Tamron 150-600 f/5-6.3 Di VC USD - Canon Mount - Any news?

[Rob Wiebe]

Has anyone actually received this lens yet? I preordered mine here in Canada several months ago, but no sign yet! I thought that with the Nikon announcement, some movement might be taking place but no emails from any of the big ones like Vistek or B&H saying they have arrived for Canon yet.

 

[Monchoon]

I have had mine for a bit, and I think Don Haines had his before me. I bought mine pre-order from Camera Canada.

 

[Old Sarge]

Reports from owners of this lens really got my GAS going. But I will be leaving for vacation two weeks from today and I might consider overnight delivery if they become available in the next week (or one of the two decent stores within thirty miles get them in stock...though I'd rather save sales tax money dealing with B&H), otherwise I may just pass this by since it wouldn't get much use until next spring.

 

[AlanF]

Got mine 5 February.

 

[CTJohn]

I sent an email to Tamron today asking about the 7D Servo tracking issues. Here's the reply:

"We have not seen any tracking issues with the Canon 7D and this lens. Actually, we did our own testing here with the 7D and found that it worked properly. We also compared the lens with a Canon equivalent and didn't see any differences. Its true that some camera bodies track better than others but we didn't see issues with any bodies. Naturally, shooting birds at 600mm F6.3 is not an easy thing to do and I think some users may just not be used to shooting at this long focal length and F stop."

What's the latest from the CR group? This lens appeals to me, but I want to use it with my 6D and 7D.

 

[Don Haines]

I have had mine for a bit, and I think Don Haines had his before me. I bought mine pre-order from Camera Canada.

Mine arrived on January 22. It was a preorder and filled from the first batch that Camera Canada got in.

There is an insane level of demand for the lens and they are backordered everywhere. Tamron really underestimated how well they would sell.

 

[Roo]

I sent an email to Tamron today asking about the 7D Servo tracking issues. Here's the reply:

"We have not seen any tracking issues with the Canon 7D and this lens. Actually, we did our own testing here with the 7D and found that it worked properly. We also compared the lens with a Canon equivalent and didn't see any differences. Its true that some camera bodies track better than others but we didn't see issues with any bodies. Naturally, shooting birds at 600mm F6.3 is not an easy thing to do and I think some users may just not be used to shooting at this long focal length and F stop."

What's the latest from the CR group? This lens appeals to me, but I want to use it with my 6D and 7D.

No problems with mine on a 5Diii. I also let a friend use it on his 7D at an airshow and he encountered no problems either. However, it has been in for a warranty repair since due to some dust getting behind the front element but it came back good as new within 3 weeks.

 

[geonix]

I sent an email to Tamron today asking about the 7D Servo tracking issues. Here's the reply:

"We have not seen any tracking issues with the Canon 7D and this lens. Actually, we did our own testing here with the 7D and found that it worked properly. We also compared the lens with a Canon equivalent and didn't see any differences. Its true that some camera bodies track better than others but we didn't see issues with any bodies. Naturally, shooting birds at 600mm F6.3 is not an easy thing to do and I think some users may just not be used to shooting at this long focal length and F stop."

What's the latest from the CR group? This lens appeals to me, but I want to use it with my 6D and 7D.

I appears that the AI servo issues are not as grave as feared, at least not any more. In one of the latest video reviews of this lens on youtube from Tony Northrup he also stated he had no AI servo issues with the 7D at all.

Maybe tamron has or is still fixing the autofokus system of the lens. That would explain the apparently worldwide shortage in availability. In Germany and Switzerland the retailers are postponing the arrival of their ordered lenses almost every day. The shop were I ordered the lens they expect it to arrive at the end of next week. But I guess this will be postponed again.
So something definitely is going on with this tamron lens, can't ne only a logistical problem.

 

[Roo]

It seems there has finally been another shipment into Australia. A mate in Adelaide picked up his today after ordering it in late Feb.

 

[Don Haines]

It seems there has finally been another shipment into Australia. A mate in Adelaide picked up his today after ordering it in late Feb.

I heard that Tamron underestimated the demand for the lens and that the production line is limited by the speed that they can grind/polish the big lens element....