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Tamron 28-105MM F/2.8 LD Aspherical (IF)
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Review Date: Jun 12, 2006
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: $180.00
| Rating: 6
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Pros:
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F2.8 only one in this range, build quality, accurate and relatively quiet autofocus, smooth zoom
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Cons:
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really soft at F2.8, slow focus, large,
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I bought this off of Ebay for a song b/c someone mislabeled it and thought it was a different lens. My first "pro" lens...I thought with F2.8 and this range, it was a no-brainer...BUT
There is a simple reason no pros use this--it is very soft at F2.8. Almost unusable. The pictures have a dreamy almost soft-focus effect, which can be interesting if you use it right, but it needs to be at F4 or smaller to get sharp at all focal lengths. I have taken some just simply amazing pics at F5.6-F16...I shot the Venice film festival mostly with this lens awhile ago...but I used flash and at least F5.6 to get sharp shots...
Focus is very accurate but really slow...although very quiet when compared to other consumer non-USM lenses...
I had E99 errors start to come up on my 10D after 6 months, and I sent it to Tamron. Service was good, they cleaned it and put it into spec, replaced the barrel and aperture assembley (common repair) all for $125. It functioned flawlessly after, but was still just as soft at F2.8. This is not a tru F2.8 lens, it is an F4 lens, and if you only need to use it like that, it is ok, especially when bought used for $200-400...but I sold it and ponied u for a Canon 28-70 F2.8, and there is NO comparison. I would say use it till you can move up. I now have all "L" glass after owning many many non-canon lenses, some good, some bad, but when it counts and you need F2.8 to get something in a magazine and your rent depends on it, none of us use this lens.
Brian
www.brianach.com
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Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO IF HSM
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Review Date: Mar 28, 2006
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: $800.00
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Build quality is above consumer grade, not up to L, fast focus, silent focus
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Cons:
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Very soft at F2.8, resale takes a hit
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I owned a copy of this for exactly one day. I then sold it. I shoot celebrities, sports, etc. for an agency, and took a chance based on the reviews etc. and this lens was horribly soft wide open at all lengths. Not sure if I got a bad copy (shouldn't have to wade through examples to find a "good one") but I make a living with my lenses and this would not cut it. Only began to get sharp at F4. No sense in having F2.8 if you need it and can't use it. My old Canon 70-210 F3.5-4.5 kills this on sharpness wide open and focuses faster. If F2.8 is important to you (meaning you never use anything else) then save your money and buy a used L for a couple hundred more.
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