Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

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Archive 2009 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #1 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Hi.

Just wanted to share some of the experience I'm having testing this lens.

AF: Noisy compared to AF-S, but acceptable. Accurate 93% in low light (1/30th; f2.8; iso3200). Locks on about the same speed as my Tokina's, which is slower than the 24-70, but faster than most third party lenses I've tried.

VC: Very Competent. As good or better than the Canon version IMO. I had the 17-55 IS for a couple of years and a couple of IS units too, and this is at least as good. Perhaps better.

Build: Decent, but not as solid as the Tokina or Nikon of the same range.

Zoom: Great! Smooth and perfect throw for one handed, full range zooming. Well damped. Better damping than the old Tammy and as good as the Nikon.

IQ: I tried it in low light (lamp w/60w bulb from about 10'), and the macro (ish) ability with 17mm and 50mm from the closest focus distance (about 3"). The results to both are below.

Conclusion: Keeping it and selling my Tokina's soon. I will also say, this is the second copy (thanks B&H CS) as my first was mis-focusing.

2012 © DavidWEGS

Nov 18, 2009 at 05:30 PM

jeryang
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p.1 #2 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a keeper.

Nov 18, 2009 at 05:43 PM

kaska1
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p.1 #3 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

I have this lens, but I guess the older version. Whats the VC? vibration reduction?

Nov 18, 2009 at 08:52 PM

davenfl
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p.1 #4 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

kaska1 wrote:
I have this lens, but I guess the older version. Whats the VC? vibration reduction?

Same as Canon IS (image stabilization) or Nikon VR (Vibration Reduction).

Dave

Nov 18, 2009 at 09:10 PM

gugs
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p.1 #5 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

This seems logical to me, I have been quite impressed by the IQ of the first generation (17-50 2.8) and I also have VC on another Tammy, and I easily can win up to 4 stops, the system just works perfectly, so the combination of both should be a winner... and the price is good too.

Guy

Nov 18, 2009 at 09:28 PM

Gustaf Lindber
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p.1 #6 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Is it worth upgrading from the first generation 17-50?
How is the focus speed?

Nov 18, 2009 at 09:48 PM

Justin Huffman
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p.1 #7 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

thanks for sharing David, any info on how this might perform on a FX body? at what piont does the vignette go away if at all...

Nov 18, 2009 at 09:51 PM

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #8 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Hi Justin,

I must admit, I haven't tried it on the 700, but I will have a go just for fun.

Justin Huffman wrote:
thanks for sharing David, any info on how this might perform on a FX body? at what piont does the vignette go away if at all...

Nov 19, 2009 at 12:39 AM

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #9 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Hi Gustaf,

I had the old model for the Canon system (gone now), but this is the first for the Nikon system.

With that in mind and the fact that the D300s is faster to acquire focus than most any other crop body I have tested/got, this lens is better than the old version on this body (in low light, which is where I will use it a fair bit) but a factor of 1.5 - 2x faster. That is just a feeling more that a real test though, but I remember my old one on a 40D having trouble locking on in lower light and when it did, it took a lot longer to get there, IMO.

Gustaf Lindber wrote:
Is it worth upgrading from the first generation 17-50?
How is the focus speed?

Nov 19, 2009 at 12:42 AM

poisonpill
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p.1 #10 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

It's impressive that everybody has such rave reviews of the Tamron anti-shake system. I hope it gets into more of their stuff. Perhaps a 400mm zoom? Definitely itching for a 28-75mm with VC.

Nov 19, 2009 at 02:42 AM

HerbChong
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p.1 #11 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

oh, it works well but it is noticeably slower to lock on than VR. i use the Tamron 28-300 on my FX bodies, especially the D3 because i can crank the ISO up, and it's a good walkaround lens when only one can be taken. image quality is decent too and far better than my 24-120VR that was just incredibly disappointing even when i had read so-so the reviews ahead of time. the 28-300 came out a few months after i got the 24-120 VR and i replaced it immediately.

Herb...

poisonpill wrote:
It's impressive that everybody has such rave reviews of the Tamron anti-shake system. I hope it gets into more of their stuff. Perhaps a 400mm zoom? Definitely itching for a 28-75mm with VC.

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:11 AM

Hamishhog
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p.1 #12 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Thanks very much for your post. I've been wondering about this lens.

Any comments about this versus the 16-85 VR, assuming you have had it?
(the first photo says a lot already...)
Thanks again.

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:18 AM

Travelinbri
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p.1 #13 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Good user review, I figured this would be quality, the original was great! If it has IS I woulda stuck with it.

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:30 AM

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #14 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

Herb, while this VC is louder than VR, I am finding this is just about as fast to "kick in" as my 70-200.

HerbChong wrote:
oh, it works well but it is noticeably slower to lock on than VR. i use the Tamron 28-300 on my FX bodies, especially the D3 because i can crank the ISO up, and it's a good walkaround lens when only one can be taken. image quality is decent too and far better than my 24-120VR that was just incredibly disappointing even when i had read so-so the reviews ahead of time. the 28-300 came out a few months after i got the 24-120 VR and i replaced it immediately.

Herb...

poisonpill wrote:
It's impressive that everybody has such rave reviews of the Tamron anti-shake system. I hope it gets into more of their stuff. Perhaps a 400mm zoom? Definitely itching for a 28-75mm with VC.

Nov 19, 2009 at 05:02 AM

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #15 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

I never had the 16-85, but I have the 24-70 and after shooting this for a couple of days in all sorts of conditions, this is surprisingly sharp and contrasty. I won't put it in the same class as the 24-70, but its at the top of the class it is in for sure.

I would pit this against the 17-55 happily and I had that for a good while.

Hamishhog wrote:

Thanks very much for your post. I've been wondering about this lens.

Any comments about this versus the 16-85 VR, assuming you have had it?
(the first photo says a lot already...)
Thanks again.

Nov 19, 2009 at 05:06 AM

van Hai
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p.1 #16 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

I own the 24-70 and the 17-50VC.
The 17-50VC is decent built, VC very effective and optically is on par with
my 24-70 however the manual focusing ring rotates at AF but I don't mind.

The 16-80VR is small, perfect for a standard lens, VR is good but it's too slow for me and the image quality is far behind above 2 lenses, so I returned it after 1 week.

Nov 19, 2009 at 08:14 AM

Gustaf Lindber
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p.1 #17 · Tamrons new 17-50/2.8 VC

But it's not that easy to compare Canon and Nikon lenses sadly since your old lens had a built in motor and I use the motor in my D200. For me the old Tamron with no motor focuses about as fast as my 18-70 AF-S.

DavidWEGS wrote:
Hi Gustaf,

I had the old model for the Canon system (gone now), but this is the first for the Nikon system.

With that in mind and the fact that the D300s is faster to acquire focus than most any other crop body I have tested/got, this lens is better than the old version on this body (in low light, which is where I will use it a fair bit) but a factor of 1.5 - 2x faster. That is just a feeling more that a real test though, but I remember my old one on a 40D having trouble locking on in lower light and when it did, it took a lot longer to get there, IMO.

Gustaf Lindber wrote:
Is it worth upgrading from the first generation 17-50?
How is the focus speed?

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:31 PM

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