Love my new Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC w few pics and "my" vr test

[glennb]

Thought Id give a little review on my new Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC USD used on my Nikon 5100, and what can I say, well its WOW! OK Im a beginner and I might be easily pleased as this is my first "expensive" lens purchase but I like it a lot!! It seems to be very sharp and fast to focus and I think it will be stuck on my lens for good. In low light the VC seems to work awesome, I took a few pics of my computer screens power button in low light and seems to work much better than upping the ISO (see below)
Here are some pics (I know there are issues with them which I will put in CC for help.) and taken in Jpeg, Doh!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/9706754565_e4488e1f02_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9706754565/)
ford_GT (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9706754565/) by Glennb76 (http://www.flickr.com/people/93300173@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/9706652421_9193bbe882_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9706652421/)
DSC_0047_edited-1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9706652421/) by Glennb76 (http://www.flickr.com/people/93300173@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7453/9709864726_b3caccc731_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9709864726/)
boat house (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9709864726/) by Glennb76 (http://www.flickr.com/people/93300173@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/9706748009_7b63ff2142_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9706748009/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9706748009/) by Glennb76 (http://www.flickr.com/people/93300173@N08/), on Flickr

Here are some low light VR vs non VR tests using the power button to compare amount of shake , which I found interesting all at f/2.8 and 24mm, 2m approx from screen, 100% crop, hand held (so yes results may be inconsistent depending on steadiness)

with vr 200 ISO
103355


with out vr 200 ISO
103357


with vr 400 ISO
103358


no vr 400 ISO
103359



with vr 800 ISO
103360


no vr 800 ISO
next post, due to restrictions

[glennb]

forgot to mention pics were taking with Aperture priority

and the NO vr at 800 ISO

[Mathy]

The 'off the cuff' non experimental photos look nice and sharp. I have a Tamron 70-300 with VC, and when it 'locks on', one can sure feel it :D Enjoy your new lens and thanks for sharing, cheers Deb

[Glenda]

I also have this lens and love it and find it a great walkaround lens. I chose it over the Nikon one as it had VR and have never regretted my choice.

[glennb]

Thanks guys, yes the VR and cost were my reasons over the nikon and seems to get good reviews, loving it :-P

playing with depth of field here

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/9754945144_64808bd122_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9754945144/)
James Boag's caps (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93300173@N08/9754945144/) by Glennb76 (http://www.flickr.com/people/93300173@N08/), on Flickr

[Craig Zilko]

Awesome images, just got home and mine is sitting in it box on my desk, can not wait to test drive it :)

[Geoff Port]

Hey Glennb,
I've had my 24-70 for several months now. I purchased it as a replacement for my Canon 18-55mm because I wasn't happy with the sharpness I was getting from the Canon lens. Well I'm still not super happy. The 24-70 is not giving me the results I had hoped for. I take a lot of sunrises and sunsets on tripod but the sharpness just isn't quite right.
Tell me, do you have any lateral movement in the lens barrel when fully extended? I do and it is slightly worse when the barrel is fully withdrawn. Its probably only a couple of thou of an inch but there's definitely movement. I'm wondering if this has something to do with my problem. Hand held I really enjoy the feel of the bulk and weight and and auto focus is quiet and quick but just not right. Maybe I'm being too fussy.
Geoff Port

[adro]

Congrats Glennb.
Getting your first quality lens is always a joy especially if the kit lenses you started with were the cheapest, lowest quality bits of plastic made.
I know when I got my Canon 1000D with kit lenses, which was on the bottom of the list in the Canon range back then ( not much research went into that purchase :Doh:), I was satisfied without knowing any better being new to DSLR's.

I then got the bug and upgraded to the 70-200L.

:eek: Holy bloody hell, was I as happy as a pig in poo!
Knowing I would never use the kit 70-300 lens again I gave it away to a family member.
They were stoked with their free gift and questioned my decision.
I showed them my new lens and let them have a quick go and they realised why I gave it away.
They were still stoked with the lens I gave them as they weren't that 'into' photography.

Be warned though, it won't stop at one lens. ;)


Love the picture of the GT.
I enjoy doing motorsport pics, mainly historic car races.
Hearing one of those beasts driven hard around the track is just awesome.
I am in no way a rev head, hell I own a Camry :sleeping23:, but seeing all the old cars racing brings a lot of joy to people, young and old.

Can I give you one word of advice?
Clean ya bloody monitor screen. ;)

[arthurking83]

......

Tell me, do you have any lateral movement in the lens barrel when fully extended? I do and it is slightly worse when the barrel is fully withdrawn. Its probably only a couple of thou of an inch but there's definitely movement.

....

With the use of the term 'play' in the extended lens barrel, do you mean flex, or a distinct amount of mechanical slack tolerance.

if you mean flex, where the end of the lens has the ability to flex, then mine has some ability to do so.

If you're referring to some mechanical backlash movement there's none on mine.
Lens hood off, gripped by the base of the lens barrel, zoomed to 70mm, and zero moment .. not even a thou of a millimeter.

As a note: I have the old 28-75/2.8 Tamron, and it has a small thou of an inch mechanical slack in the extension of the lens barrel .. I just assumed it was a normal tolerance clearance design, as many other lenses I've had and played with also have similar movements in their lens extensions ... even some so called 'famously' solid lenses.

Have you confirmed focus using liveview?
Are you using any filters, of any type?

Is the sharpness issue only at 70mm. pr at other focal lengths too?

Of the barrel has some play in it, maybe take it back to the shop and ask for a replacement ... checking to see if another copy of the lens has the same play in the extended barrel.

[Geoff Port]

With the use of the term 'play' in the extended lens barrel, do you mean flex, or a distinct amount of mechanical slack tolerance.

if you mean flex, where the end of the lens has the ability to flex, then mine has some ability to do so.

If you're referring to some mechanical backlash movement there's none on mine.
Lens hood off, gripped by the base of the lens barrel, zoomed to 70mm, and zero moment .. not even a thou of a millimeter.

As a note: I have the old 28-75/2.8 Tamron, and it has a small thou of an inch mechanical slack in the extension of the lens barrel .. I just assumed it was a normal tolerance clearance design, as many other lenses I've had and played with also have similar movements in their lens extensions ... even some so called 'famously' solid lenses.

Have you confirmed focus using liveview?
Are you using any filters, of any type?

Is the sharpness issue only at 70mm. pr at other focal lengths too?

Of the barrel has some play in it, maybe take it back to the shop and ask for a replacement ... checking to see if another copy of the lens has the same play in the extended barrel.

Hi Arthur,
With the barrel fully extended there is a small amount of movement lateral movement ie; left to right. There is no forward backward movement . I'm presuming this is what you mean by backlash.

I use a cp and uv filter all the time and the lens hood. The movement is there with the lens naked.

Since my post I have taken a series of test shots on tripod with the 24-70 & my 18 -55 Canon. Both with and without VC engaged using an electronic shutter release. I was surprised at the results. All the shots are quite sharp with the 24 -70 marginally ahead. I then tried some comparison shots hand held and the 18 - 55 was sharper. My conclusion is that I am having greater difficulty holding the heavier 24 - 70 steady.

I took a series of sunrise shots on the weekend with the 24 -70 with the mirror locked up and was really pleased with the results. the 60D has always seemed to have a very cluncky mirror action.
So I'm thinking that it might be user error.

We are heading to Albury this week so I'll wander into Camera House and have a look at a Tamron 24 - 70 to check for any movement.

I emailed Tamron Aust. just prior to Xmas quering the movement but to date have not received a reply.

thanks for your interest Arthur, much appreciated.

[arthurking83]

My copy of the lens has no distinct movement in any direction.
What I meant by 'backlash' was the type of movement that is felt with a distinct clicky feeling, rather than just natural flexibility.

My lens has some flex in it, and that's to be expected ... when lenses extend so far out using a sliding tube design you expect some flex, unless they're made of some uber material that doesn't allow flexing.

My old 180/2.8(ais) Nikon lens has the feeling it's made from a solid piece of lead weighted titanium as an overall impression, but when the lens extends(via focusing to MFD) there is a very small amount of movement between the two sliding tubes.
The amount is small, maybe a tho or so, but it doesn't appear to flex as much a click(or snap, or lash) from side to side.

The T24-70VC doesn't have this same feeling of slackness, just plain ol flex .... like a piece of plastic flexing.

Handholding and trying to get 'scientifically' accurate testing results is nigh on impossible. So your conclusion of more difficulty in holding the bigger heavier lens could be spot on, but also were you shooting at the same aperture values, or was the Tammy more wide open .. DOF issues :confused013

If you lens just flexes when extended, I wouldn't worry about it, but if it has a clearly snappy feeling lateral movement no matter how small, I'd get it checked

[glennb]

Hey Glennb,
I've had my 24-70 for several months now. I purchased it as a replacement for my Canon 18-55mm because I wasn't happy with the sharpness I was getting from the Canon lens. Well I'm still not super happy. The 24-70 is not giving me the results I had hoped for. I take a lot of sunrises and sunsets on tripod but the sharpness just isn't quite right.
Tell me, do you have any lateral movement in the lens barrel when fully extended? I do and it is slightly worse when the barrel is fully withdrawn. Its probably only a couple of thou of an inch but there's definitely movement. I'm wondering if this has something to do with my problem. Hand held I really enjoy the feel of the bulk and weight and and auto focus is quiet and quick but just not right. Maybe I'm being too fussy.
Geoff Port

Hi Geoff sorry just saw this post I don't think I have movement but will have a look when I get home and let you know.


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[glennb]

Hey Glennb,
I've had my 24-70 for several months now. I purchased it as a replacement for my Canon 18-55mm because I wasn't happy with the sharpness I was getting from the Canon lens. Well I'm still not super happy. The 24-70 is not giving me the results I had hoped for. I take a lot of sunrises and sunsets on tripod but the sharpness just isn't quite right.
Tell me, do you have any lateral movement in the lens barrel when fully extended? I do and it is slightly worse when the barrel is fully withdrawn. Its probably only a couple of thou of an inch but there's definitely movement. I'm wondering if this has something to do with my problem. Hand held I really enjoy the feel of the bulk and weight and and auto focus is quiet and quick but just not right. Maybe I'm being too fussy.
Geoff Port

Hi Geoff, had a look at mine today and I have absolutely have no lateral movement in my lens barrel fully in or fully out, or where the camera joins the lens either.

[wmvaux]

Great shots there glenb :th3: I have have the Tamron 24-70mm lens too and it's a great lens. Hope you get lots of enjoyment out of it. :D

[Geoff Port]

Hmmmmm1 that seems to indicate that mine needs to go to the Dr. Have emailed Tamron's Aust. agent but to date have not had a reply. Did some tests similar to yours and when compared the focus dosen't seem too bad. Have been taking my usual sunrises and sunsets with the shutter locked up as suggested by another experienced member and that has improved sharpness a lot. Anyway I have other stuff I have to contend with at present so this will have to wait. Thanks for the reply.:th3: