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How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

Younjulius
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

I’m using 24-105g lens that serves my purposes for travel. I’m intrigued by extended reach and especially f2-2.8 aperture.

While I can handle the wait, I’m not as sure of the size of it. 24-105g is not a small lens but at the limit to me as a lens that I won’t be conscious using in travel spots. When you see someone with white 70-200gm lens, you notice it because of the size and the color that stands out.

As a hobbyist, I don’t want that attention. I’m not sure if it’s just me and want to hear from 35-150mm users, how was it when you used it in travel. Was it still discrete enough for you?

Mar 18, 2023 at 12:54 PM

ruthenium
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

This depends on the location: in Japan no one would pay attention, in Cuba people will look at you regardless of what lens you have on your Sony camera. To me this is more of a personal safety question - anywhere I am willing to take my A1, I would most likely be o.k. with the Tamron on it. I would not care too much if people are looking at me and my camera if the place is reasonably safe. I have travelled with the 35-150 much in the last 13-14 months, and the lens will be with me on the next trip in 2.5 weeks.

Mar 18, 2023 at 01:09 PM

Latouf
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

I have it for the last year or so. Really liked the versatility of it. Weight has not been an issue. As far as getting noticed, this is a bigger lens than the 24-105. So there is always that to factor in. But like ruthenium mentioned, if you feel safe getting tour camera out then should be okay.

Having access to f2 on the wide end is very useful and adds to the versatility of the one lens.

Despite all this, I put mine for sale in the forums. Ive realized that I shoot on the longer end a lot and found myself wanting more reach. I thus now pair a 70-200 with a wide prime and call it a day.

Picture quality was excellent and focusing worked flawlessly.

I also am looking in the Sigma 16-28 as a walkaround lens.

Mar 18, 2023 at 01:19 PM

Donzo98
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

Mar 18, 2023 at 01:56 PM

j4nu
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

It's my favorite travel lens

.
It's black and thus doesn't stand out that much, unless you walk with it fully extended all the time.
I enjoy playing with aperture so I find 35/2 and 50/2.2 very useful. I focus on people and separation, so 150/2.8 is also nice to have.
All in all, it's range + aperture that makes it great for me, to the point of leaving my primes at home in good (light) conditions. However, if 35/2 and 150/2.8 in one lens doesn't do anything for you, I don't think you will be happy with the size & weight compared to 24-70 GM II for example...

Mar 18, 2023 at 03:28 PM

dcisive
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

I love that lens for it's pure performance, but do acknowledge it's weight and bulk. One reason I added a Tamron 28-200 for the specific purpose of travel. It is considerably lighter and less bulky and since in a travel scenario I don't really need a fast lens, it's worked out gloriously well. The wider end and extra reach will come in handy when on a vacation or running around. Sharpness hasn't been a compromise thus far either.

Mar 18, 2023 at 04:22 PM

ketang
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

Younjulius wrote:
I’m using 24-105g lens that serves my purposes for travel. I’m intrigued by extended reach and especially f2-2.8 aperture.

While I can handle the wait, I’m not as sure of the size of it. 24-105g is not a small lens but at the limit to me as a lens that I won’t be conscious using in travel spots. When you see someone with white 70-200gm lens, you notice it because of the size and the color that stands out.

As a hobbyist, I don’t want that attention. I’m not sure if it’s just me and want to hear from 35-150mm...Show more →

It's my favorite travel lens. For what it's worth, I've taken it all over Pakistan, and more specifically all over Karachi. I attract a lot of attention, but the specific lens on my camera is low on the list of reasons. In a place where photography on the street is more common I think you will be fine. The fact that the lens is dark in color does make it look a little more "normal" than a white 70-200, at least in my opinion.

Mar 19, 2023 at 06:23 AM

AmbientMike
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

Just because FM considers it small, doesn't mean it doesn't attract attention. One guy considered my Rebel+55-250 a big camera fairly recently. Depending on your destination could be even more so.

I'm not a big fan of only one lens on an entire vacation. All the expense and hassle to miss photos because you didn't have the right lens doesn't make much sense to me. Adding a 20mm would probably make me pretty happy though.

Mar 20, 2023 at 01:04 PM

chez
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

AmbientMike wrote:
Just because FM considers it small, doesn't mean it doesn't attract attention. One guy considered my Rebel+55-250 a big camera fairly recently. Depending on your destination could be even more so.

I'm not a big fan of only one lens on an entire vacation. All the expense and hassle to miss photos because you didn't have the right lens doesn't make much sense to me. Adding a 20mm would probably make me pretty happy though.

The other issue of bringing only 1 big lens is the times when you are just out and about not necessarily there to take photos...but your only option is to drag along the big lens. I always travel with my A6000 and my Sony 35 2.8 lens just for those occasions ( dinner... ) where I'm not really there to take photos, but do at times get a few shots.

I personally find traveling with a big lens would limit my desire to take photos by the end of each day from dragging along a heavy lens all day long. I travel with primes.

Mar 20, 2023 at 01:16 PM

lensfan
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

This lens too large/heavy, unfortunately. And my favorite travel lens is 24-70 2.8...
Lately I have been traveling with just 2 lenses - 35GM and Zeiss 35 2.8, as occasionally I want to have it light and compact.

Mar 20, 2023 at 01:43 PM

chrisd999
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

I have the Tamron 35-150, which I briefly compared with used versions of the 24-70 GMII and 70-200GMII.

For landscape, or even some short distance hiking, any of these are fine. But for cityscape or "urban landscape" I wasn't comfortable shooting with the big white 70-200. I find that for my style of work, the 35-150 matches the IQ of the 24-70/70-200 combo, with the added convenience of not needing to swap lenses very often. On the other hand, I am occasionally missing the wider end, so I keep the tiny 16-35PZ in the bag when I'm out with the 35-150.

To answer your question, the 35-150 is discrete enough for me walking out and about in large cities (in my case it's Toronto which is relatively safe). The big white 70-200? Not so much.

For travel however (I'm talking travel by air), I would never consider taking the 35-150, as it's just too big & heavy. I picked up the new 20-70 as my new all-in-one travel lens, although I have also used the Tamron 28-200 and versions of 24-70/105 in the past and these are great options for travel too.

Mar 20, 2023 at 01:53 PM

Bizhouse
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

My only gripe about the 35-150 is not having a tripod mount.
If it had one you could fit an arca swiss base and add two peak design straps.
When I had the 70-200 I had one set on it and walking around it with a neck strap was no problem at all.

Mar 20, 2023 at 02:16 PM

j4nu
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · How is Tamron 35-150mm as a travel lens?

I think I've taken 35-150 on every vacation since I got it... on the other hand I always leave at home 35/1.2, which is of similar size & weight. So for me, it's all about what I get in exchange for that increased footprint and I feel 35-150 is worth it. I do think you really need to appreciate the range & aperture combo for it to be worthwile. It's close enough (general IQ, capability to blur, etc.) to my primes so I like the range and less need to swap lenses at the cost of heavier camera in hand (which I alleviate by using wrist strap + PD clip on belt instead of neck strap).
Otherwise, as already suggested, you could be better off with more versatile options (at a slight IQ penalty I guess) like 28-200, 24-105, 20-70, etc.

Mar 20, 2023 at 02:46 PM


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