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Archive 2009 · Tamron or Tokina?

Neal Jacob
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Tamron or Tokina?

I am saving up some $$$ and selling some other stuff I no longer need/want in order to get some more $$$ for glass. Right now I am just using a "Kit Lens" and I would like to get the Tokina or the Tamron for use as my main walk-around lens.

I don't shoot portraits much anymore, but of course it would be nice to have a 2.8 available. I occasionally shoot concerts.

FWIW... My previous concert shooting was done with a Nikkor 17-55 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8, but I no longer have either of those lenses (long story).

So, if you were going to buy one of these lenses, would you go with the Tamron for about $450 (B & H has a refurb for $359) or should I keep saving and get the Tokina for $599?

I am not using this professionally (weddings, portraits, etc...) just using it for me.

Thank you in advance!

Aug 27, 2009 at 10:20 PM

mawz
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Tamron or Tokina?

Your links just point back to this thread.

Assuming you're talking about the Tamron 17-50 vs the Tokina 16-50, the Tamron wins with no contest. The Tokina is just too flare prone, having an optical design that was intended to use Pentax's SMC coatings but gets Tokina's distinctly inferior coatings instead (The Tokina design is originally from Pentax, like several other current Tokina designs).

Aug 27, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Neal Jacob
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Tamron or Tokina?

Thank you very much for your reply. I have no idea why the links are coming back to this thread (very odd!) The links are supposed to go to B & H.

Thank you for the info.

Aug 28, 2009 at 12:20 AM

Empire
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Tamron or Tokina?

Possibly has to do with FM policy regarding linking to external commercial sites...

as for which lens, I did not know that the tokina flared badly but I used a Tamron 17-50 extensively during my last OS trip and it almost never let me down. Very sharp and CA is easily correctable (more so than the tokina). The only problem was an intermittent centering problem (I suspect this was possibly related to slight wobble in the barrel).

I tested the tamron on my 5D against a tamron 28-75mm and the 17-50mm was considerably sharper at all corresponding focal lengths.

Incidentally, if you like shooting wideangle in a square aspect ratio, the tam is very very good for this on a FF camera.

I have some example pics around somewhere if anyone is interested not really artistic though :b)

Aug 28, 2009 at 03:01 AM

Neal Jacob
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Tamron or Tokina?

Empire wrote:
Possibly has to do with FM policy regarding linking to external commercial sites...

Good to know... I wasn't aware of that. I don't post on here very often. I should start visiting more often.

as for which lens, I did not know that the tokina flared badly but I used a Tamron 17-50 extensively during my last OS trip and it almost never let me down. Very sharp and CA is easily correctable (more so than the tokina). The only problem was an intermittent centering problem (I suspect this was possibly related to slight wobble in the barrel).

I tested the tamron on my 5D against a tamron 28-75mm and the 17-50mm was considerably sharper at all corresponding focal lengths.

Incidentally, if you like shooting wideangle in a square aspect ratio, the tam is very very good...Show more →

Thank you

Aug 28, 2009 at 08:06 AM

ulrikft
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Tamron or Tokina?

What about the Sigma 18-50 2.8?

I had that on my crop camera, loved it!

Aug 28, 2009 at 08:34 AM

mawz
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Tamron or Tokina?

ulrikft wrote:
What about the Sigma 18-50 2.8?

I had that on my crop camera, loved it!

It's a good lens, especially the HSM version. I'd rate the Tamron as a bit better optically and the Tokina as worse.

Aug 28, 2009 at 08:36 AM

Neal Jacob
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Tamron or Tokina?

mawz wrote:
It's a good lens, especially the HSM version. I'd rate the Tamron as a bit better optically and the Tokina as worse.

Thank you, I thought of the Sigma too, but I always thought that Tamrons were made better, but I basically have zero experience with any third party lens.

Aug 28, 2009 at 08:55 AM

dfresh
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Tamron or Tokina?

Neal Jacob wrote:
Thank you, I thought of the Sigma too, but I always thought that Tamrons were made better, but I basically have zero experience with any third party lens.

In my experience, Sigma's build quality is far better than Tamron's

Aug 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Neal Jacob
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Tamron or Tokina?

So, would you get the Sigma 18-50 2.8 instead? Or go with the Tamron??

Aug 28, 2009 at 12:08 PM

mawz
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Tamron or Tokina?

Neal Jacob wrote:
So, would you get the Sigma 18-50 2.8 instead? Or go with the Tamron??

The Sigma is tougher and has better AF with the HSM version, the Tamron's smaller, lighter and both a bit wider and a bit sharper at wide apertures. You'll need to decide which aspects matter more to you.

Aug 28, 2009 at 12:29 PM

RustyBug
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Tamron or Tokina?

I went with the Tamron ... found the 1st edition and have been keeping it even though I'm not shooting on that format anymore. It was a tough call between the Sigma and the Tamron. Sigma might have a miniscule edge on absolute center sharpness, but I went with Tamron for the extra 1mm ... absolutely no regrets.

Some feel the 1st edition has better glass ... although without the HSM. I've not tried the HSM ... so I can't compare, but the 1st edition AF is plenty fast enough for me. Also, Sigma's can be a touch warm sometimes ... I don't remember how this lens was when I was looking at it last year.

Aug 28, 2009 at 02:19 PM


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