQ, but the Tamron's IQ at 600mm should be compared to an upsized image from the Nikon at 500mm so the subject is the same size.

And is the difference noticeably better then?



Apr 16, 2018 at 06:51 PM
jbear
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Well, they can't be compared at 5.6, but by 6.3...yes...sharper and more contrast, but if you can't get technically good images from modern gear...it's not the gear. The difference seems to become more noticeable as the subject distance increases. Frame-filling, close proximity subjects will look great with all of these lenses. Can't stay if it's better enough to make a difference? That's for the photographer to decide. I print large quite a bit, so every little bit helps. Also to consider...the tc14elll works surprisingly well with the Nikkor, so...700 f9-10...while not fast, is very nice for stationery wildlife. I'm hardly ever below 400, and always have other lenses with me. so short end range isn't on my list of important stuff. In fact, I'd prefer the lens to be a 500/5.6 prime.
Not trying to talk anyone into seeing it my way but...I do have considerable time with these and that's my take. You can see just from reading how we all have unique styles and requirements...that's why they make all of this stuff. Nice to have choices...as long as you don't let them vapor-lock your decision making



Apr 16, 2018 at 09:30 PM
myboostedgst
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Nikon 200-500mm vs Tamron 150-600mm G2


Bringing this back up.

How’s the Sigma C compare to each of these two? I will be selling my old screw drive 300mm F2.8 and replacing it with a superzoom. I am very price conscious on a lens that will rarely get used, so the Sigma has my attention. I tried the V1 of the Tamron and was not happy. I had my hands on the Nikon 200-500 in store, but haven’t got a chance to use any of the three in the field.



Apr 27, 2018 at 06:06 PM





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