Imagemaster wrote:
And the lens is not doing what it is told to do.
There is no evidence that commands go out from the camera in these situastions. It could just as well be the camera that stops telling the lens what to do. Bumping the focus is a user interaction that tells the camera to do something.
alundeb wrote:
There is no evidence that commands go out from the camera in these situastions. It could just as well be the camera that stops telling the lens what to do. Bumping the focus is a user interaction that tells the camera to do something.
Tons of evidence in that IS Servo focus works fine with Canon lenses on same body. Take the Canon lens off, and replace with Tamron, and will not focus. VERY obvious that the camera IS working as it should, and the problem lies in the lenses lack of communication with body.
This is such a simple understanding, and I don't see why some people a hard time believing it?
Wildthing wrote:
Tons of evidence in that IS Servo focus works fine with Canon lenses on same body. Take the Canon lens off, and replace with Tamron, and will not focus. VERY obvious that the camera IS working as it should, and the problem lies in the lenses lack of communication with body.
This is such a simple understanding, and I don't see why some people a hard time believing it?
You still do not know what is going on in the communications. If the camera stops sending to the Tamron lens for some reason, you will see extactly the same behaviour.
I emailed the Australian tamron distributor asking if a fix was being worked on and got exactly the same response as the OP word-for-word Does this suggest that they are going to tought this issue out rather than do a fix? I will likely still get it as it will make a nice versatile alternative to my 300 2.8 + TC on my 5diii. I tend to shoot stationary animals rather than BIF.
I don't mean to excuse the problem or anything like that.
It is just counterproductive to exclude possibilites in search of an explanation and eventually solution.
The Tamron lens reports 6.2 as max aperture.
It is possible that some cameras like the 7D and 1D IV have a list in firmware of approved lenses for Servo tracking at apertures smaller than f/5.6.
Newer cameras definitely have lens lists in firmware for enabling / disabling of autofocus points / features.
If this is the explanation, it is unfair to spread bad reputation about Tamron.
Again, it may be Tamron's fault, and it may not. By all means put pressure on Tamron support, but be a little careful before jumping to conclusions.
alundeb wrote:
I don't mean to excuse the problem or anything like that.
It is just counterproductive to exclude possibilites in search of an explanation and eventually solution.
The Tamron lens reports 6.2 as max aperture.
It is possible that some cameras like the 7D and 1D IV have a list in firmware of approved lenses for Servo tracking at apertures smaller than f/5.6.
Newer cameras definitely have lens lists in firmware for enabling / disabling of autofocus points / features.
If this is the explanation, it is unfair to spread bad reputation about Tamron.
Again, it may be Tamron's fault, and it may not. By all means put pressure on Tamron support, but be a little careful before jumping to conclusions. ...Show more →
It is possible but Tamron is responsible for getting it to work. As others have pointed out they do actually pay Canon for the hard data and not back-end it like Sigma does. So since they are already paying a premium to Canon they should test and then communicate with Canon for a solution.
If they end up ignoring this in the long run, they will go out of business eventually. Us photographers aren't very forgiving.
Except for the fact that Tamron is selling a lens for a Canon camera. One would assume that they would test with not only the newest cameras but with the most commonly used. If they have not verified the lens with a specific camera then they should state which cameras they have verified full compatibility with.
All that being said from the reviews this lens appears to be sharp in general and it would be stupid from a business standpoint for them not to correct these issues if they really want to compete in this market.
This fiasco with the Tamron is eerily similar to Canon's debacle with the MKIII focusing system. Canon denied the problem existed initially too and their reputation was trashed in the process. Canon has done an excellent job rebuilding their standing since then, but it has been an uphill battle.
Tamron would be smart to review, learn, and not repeat Canon's mistakes in handling the MKIII issue.
One big difference in the two scenarios is that Canon did not know what the problem was with the MKIII and their denial that a problem existed bought time for the engineers to figure out what was actually going on.
In Tamron's case I'm guessing they know what the problem is already, but there may be more to the fix than just a software tweak so they have entered denial mode. This is really going to cost them if they don't get a solution out quickly. Tamron's name is more publicized than ever before with the new lens so negative reports are far reaching.
I wouldn't want to be one of the Tamron guys who was responsible for the incomplete testing.
Don't mean to hi-jack the thread but this is the response I got from Tamron.
Dear Mr. Richardson,
Thank you for the purchase of our Tamron 150-600mm lens.If you are experiencing difficulties with your lens we would be happy to take a look at it and take care of it under our 6 year warranty. Or as you mentioned, the item can still be returned to B & H under their terms in exchange for another lens.
To date I am not aware of any problem or defect with the lens that would not allow it to focus using the AI servo mode.
I have used our 150-600mm in a variety of situations as have many others and personally I am pleased with the performance including the Ai servo auto focus.
If you choose to send the lens here for service please let me know as I can be your direct contact through the evaluation process.
If you have the time I would like to hear more about how you are shooting. What camera body, camera settings, lens settings, shooting conditions such as available light…..and so on.
Thank you in advance,
Pat Simonetti
Director
Technical & Customer Service/Distribution
Tamron USA, INC
10 Austin Blvd
Commack, NY 11725
631.858.8444 - Fax 631.858-8462
www.tamron-usa.com
It sounds like they mean well but the way it's focusing is fine with them and they don't know what to do to make it better.
This Pat Simonetti would probably rather I hadn't put his or her name and address on the forum but if they haven't heard of a problem maybe it's time they did.
I can't stand companies in this modern internet driven world that continue to deny obvious problems. If Tamron continues with this stance, I will never purchase a Tamron lens. I hope others will also follow suit. That type of response is ridiculous.
Lets all give Mr. Simonetti a nice call this AM and let him know his lens doesn't focus in AI Servo on the Canon EOS 7D, 1D4 and possibly a few other bodies I would but since I don't own the lens I don't think I should, hopefully you owners will give the guy a call and at least leave him a voicemail.
Though located in Canada, I might drop him a line. As a 1DIV owner who STILL has his name on the waiting list for this lens locally, I feel like I have a vested interest in how they arrive at a solution.
It is possible but Tamron is responsible for getting it to work. As others have pointed out they do actually pay Canon for the hard data and not back-end it like Sigma does. So since they are already paying a premium to Canon they should test and then communicate with Canon for a solution.
If they end up ignoring this in the long run, they will go out of business eventually. Us photographers aren't very forgiving.
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"Canon have said that they do not licence their lens technology to other manufacturers so the 3rd party lens makers have to "reverse engineer" the communications protocol." http://www.lensplay.com/lenses/lens_3rdparty.html
I called B&H, where my lens was purchased, and this is the reply the customer service rep got from Tamron:
Thank you for holding. I just spoke with tech support at Tamron at Tel: 631-858-8400 and they told me they had tested the lens extensively before releasing it and also tested it again when they saw these posts on forums. They said that according to their tests with many different camera bodies it does work on Ai Servo mode. They said that Ai Servo mode can be tricky at times to get any lens to focus as it has several setting to be placed in, but that it does work in Ai Servo mode. That is the information Tamron just gave me on the phone. We at B&H have not had a chance to try the product and see how it performs in Ai Servo mode unfortunately.
I have a RMA to return the lens - not good enough photographer to hamper my attempts at wildlife by having to use tricks to trick the lens into working.
I would but since I don't own the lens I don't think I should, hopefully you owners will give the guy a call and at least leave him a voicemail.