Canon vs Tamron Lens

[Darryl]

Well it wasn't even a contest....but here is the background and the comparison.

I had been shooting with a Tamron 28-200 f3.8-5.6
Lens on my Canon EOS A2. I loved the versatility of the lens. I was satisfied with the results that it was giving me. Never had a problem with the quality of the lens. Most of my work was for internet useage. But the prints were turning out fine. I mostly shot outdoors. When I did get prints it was usually 4X6 from the lab with an occasional enlargement to an 8X10. Once I had a 20X30 poster made and it turned out fine.

Then I get the D30, and I think my eyes have gone bad or something! Way too soft. I read a few posts on here about the D30 not being as forgiving with cheaper lenses (i.e. glass).

So I take the plunge and get a Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 II USM I am way short of having enough money for the 70-200 right now, so I thought this would be a good start.


BIG IMPROVEMENT! You guys were right on! I am definately no expert at lens comparsons, but take a look at these results.

I put the results on a webpage,
http://www.txis.com/~darryl/photos/TEST/LensTest/lenstest.htm

Its is hard to turn loose of the higher bucks when you have a piece of equipment in your bag that you think should work, but I am definately going to be staying away from the lesser lenses!

Just for grins, if anyone is interested I would be happy to try and do the same lens test outside. If you are interested, let me know.

One other thing, I believe Soumya63 posted a list of lenses that he thought were good lenses for the D30. He listed two brands of the next lens I am saving up for, the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 Anyone done any side by side comparisons of these two lenses?

Also, thanks to Roger Cavanaugh for the link to the review on the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS versus non IS type lens. Good information there!

[ianmcg]

If you can live with something slightly slower the Canon 70-200 f4L deserves serious consideration. It weighs half the 2.8 version and about half the price too. It is one of the sharpest zoom lenses you can buy anywhere and it's contrast and colour need to be seen. If I compare the output with the decently rated 28-135IS the difference even on a D30 is large.

[gerry]

Thanks for the comparison. I have a Tamron, and am trying to get a 2.8 Canon 70-200 I/S.

And I'm not trying to be critical but since you use "definitely" quite a bit, I think you should know how to spell it.

[D30man MI]

DO NOT buy another lens!!! Start saveing your money to buy a 135 F2. ULTRA SHARP!!!!! I don't have any pics posted, but watch out pekka! haha!

the only bad thing is, i have to be somewhat far away from my subject, but with strobes, i put film to shame with this MONSTER!! I got it at KEH.com, used, but in really really good shape.


Dave

[Rudi]

I am not really surprised! I used to have a Tamron 28-200mm zoom on my old EOS 50E, and even on normal 4x6 prints I could tell that they were not as sharp as ones taken with a Canon lens (even the cheaper Canon lenses, such as the older 35-70mm and 80-200mm zooms). The Tamron colour was a little off as well, slightly warmer colours.

Having said that, the Tamron was a brilliant travel lens. I wish I'd kept it so that I could now see how much worse it is on the D30 (lots of people tell me that it is much more noticeable on the D30).

On another note, the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 is supposed to be nearly identical to the Canon optically (from reviews on the Internet). I don't think that the AF will be as fast as the Canon, though. Most Sigmas are slower (I have a 135-400mm Sigma APO lens, and it is slower-focusing than my Canon lenses). Let's not forget one thing, though: It should still be a hell of a lot faster than focusing manually! And... you *can* still focus manually if you need the ultimate in control.

Personally, I am leaning towards the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 rather than the Canon. I don't really want to spend the money on the Canon f/2.8 version, and the f/4 version is a non-starter, seeing that I can get the Sigma f/2.8 version for around the same price (here in Oz).