p.3 #2 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
Well... as usual I have succumbed to GAS.
Ended up adding the 35-150 to the kit thanks to FM and Timcc.
As far as choosing one over the other - since I added Sony to my kit for AF the 70-200 GMII gets used far my often than the 35-150. For traveling the Sony kit is now 20-70 F4 and 70-200. Better AF, faster frame rate and TC compatibility win.
That said if I'm shooting an event or the very rare (for me) wedding the first lens in the bag is the 35-150.
More power to those who use the Tamron as a walkaround. As cool as the attributes of this lens may be there's no way I'm lugging that thing around all day on vacation.
p.3 #3 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
I recently sold my Tamron 70-180mm (which I loved), and bought the Tamron 35-150mm. Here are some experiences for what it's worth:
I just shot a race with the Tamron 35-150mm (I should mountain ultramarathons). I LOVE the images from the Tamron. I would previously shoot with the Tammy 70-180mm as my main race lens, and a second body with a 24, 35, or standard zoom attached for when I needed something wider. However, now with the 35-150mm I did not use the second body for a single shot, except for some timelapses and video. It was fantastic! The focus w the 35-150mm is also spectacularly fast and accurate on the a7rV, and I often shot with it wide open.
I looked at the image counts from my last race w the 35-150mm, and here is what I found:
- 864 images from 35-70mm (essentially, what I would have had to use a separate body or change lenses)
-1290 images from 70-150mm
-1240 images at 150mm (I likely would have gone to 200mm if I had a 70-200mm).
For me the Tamron is a winner. I have the Sigma 100-400mm (and I'm trialing the Tamron 70-300mm) for when I need extra reach.
Edit: In case anyone is interested, I also LOVE the tamron 28-200mm. However, it's autofocus was unfortunately not fast/accurate enough.
p.3 #4 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
liggy wrote:
More power to those who use the Tamron as a walkaround. As cool as the attributes of this lens may be there's no way I'm lugging that thing around all day on vacation.
Not a chance lugging around over 1kg hanging off my wrist / neck / shoulder during travels. Especially when I’d still need to carry another lens for the wider end.
Shooting an event, not a problem…traveling for a month, I don’t think so.
p.3 #5 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
chez wrote:
Not a chance lugging around over 1kg hanging off my wrist / neck / shoulder during travels. Especially when I’d still need to carry another lens for the wider end.
Shooting an event, not a problem…traveling for a month, I don’t think so.
p.3 #6 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
liggy wrote:
Exactly.
Hehe, did I mention that i am literally scheduling some physical therapy for my shoulder caused by shooting a prior race that required me holding the 35-150mm up to my eye in portrait orientation for about 30 minutes? I love it, but it is monstrously heavy
p.3 #7 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
jchapell wrote:
Hehe, did I mention that i am literally scheduling some physical therapy for my shoulder caused by shooting a prior race that required me holding the 35-150mm up to my eye in portrait orientation for about 30 minutes? I love it, but it is monstrously heavy
Ouch. Great hunk of glass but 30 continuous mins of handholding does sound painful indeed. Here's to a speedy recovery!
p.3 #8 · Analysis Paralysis: Tamron 35-150 vs GM 70-200 II
A1 with Tamron 35-150 and the lens hood weigh 737 + 1165 + 42 = 1944 g
A1 with Sony 70-200GMII and the lens hood weighs 737 + 1045 + 107 = ca 1890 g
With the foot (79 g) the total weight of A1 with Sony 70-200GMII is 1968 g
Unless the difference on the order of 50 g becomes "the straw that broke the camel's back", the weights are practically the same for both camera systems and should not be a deciding factor.
I expect that those who ad nauseam advocate ever smaller, light, compact, and discreet camera systems ("and would never do" this or that) don't use telephoto lenses in general, or don't use them much. When a fast 150 - 200 mm lens is needed, there are no truly small, light, and discreet choices. Something else is worth keeping in mind: people have the capacity to get used to unfamiliar things. On my first trip with the A1 and Tamron 35-150 I indeed developed an uncomfortable feeling in the arm of the right hand as a result of holding the camera for prolonged periods of time. Since that time, I have not experienced any problems despite using my A1 with the 35-150 almost exclusively when travelling and hiking for extended periods of time. Thus, the weight of both lenses, the 35-150 and 70-200, can equally cause a muscle strain, yet this should not be a chronical problem for an average adult. I am sure that those who like the telephoto range, they (with time) develop the necessary habits and get used to carrying camera systems that weigh close to, or in excess of, 2 kg.
