Tamron Teases New Lenses

[kevl]

Not to be outdone by Sigma

At this point everyone is being outdone by Sigma.
If they ever do release a body that's moderately affordable then Sigma will be competing as a system producer, not just a third party accessory company. They're on the cusp of becoming much more than what they have traditionally been. I hope they learned a lot from the SD1.
I'm hoping that they've been holding back the 85A to coincide with the release of their new system. If that lens is something truly spectacular like the 50A was, then having a body that it works flawlessly with would compound interest in both products.
And it's a good question whether anyone really wants to buy any 85mm lens if autofocus struggles.
Given that even Canon has trouble with their 85f1.2, if Sigma could say that they have the best fast aperture 85mm solution on the market when using the full Sigma system, that might actually be a reasonable selling point.

At this point I think Canon should really reconsider their policy on sharing autofocus algorithms, if the lens industry is getting so competitive that "first party" isn't the premium that it used to be, then working with Tamron and Sigma to keep people on EOS might be a good idea.

What would be super cool is if all these third parties could work together to make a shared standard. Nikon and Canon will never share a mount, but imagine if Sigma, Tamron and Tokina all went out and started supporting a system of their own design?

I can't agree.

Check every review of Sigma's Art lenses. They are amazing for Sigma lenses. They are sharp and contrasty and resolve a lot of information.

There's just one big problem, the autofocus is not nearly as consistent as Canon lenses. An amateur can afford to take 5 frames to make sure they get the shot. Last weekend I shot a 3 day conference with national leaders of a political party. I had to get the shot the first time, on the fly, while things were happening.

I'm constantly tempted by the Art lenses, but then I go do a job like this and I realize I just don't have the freedom to miss another 10-20% of shots.

 

[9VIII]

There's just one big problem, the autofocus is not nearly as consistent as Canon lenses. An amateur can afford to take 5 frames to make sure they get the shot. Last weekend I shot a 3 day conference with national leaders of a political party. I had to get the shot the first time, on the fly, while things were happening.

I'm constantly tempted by the Art lenses, but then I go do a job like this and I realize I just don't have the freedom to miss another 10-20% of shots.

That's what I said:

And it's a good question whether anyone really wants to buy any 85mm lens if autofocus struggles.

thus:

if Sigma could say that they have the best fast aperture 85mm solution on the market when using the full Sigma system, that might actually be a reasonable selling point.

And:

What would be super cool is if all these third parties could work together to make a shared standard. Nikon and Canon will never share a mount, but imagine if Sigma, Tamron and Tokina all went out and started supporting a system of their own design?

 

[slclick]

Everyone is outdoing Sigma? That's just plain silly. Unless you expect them to put out ART lenses once a month...Tamron is by no means a Sigma competitor, if that's what you're getting at. They are ramping up their lens catalog with better offerings but they still have a long way to go to get to where Sigma has gone in the past two years. I'm happy these have come out and I hope they stay in the sub $600 range to offer good to better glass fitting in between Canon non L and L prices with near Sigma quality. Of course they won't have Canon AF speed and accuracy, and why people still expect it from 3rd party is beyond me. The camera world is just plain unrealistic in their wants and desires I guess.

 

[cookestudios]

Not to be outdone by Sigma

At this point everyone is being outdone by Sigma.
If they ever do release a body that's moderately affordable then Sigma will be competing as a system producer, not just a third party accessory company. They're on the cusp of becoming much more than what they have traditionally been. I hope they learned a lot from the SD1.
I'm hoping that they've been holding back the 85A to coincide with the release of their new system. If that lens is something truly spectacular like the 50A was, then having a body that it works flawlessly with would compound interest in both products.
And it's a good question whether anyone really wants to buy any 85mm lens if autofocus struggles.
Given that even Canon has trouble with their 85f1.2, if Sigma could say that they have the best fast aperture 85mm solution on the market when using the full Sigma system, that might actually be a reasonable selling point.

At this point I think Canon should really reconsider their policy on sharing autofocus algorithms, if the lens industry is getting so competitive that "first party" isn't the premium that it used to be, then working with Tamron and Sigma to keep people on EOS might be a good idea.

What would be super cool is if all these third parties could work together to make a shared standard. Nikon and Canon will never share a mount, but imagine if Sigma, Tamron and Tokina all went out and started supporting a system of their own design?

I can't agree.

Check every review of Sigma's Art lenses. They are amazing for Sigma lenses. They are sharp and contrasty and resolve a lot of information.

There's just one big problem, the autofocus is not nearly as consistent as Canon lenses. An amateur can afford to take 5 frames to make sure they get the shot. Last weekend I shot a 3 day conference with national leaders of a political party. I had to get the shot the first time, on the fly, while things were happening.

I'm constantly tempted by the Art lenses, but then I go do a job like this and I realize I just don't have the freedom to miss another 10-20% of shots.

This, exactly. It's exactly the reason I don't trust my Sigma 35 when shooting weddings. I reviewed the new 35L for FS a while back, and the AF alone was enough for me to justify the price.

 

[MintChocs]

The sheer amount of choice we as photographers now have between lenses, bodies, and types of cameras is either making it the most glorious age of photography... or the most frustrating :/

And is giving me a serious case of G.A.S, my bank account will start to take heavy damage!

 

[steliosk]

anything at f/1.4 is very welcome

probably, i won't resist to 50mm and 85mm if there are sharp and effective and not hazy wide open

 

[TeT]

Their graphics are certainly better than the Sigma teasers but will the optics be as well? Looks like they're continuing the line of Di VC silver ring lenses, which are no ART level glass but a very good value all the same. This is great for competition!

Your right it is no ART: at f2 the 35 Tamron is better in the corners at f4 they are same in center. Sigma seems to stay slightly ahead mid frame though... Did we mention 3/5 the price...

Not slamming you, but using your post to point out that Sigma is not all that it was a year ago ...

Yes it is great for competion

 

[slclick]

Their graphics are certainly better than the Sigma teasers but will the optics be as well? Looks like they're continuing the line of Di VC silver ring lenses, which are no ART level glass but a very good value all the same. This is great for competition!

Your right it is no ART: at f2 the 35 Tamron is better in the corners at f4 they are same in center. Sigma seems to stay slightly ahead mid frame though... Did we mention 3/5 the price...

Not slamming you, but using your post to point out that Sigma is not all that it was a year ago ...

Yes it is great for competion

What exactly so you expect from them?

 

[9VIII]

Not to be outdone by Sigma

At this point everyone is being outdone by Sigma.
If they ever do release a body that's moderately affordable then Sigma will be competing as a system producer, not just a third party accessory company. They're on the cusp of becoming much more than what they have traditionally been. I hope they learned a lot from the SD1.
I'm hoping that they've been holding back the 85A to coincide with the release of their new system. If that lens is something truly spectacular like the 50A was, then having a body that it works flawlessly with would compound interest in both products.
And it's a good question whether anyone really wants to buy any 85mm lens if autofocus struggles.
Given that even Canon has trouble with their 85f1.2, if Sigma could say that they have the best fast aperture 85mm solution on the market when using the full Sigma system, that might actually be a reasonable selling point.

At this point I think Canon should really reconsider their policy on sharing autofocus algorithms, if the lens industry is getting so competitive that "first party" isn't the premium that it used to be, then working with Tamron and Sigma to keep people on EOS might be a good idea.

What would be super cool is if all these third parties could work together to make a shared standard. Nikon and Canon will never share a mount, but imagine if Sigma, Tamron and Tokina all went out and started supporting a system of their own design?

I can't agree.

Check every review of Sigma's Art lenses. They are amazing for Sigma lenses. They are sharp and contrasty and resolve a lot of information.

There's just one big problem, the autofocus is not nearly as consistent as Canon lenses. An amateur can afford to take 5 frames to make sure they get the shot. Last weekend I shot a 3 day conference with national leaders of a political party. I had to get the shot the first time, on the fly, while things were happening.

I'm constantly tempted by the Art lenses, but then I go do a job like this and I realize I just don't have the freedom to miss another 10-20% of shots.

This, exactly. It's exactly the reason I don't trust my Sigma 35 when shooting weddings. I reviewed the new 35L for FS a while back, and the AF alone was enough for me to justify the price.

Ok, using less words this time...

Sigma should release their own enthusiast-level body at the same time as they release the 85mm Art lens so that people can buy a camera that will autofocus properly with it.

 

[TeT]

What exactly do you expect from them?

Exactly what they (Tamron) are doing, give us a cheaper quality option with better than decent auto focus. Until recently the cheaper option was the ART series.

Now the better cheaper option is Tamron...

(I was originally pointing out that Tamron is a better value than the Sigma as well as overall a better lens)

 

[slclick]

What exactly do you expect from them?

Exactly what they (Tamron) are doing, give us a cheaper quality option with better than decent auto focus. Until recently the cheaper option was the ART series.

Now the better cheaper option is Tamron...

(I was originally pointing out that Tamron is a better value than the Sigma as well as overall a better lens)

Far too soon to tell. T has far fewer lenses and the corners vs center reviews are few and far between. I'm not declaring Tamrom a winner in anything, yet.

 

[AlmostDecent]

What exactly do you expect from them?

Exactly what they (Tamron) are doing, give us a cheaper quality option with better than decent auto focus. Until recently the cheaper option was the ART series.

Now the better cheaper option is Tamron...

(I was originally pointing out that Tamron is a better value than the Sigma as well as overall a better lens)

Far too soon to tell. T has far fewer lenses and the corners vs center reviews are few and far between. I'm not declaring Tamrom a winner in anything, yet.

"Still, from the initial aperture through to f/4, the Tamron is ahead in sharpness, at least from mid-field to the corners on account of the Sigma’s slight astigmatism. The Sigma has slightly higher peak sharpness (at f/2.0), but it doesn’t match the Tamron for uniformity until f/8–f/11."

http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/Tamron-SP-35mm-F1.8-Di-VC-USD-Nikon-mount-Shooting-for-the-top/Tamron-SP-35mm-F1.8-Di-VC-USD-Model-F012-Nikon-versus-Sigma-35mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Nikon-versus-Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-35mm-f-1.8G-ED-Serious-contender

"When it comes to the performance on the edge of the APS-C sensor once again the tested Tamron manages it very well. Even at the maximum relative aperture it exceeds significantly the decency level (...) better than the Canon 2/35 IS and noticeably better than the Nikkor 1.8/35G. What’s important, this time the Tamron was also able to defeat the Sigma."

"On the edge of the frame the Tamron prevails over the whole group of 35 mm lenses"

http://www.lenstip.com/455.4-Lens_review-Tamron_SP_35_mm_f_1.8_Di_VC_USD_Image_resolution.html

 

[ecka]

I hope it is 85mm and a new FF 60/2 VC USD Macro.

I have the Tamron 35 f/18 VC and it is amazing. I just love it. That said, they will be hard-pressed for the 85 f/1.8, since the rivals by both Nikon and Canon are very good and superb value. Still, if they pull off sharper wide-open, VC and weather sealing...... Hmmmmmm!!!

The Canon is a bit softer wide-open that one might like (IMHO), though by f/2.2 it is brilliant, but excellent AF speed, while the Nikkor is really good optically, even wide-open, but the AF speed leaves a lot to be desired. If by some miracle they announce an f/1.4, it will pre-order...

I'm not sure about that. Some say that Canon 35/2 IS is actually a better lens than the Tamron 35/1.8 VC, because it is sharper, with much less CA, smaller/lighter, better focusing and just as bright at F2 actually, while it costs the same or even less sometimes (like $50 less, if memory serves). Of course, Tamron seems tougher, has weather resistance and closer focusing (extra magnification), but ... different people have different opinions.

Indeed they do. I would refer you to Dustin Abbot's excellent review:

http://www.canonrumors.com/reviews/review-tamron-sp-35mm-f1-8-di-vc-usd/

Or one I posted myself:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57279454

Thanks for the link and the review . Seems like a nice lens, just like most of them are really. However, my little 40 pancake still is an indisputable champion, in many ways, for me . I think the question is - "Is that the best set of compromises for most of us". I really don't like the high CA and PF produced by this Tamron lens, so I may not be in the majority. No lens is perfect, but I just really don't want to pay $600 for it because I know how much time it takes to fight those CA and fringing while editing.

 

[captainkanji]

I can't wait for some new 85s to come out.

 

[Stanmade]

My guess would be a 55, 58, or 60mm 1.8 vc and a 80 or 85mm 1.4 vc (since they just patented it). Cant wait to see what they are and if/how they will stack up to Sigmas announcement.

 

[pknight]

No lens is perfect, but I just really don't want to pay $600 for it because I know how much time it takes to fight those CA and fringing while editing.

Really? It takes 2 or 3 clicks in Lightroom to remove all CA and fringing in any photo. You might have to nudge a slider if it is really bad. These problems are non-issues for me any more, simply because they are so simple to deal with .

 

[StudentOfLight]

Of course I want a couple of fast primes, but I was just reading the teaser title again: "A New Chapter" ... and thought perhaps they are updating a couple of their current lenses.

 

[lloyd709]

A 65 1.8 with close focusing (like the 45 but not necessarily macro) would stir things up a bit I think. I've got the 45 1.8 and the close focusing is the real making of this lens.

 

[slclick]

Of course I want a couple of fast primes, but I was just reading the teaser title again: "A New Chapter" ... and thought perhaps they are updating a couple of their current lenses.

You might be onto something there, Sigma did the same thing...if only they'd do it with the 85

 

[ecka]

No lens is perfect, but I just really don't want to pay $600 for it because I know how much time it takes to fight those CA and fringing while editing.

Really? It takes 2 or 3 clicks in Lightroom to remove all CA and fringing in any photo. You might have to nudge a slider if it is really bad. These problems are non-issues for me any more, simply because they are so simple to deal with .

That only works for slight CA and PF, not for OMG ones from Tamron . And if there's something purple in the frame other than PF, you can't do any easy fixing without affecting it. Even the A-Brush at 100 defringe doesn't cut it.
Did you actually try it, or are you just assuming?