p.38 #2 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
So I was to late in cancelling my B&H preorder, find myself with a second copy of the lens. Have not encountered the AF error in photo mode, still there in video. Knowing that the firmware is coming, I really like the results I'm seeing. AF is very fast even in low light situations.
p.38 #3 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Geoff CB wrote:
So I was to late in cancelling my B&H preorder, find myself with a second copy of the lens. Have not encountered the AF error in photo mode, still there in video. Knowing that the firmware is coming, I really like the results I'm seeing. AF is very fast even in low light situations.
Dang wish I had the cash i would buy your second copy.
p.38 #4 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
Ok, I am new to FM forums but have been following this thread because I was so excited about the 28-75 and thought I'd post a comparison I did.
I tried comparing the 28-75 RXD to some other E-Mount lenses I have at their respective focal lengths at close to true infinity.
Caveats: This was my first attempt at shooting a sequence of comparison shots... It was really bright, I tried to refocus every MF image but sometimes failed with the LCD in the sunshine. My tripod sagged or moved a little for some of the last images :/ I did not use a remote shutter but exposures were in 1/1000s or less range, the 28mm f/2 maxed out the mechaincal shutter and is a bit overexposed, generally I could exposed brighter but wanted to keep the shutter speed under 1/1000. It has also been quite hazy lately so images are somewhat washed out.
Regarding the test protocol:
- A7RII
- I shot the following lenses:
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 RXD, Sony FE 28mm f/2, 2 copies of Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8, Sony Zeiss 55m f/1.8
- The subject is about 2.5 miles away from the shooting location.
- Centrally manual focused, apertures f/max, f/4, f/5.6, f/8
- AF-S center, aperture f/max, f/4
- MF focused in corner, aperture f/max, f/4, f/5.6
- In terms of processing, none was done, RAWs imported into LR with defaults, tried to disable lens corrections
- some shots were missed or messed up, so they're blank
- 100% crops from different image locations
The full set of comparisons is on Flickr (also new to Flickr), I'll try to upload full set of RAWs or LR exported fullsize JPEGs later.
==> I've organized the comparisons by focal length in albums, each album contains an overview file named "XXmm crop locations" which shows the location of each crop (identified by a number e.g. 303, 304, 510, 612)
I'll let you decide for yourself, but I'm pretty happy with my copy compared to my lower/mid-end primes -- though 75mm seems mediocre. My corners at 28-55 seem better to me than Jannik's copy but I am not a professional reviewer (or photographer).
I hope this comparison is useful. Let me know if you have suggestions on what to improve, I wrote some scripts to help me build/draw the comparison grids so it'll be less work next time.
Here are the corner comparisons since the center is mostly agreed on to be quite good:
(the Flickr album above has higher res images and additional crops like center, mid-frame, corner):
p.38 #11 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
It could do well in regards to resolution and contrast compared to the 24-70GM but I find the OOF rendering harsh and high contrast, especially at mid-distance at all focal lengths. Am I alone here?
p.38 #12 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
No. Llama shot above has bokeh that is unattractive, to me. I am not sorry I cancelled my preorder. It seems to be a lens capable of good results, but not one that would replace any prime lenses that I like to use.
p.38 #13 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
It definitely has fairly high contrast bokeh. It can be OK, or it can be objectionable. I'd definitely choose my 85/1.8 or 90/2.8 when shooting portraits if I had time to change lenses, but I've also seen worse, especially in some standard zooms.
For me it shows the difference in colour (adjust in post anyway unless you are a jpg shooter), sharpness (Tamron looks a tad sharper to me) and bokeh (GM wins but not by a huge amount). However for US$1,200 difference in price ? I'd be happy with the lighter, smaller, macro-capable and just as sharp Tamron (though it won't hold it's value so I'll wait for a killer deal before buying).
If you want the absolute best no question, money is no object, a pro who needs the Sony support or are someone who always buys the OEM over 3rd party lenses, then the GM will be your choice. But it's worth taking the test, it's a bit of fun if nothing else
For me it shows the difference in colour (adjust in post anyway unless you are a jpg shooter), sharpness (Tamron looks a tad sharper to me) and bokeh (GM wins but not by a huge amount). However for US$1,200 difference in price ? I'd be happy with the lighter, smaller, macro-capable and just as sharp Tamron (though it won't hold it's value so I'll wait for a killer deal before buying).
If you want the absolute best no question, money is no object, a pro who needs the Sony support or are someone who always buys the OEM over 3rd party lenses, then the GM will be your choice. But it's worth taking the test, it's a bit of fun if nothing else ...Show more →
Interesting test. I got 18/20 correct in the test (90/100 points), basically by observing the bokeh differences in each shot. I have the Tamron but don't own the GM. I also have the 24-105/4 G that arrived shortly after I got the Tamron. I had ordered it 2 months back and had decided to keep the order in place though it has a lot of overlap with the Tamron. Later on I may sell one of the 2 lenses if I find out that I have strong preference for the other over time.
After using the Tamron for a few outings the main negatives for me so far are flare resistance, and the overall rendering in close distance shots of flowers and such (after a few tries I prefer the 24-105/4 for close-ups of flowers etc. especially at the long end). Tamron's central sharpness can sometimes produce nice 3D look and I especially like it for shooting street views / cityscapes at 28mm.
p.38 #17 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
A few from this morning. I was bummed, though...best shot of the day didn't work out because wind spoiled the focus stack....would have been great, but without my tripod (which was dumb) and to much wind, I couldn't get the shot I wanted with the flowers in the foreground and city behind (different composition than presented here), with sun illuminating the foreground. Oh well....
p.38 #18 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
If it is useful in making a decision, here are 3 days of shooting on a few hikes with a mixture of candid, macro, sunstars, video, landscape (a whole lot of chasing kids around too) . Mostly shot w AFC-Wide.
As others have noted, for me it is not quite a replacement for primes WHEN ultimate bokeh quality/corner sharpness is paramount...but having said that, it could easily become my most used lens. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xoZMPlqqFIwRfc4h2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/vn56EzVjUR8JEKYB3
(third link includes SOOC Raws and my edits side by side for most) https://photos.app.goo.gl/fUCJ8YGaWVyXLquj1
Also- I pre-ordered, but when it wouldn't arrive in time for last weekend's climb of Mt Shasta, I bought one locally. If anyone is interested in my second copy before I send it back (unopened) to B&H, let me know.
For me it shows the difference in colour (adjust in post anyway unless you are a jpg shooter), sharpness (Tamron looks a tad sharper to me) and bokeh (GM wins but not by a huge amount). However for US$1,200 difference in price ? I'd be happy with the lighter, smaller, macro-capable and just as sharp Tamron (though it won't hold it's value so I'll wait for a killer deal before buying).
If you want the absolute best no question, money is no object, a pro who needs the Sony support or are someone who always buys the OEM over 3rd party lenses, then the GM will be your choice. But it's worth taking the test, it's a bit of fun if nothing else ...Show more →
95/100, messed up the third one.
I own neither lens, but thanks to Jannik's review I knew what to expect of Tamron bokeh.
p.38 #20 · In stock: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 E-mount ($799)
I’m looking at this lens for travel when I just don’t want to go out with primes. Looks like a great lens for street / documentary images. For portraits where bokeh is concerned, i’d always shoot a prime, ( Batis 85 or Canon 135L ).
