Tamron 28-300 Questions. Yay! or Nay?

[Gus00]

I'm considering buying a Tamron 28-300mm to use on a Canon 20D (which I will be purchasing this week woohoo!). Has anybody had any experience with this glass? What are the pros and cons and would you rate it as "high" "medium" or "low" grade?

Also how does it compare to the Sigma 28-300?

I know that the Canon 28-300 lens is far superior but that puppy is also far superior to my budget.

Thanks

[dpanicc1]

I bought the Tamron 28-300 for one reason: to keep it on the camera so I didn't have to change lenses. I like it. The color is deep and contrasty and the len's' sparpness is good. It's very soft at 300mm and I don't take it past 250 unless I have to. The other end is good. You need a lot of light or a still subject and a tripod. I think it's a good vacation lens, or in my case, I take my camera camping and changing lenses with all the smoke in the air make a one-lens solution a good thing. I would buy it again. Worth the money if you realize its constraints.

Dan

[Cadwell]

First off, congratulations on your prospective 20D purchase. I hope you have a lot of fun with it.

Second, this http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm is one good source for lens ratings. There are others.

None of the "hyperzooms" are particularly good. It's just too difficult to design a lens which is optically very good at both the wide angle and telephoto end. If optical quality is important to you, you would be better off covering the same range with two or more lenses.

[NGrinerPhoto]

I bought one and have only used it a few times. The image quality is suprisingly good. Work is buying me a 70-200 2.8L IS and I really don't need it anymore. Interested? -Nick

[BJ Pulsipher]

I have a Tamron 28-300 Di lens. I like it. As was mentioned in an earlier note, it saves me from having to switch back and forth. Then I don't worry so much about getting the sensor dirty. It does have problems with the auto focus in low light situations. The price was right, however.

[Pete Nic]

I ve got a tamaron 28-300 and its ok soft a long length but in terms of a genral all round lens its good. One minor thing I use it on a 20D and sometimes in mid to low light it stuggles to focus Tip stick it on manual get it close click auto and it should focus ( not so easy if uoy havent time). Also If your getting a 20D get to know the focus points set up well as its hard to see on the small 1.8 screen but some images look focused but can be slightly out if auto has caught somethining front of the subject. use a single point if poss.

[Pete Nic]

I forgot to mention there is no image stabalisation which I think the Sigma has but thats what you will pay over £100 more for if you can afford IS I personally think its worth it. Ive been told IS can alter compostion slightly which when coupled with the 95% coverage on the 20D may take a bit of getting used to. So make sure you hav your pod or rest with you.

[gramps]

I bought one a couple of months ago. Tried it for one day and found it to be VERY soft at 300 no matter what the f stop was. It was almost what would be considered to be out of focus. I returned it and stayed with Canon glass.

[Mark Kemp]

I have the similar Sigma lens and from the description it sounds like the quality is similar too.
I use it when I have just taken a camera with me in case I see something to photograph as it is easy to carry and versatile. However the quality is definitely not that good, so if I go somewhere specifically to take photgraphs it stays at home and my better lenses come out.