Tamron SP 150-600 f/5-6.3 VC Review

[candc]

Someone posted RAW and .jpgs here: 

camahoy.com

I could not download these files.   I got into a site for the Mega downloader, spent an hour downloading what I thought was a zip of the images and now it's nowhere to be seen.

I had to install an add on for firefox, it downloads to your desktop, take a look there

[SevenDUser]

Someone posted RAW and .jpgs here: 

camahoy.com

I could not download these files.   I got into a site for the Mega downloader, spent an hour downloading what I thought was a zip of the images and now it's nowhere to be seen.

I had to install an add on for firefox, it downloads to your desktop, take a look there

Oops, forgot to mention that I had to do that too with Firefox. 

[lescrane]

tx both. Could not install the add-on w/Firefox, downloading another way.

[lescrane]

 :)I opened all these files in ACR and went thru my usual editing workflow. Am very impressed with the images....Sharpness good, very nice bokeh. Lighting was pretty flat so I bumped up contrast.  I have noticed some CA in other images on line but only in extreme cases,eg, tree twigs against white sky.

BTW,  I  have never used a full frame and I must say, these clean images from the 5D mark III make me want to get one. (I won't...due to weight,$ and crop factor)

I note that all these images were at max aperture, max focal length and were imho quite usable. Not sure if camera was tripod mounted or handheld, shutter speeds were pretty low.

My guess re: the it's too good to be true...thinking ...about such a low price, is that Tamron has projected huge sales for this....and they are willing to take a lower margin due to high sales.   They will poach a lot of sales from canon, nikon and sony, not to mention Sigma. Users who could not consider a lens of this length before will consider this, eventually, other mfgrs will counter

If the web poster is lurking here, thanks a lot for doing this.  Looking forward to seeing your comparisons with the 400 5.6 L

[Don Haines]

:)I opened all these files in ACR and went thru my usual editing workflow. Am very impressed with the images....Sharpness good, very nice bokeh. Lighting was pretty flat so I bumped up contrast.  I have noticed some CA in other images on line but only in extreme cases,eg, tree twigs against white sky.

BTW,  I  have never used a full frame and I must say, these clean images from the 5D mark III make me want to get one. (I won't...due to weight,$ and crop factor)

I note that all these images were at max aperture, max focal length and were imho quite usable. Not sure if camera was tripod mounted or handheld, shutter speeds were pretty low.

My guess re: the it's too good to be true...thinking ...about such a low price, is that Tamron has projected huge sales for this....and they are willing to take a lower margin due to high sales.   They will poach a lot of sales from canon, nikon and sony, not to mention Sigma. Users who could not consider a lens of this length before will consider this, eventually, other mfgrs will counter

If the web poster is lurking here, thanks a lot for doing this.  Looking forward to seeing your comparisons with the 400 5.6 L

I am planning on getting this lens, but in the event that Canon comes out with a 400F5.6II, I would probably get that lens too. A series II prime is unbeatable for image quality and AF... a 150-600 would be hard to touch for flexibility in a long lens... both have their place.

[lycan]

From camahoy.com, this tamron is sharper at 400mm than the 400mm f/5.6L....

[zeshan105]

I Would be interested to see how it compares against canon 100-400L as they fall into a similar price criteria.

[Don Haines]

I Would be interested to see how it compares against canon 100-400L as they fall into a similar price criteria.

The 400F5.6 is sharper than the 100-400...

If the 150-600 is sharper than the 400F5.6, then it is sharper than the 100-400..

Of course, when the series 2 versions of the 400F5,6 and 100-400 are released in 2035, things could change

[neuroanatomist]

...when the series 2 versions of the 400F5,6 and 100-400 are released in 2035

+1 for your optimism!

[Don Haines]

...when the series 2 versions of the 400F5,6 and 100-400 are released in 2035

+1 for your optimism!

The 400F5.6 has already been 21 years.... what's another 21?

[neuroanatomist]

The 400F5.6 has already been 21 years....

Old enough to drink, and not even fully weather sealed. How sad…   

[jeffreyd00]

Anyone else see this video showing focus speed?
TAMRON SP 150-600㎜ F/5-6.3 Di VC USD(Model A011)のAF速度

[Drizzt321]

Anyone else see this video showing focus speed?
TAMRON SP 150-600㎜ F/5-6.3 Di VC USD(Model A011)のAF速度

Hmm...seems pretty good for the most part, although at 500 & 600 especially there was some hesitation going from the extremes, although I expect most super-telephoto lenses will have a pause if you are going to such extreme OOF areas if it's not sorta in the ballpark for focus distance.

[Don Haines]

Anyone else see this video showing focus speed?
TAMRON SP 150-600㎜ F/5-6.3 Di VC USD(Model A011)のAF速度

Hmm...seems pretty good for the most part, although at 500 & 600 especially there was some hesitation going from the extremes, although I expect most super-telephoto lenses will have a pause if you are going to such extreme OOF areas if it's not sorta in the ballpark for focus distance.

It has a focus limit switch.... that should solve the problem in the real world....

[lescrane]

http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000605175/SortID=17039747/ImageID=1780472/

Anyone else see this? A stark difference between the Tamron and the Canon 100-400L w/the Tamron much sharper.  I'm a bit skeptical, not implying intention to deceive, but I notice shutter speed 1/8 on each...Maybe some mirror slap, or vibration to make Canon look so much worse? either way, Tamron looks good, esp if you go off center a bit.