p.29 #2 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
I got one yesterday and I really like it! Just ran out and shot a bunch of quick tests with it and my Sony 24-105. I did this quick and dirty and just shot JPEGs, but I have a high vantage point that is great for this. Shot late in the afternoon with sun behind shining down on the city. I also did Fred's test and the corner test for centering. Both my lenses were weaker on the right side, but not enough to bother me.
Generally, with this lens at 2.8 and the Sony at f/4, the Tamron seems a little sharper and more contrasty in the center, but very close. The Sony is clearly sharper at the edges and corners. The Tamron sharpens up all over at 5.6 but still not great on the edges, Sony is much more even. The Tamron is very sharp in the Center though. These were infinity shots with the main subject (a hospital) close to a kilometer away.
For my purposes, I like the central pop and would never notice the weaker edges in real use.
p.29 #3 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
While this review does focus on video, it does show that the lens has very little breathing, which was something I was worried about. Go to 8:24 in the video and it shows that at close focus the 75mm stays at true 75mm throughout the range.
p.29 #4 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
I stopped by Midwest Photo Exchange today, asked if they had any, and to my surprise they said yes, so I cancelled my B&H order and I've got one. It is way smaller and lighter than I expected from the pictures. It's long, but very small in diameter, and very light. Haven't had a chance to look at samples on the conpi yet...seems to have some edge softness at wide apertures at 28mm, but sharpens up nicely stopped down a bit....just judging on the rear LCD.
p.29 #6 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Trek_of_Joy wrote:
Hey! I recognize that footbridge, crossed it a couple times when I was in Tokyo last year. Tokyo is a photo dream location, endlessly interesting things to shoot and more camera shops than probably any city in the world.
Cheers
Chris
Yeah, the bridge next to South entrance of Shinjuku station is my standard spot to try out new lenses whenever I buy a new one in Shinjuku (e.g. usually from Map Camera) I know some other locals who also use the bridge to do the same thing. I agree about Tokyo being a great location for photography, I especially like the various events that happen every weekend during the summer season. I've also been to the camera shops quite a bit as I've been a bit of a lens collector these last 5 years or so and took a lot of interest in some legacy lenses too, some of the best shops are in Shinjuku so I often go there to check them out. This weekend there is another used camera & lens fair in Shibuya too, might drop by to check it out though no plans to buy anything now...
p.29 #7 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
It's probably been said already, but what I'm most interested in finding out, is how it compares with the FE 24-105/4, as a landscape lens.
I love my Batis and FE primes, but find myself constantly wanting "in-between" Fls, where there's no way of changing position. Also, I'm changing lenses far too often for comfort.
p.29 #8 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
I don't have Big Bronco, but I do have the docks, where I do most of my testing. Nice flat plane with depth to judge.
Like most lenses, zooms in particular, it's not going to be the strongest at the borders at wide apertures, but I really have trouble faulting this lens. It's better than the FE 28 at f/4 and f/11 and better than the CY 35-70 at f/4 as well, but that lens is known to be better stopped down more.
Removed sharpening, generally lifted the CY 1/3 a stop, but that's normal with non-CPU lenses. Both the 28 and 28-75 were using built in lens profiles.
p.29 #9 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
And at landscape aperture (f/11) where I might actually care about border performance there's not much to worry about. Not going to ruin any images... Still better than the FE 28mm. Looks equal to the CY in the center, but a bit behind as you move out. Still, difference won't be what makes or breaks your image.
p.29 #10 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Some other thoughts. AF is silent, no issues there. Seems fast and sure, and behaves natively as far as I can tell. It did lock up on me once as I was trying to shoot these brackets. Don't know what it was related too, I was just trying to change aperture. Reset and back to work, but it's something I'll watch for.
The bad: build quality is a bit below what I'd hoped, even for a inexpensive plastic body lens. The plastic body feels a bit cheaper than even normal, and I can see the cast / assembly seams in it. I'd call it 1/2 step below the FE 50/1.8.
Seems to be mechanical vignette at 75mm. I usually disable vignette correction in camera, so enabled it's probably better, I'll have to experiment with that more. I like vignette, but this isn't the good kind, it's strong and abrupt. Adobe does apply a 28-75 profile, might be from the old lens, but fixes it perfectly, so won't take any points off...
Close focus, looks like you’ll want to stop down, wide open it isn’t very sharp. Speaking of close, at 28mm, it’s closest, the working distance is probably 2”. A bit nerve wracking with rusty metal objects as you try and find how close you can get!
All that said, it functions smooth, and seems assembled to fairly tight tolerances without much else to really gripe about. And for an optically good, modern 2.8 zoom at $799 I don't think it's fair to yell and scream, but it's there none the less.
p.29 #13 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Mathieu18 wrote:
All that said, it functions smooth, and seems assembled to fairly tight tolerances without much else to really gripe about. And for an optically good, modern 2.8 zoom at $799 I don't think it's fair to yell and scream, but it's there none the less.
Please, can you check, if you position your focus spot (M or S) in AF-C at the edges of frame (left/right for M and left/rigt/up/down for S) can your get focus or it is hunting?
p.29 #14 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
I'll try and process before the end of the day. Takes a few minutes to get all the crops together.
Charlie N wrote:
any chance for f8? that's where the lens peaks from the charts.
the contax is seriously good, I've got that lens for landscapes as well, and didnt think the tamron could match, but I think it does ok.
any sunstar sampling? the zeiss was just ok, nothing special IMO.
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Welcome, happy to share. The 28 is seriously smaller and a stop faster, so there’s still a place for it depending on use!
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I checked roughly rule of thirds composition regularly, and into a deep corner once and it worked okay, but I'll test it more. It's absolutely more reliable than other non-Sony lenses, including Rokinon. I'm on an R2 FWIW.
antst wrote:
Please, can you check, if you position your focus spot (M or S) in AF-C at the edges of frame (left/right for M and left/rigt/up/down for S) can your get focus or it is hunting?
p.29 #16 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
No one is perfect Guy! I'm a bit beside myself though. Here I am demoing a new lens and you're sitting on the side lines. I hope this isn't the new normal, no way my wife would be as patient as yours must be.
Full size images here if anyone wants to see. Harsh mid-day sun, these aren't art, but they show the lens well enough.
p.29 #17 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Thanks for the images and it's looking quite good though from what I'm seeing so far I think I prefer the bokeh from my 24-70 GM. On the other hand it is early days and hard to judge from so few images
p.29 #18 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Yea, I don't have an opinion on the GM, I'm sure this isn't as good, but for how I plan to use this lens, the GM isn't an option for me. It's a people lens to me, and I don't like 24mm for people anyway, so I'm thrilled to have it start at 28mm.
I know some other locals who also use the bridge to do the same thing. I agree about Tokyo being a great location for photography, I especially like the various events that happen every weekend during the summer season. I've also been to the camera shops quite a bit as I've been a bit of a lens collector these last 5 years or so and took a lot of interest in some legacy lenses too, some of the best shops are in Shinjuku so I often go there to check them out. This weekend there is another used camera & lens fair in Shibuya too, might drop by to check it out though no plans to buy anything now...
