cameron12x wrote:
I personally didn't buy this lens for BIF photography. I could be wrong, but I imagine those who did may end up being disappointed.
I believe the lens will perform quite well in good light and with the proper technique for nearly all relatively static subjects. It might even do well with certain sports.
For those folks who don't already own the Canon 100-400mm zoom this lens will be an interesting alternative with an added bonus of about 50% more reach.
I have one on order and my only plans are for sports or marching band photography. I think it will do well for many things.
brimull wrote:
...,I don't like how easily the focal length can be adjusted. One slight movement of your hand will send it from 600mm to 300 or 400mm without you even realizing it. It's very loose and easily moved....
Interesting. Mine is just the opposite - very stiff and difficult to turn - my one nitpick about the lens. Otherwise I'm quite satisfied thus far. I also have a Canon 100-400, and my early results with the Tamron are at least comparable. I'm looking forward to some better weather conditions to really give the lens a workout.
sfink161 wrote:
I agree, it doesn't make sense. Why limit the locking to only the 150mm and not the entire zoom range? Poor design decision IMO. I hope that I can get used to it but it does sound disappointing. That's for the heads up.
I actually think you would not want the lens to lock at any position other than fully retracted. A major reason for owning a zoom is to enable quick focal length changes. If you unlock/lock each time, it is a waste of time.
mitesh wrote:
I actually think you would not want the lens to lock at any position other than fully retracted. A major reason for owning a zoom is to enable quick focal length changes. If you unlock/lock each time, it is a waste of time.
Agreed.
OTOH, I'm OK with the "lock at any focal length" gizmo on the 28-300L IS and 100-400L IS. It is what it is.
It locks at the short end, 150mm, but not anywhere else. The focal adjustment collar is near where I place my support hand when handholding, and if you're moving often as I often am, it's easily turned. It's not a defect in the lens, it's just not to my liking. To some it may be fine the way it is. I'm not used to it.
Brian M.
The Canon 70 300L does the same thing. Not very often you would want to lock it extended anyway.
Got out with it for the first time today, wasn't much to take photos of other then this guy who sat in the tree for a couple of minutes.
Both shot handheld with the 7d(even with IS I'll probably shoot mostly from a tripod when I have a chance). I would have liked him to stay a bit longer so I could try the 5d III to compare it but he didn't stay long.
Overall so far I'm happy but I do need to shoot some more with it
Canon EOS 7D ,Tamron 150-600mm
1/2500s f/9.0 at 552.0mm iso800
Canon EOS 7D ,Tamron 150-600mm
1/2500s f/9.0 at 450.0mm iso800
I spent some time with the lens today for Both BiF and Static Birds Shots with my Canon 7D & 5D3 (Mostly at 600mm)
I started with the static bird shots in the 2-3 hours of sunlight with well below freezing temprature.
Most of the shots were on Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 monopod with Iinduro GHB1 gimbal head with VC=ON. I micro Adjust Canon 7D by (-8)
Except for the last (American Kestrel) I hand hold.
AI Servo mode with Conti Focusing & Center Focus Point. Focusing was dead ON (almost 100% of time) on the monopod. Not even a single shot missed with this settings.
For Static Birds shots, I got a keeper rate of over 80% which is rare even with my Canon 400mm 5.6 Prime on 7D. Literally, while reviewing the images it was hard to delete. Sharp Focus. Magnification factor is alos good with 1:5 ratio.
Based on the results today, if you can live with the center focus point. This can a amazing lens for these type of shots.
Some of the NON-BiF shots from today. If you have any question, please ask me.
I ll post some BiF shots later with some 'cons' of this lens.
Focus wise , I prefer the push / pull - looks like most prefer the twist .
I think the lock is for less experienced people to keep them for grabbing lens by end - it extends rapidly and sucks in dust . Locking at short end is better for walk about - it depends on how hard it is to reach / unlock .
No one has said they had problems coming in out of cold , but the people who have the lens now preodered in and did not buy on a whim . [ cold and snow ] To me that means weather seals are probably OK .
PCKit wrote:
It locks at the short end, 150mm, but not anywhere else. The focal adjustment collar is near where I place my support hand when handholding, and if you're moving often as I often am, it's easily turned. It's not a defect in the lens, it's just not to my liking. To some it may be fine the way it is. I'm not used to it.
Brian M.
The Canon 70 300L does the same thing. Not very often you would want to lock it extended anyway.
All the twist zoom lenses that I've observed lock at the short end (when there's a lock mechanism). I never actually suggested it should be otherwise. However, my particular Tamron 150-600mm turns easily when at the long end (600mm) and is right where I put my support hand. Any inadvertent movement of my hand or jostling moves it, sometimes to a significantly lower focal length. If I use it enough, I'm sure I'll adjust.
With the 100-400mm, I often lock it at the long end (400mm) when in the field because that's the focal length I most often use, and I can easily loosen and adjust downward in short order. When storing I lock it at the short end, just like a twist zoom. I've used the push-pull telephoto zoom for ten years, so that's why the Tamron will take some getting used to. That's IF I decide to use it often....
I've been using Canon DSLR cameras since they came out with the original Rebel (300D) years ago. Typically I've gone with defaults in the menu options since I figured the defaults are what Canon feels will work best. That has been the case for all Canon L lens that I've used.
However, I began to wonder if there was something in the menu options that might be tweaked to gain AF when shooting BIF shots with non-Canon L lens. I think I found something, something I was surprised to learn.
Personally I've always used center point AF when tracking BIF shots with usually good results and had mixed results when using automatic AF points.
As it turns out there is a menu feature that is turn off called "AF Point Expansion" in both my Canon 7D and Canon 5D mkII. It only works if AI SERVO is turned on, which of course is necessary for tracking BIF shots.
sfink161 wrote:
I've been using Canon DSLR cameras since they came out with the original Rebel (300D) years ago. Typically I've gone with defaults in the menu options since I figured the defaults are what Canon feels will work best. That has been the case for all Canon L lens that I've used.
However, I began to wonder if there was something in the menu options that might be tweaked to gain AF when shooting BIF shots with non-Canon L lens. I think I found something, something I was surprised to learn.
Personally I've always used center point AF when tracking BIF shots with usually good results and had mixed results when using automatic AF points.
As it turns out there is a menu feature that is turn off called "AF Point Expansion" in both my Canon 7D and Canon 5D mkII. It only works if AI SERVO is turned on, which of course is necessary for tracking BIF shots.
