Mid nineties Tamron lens w/20D

[krisgel]

Hi,

I will be buying a 20D shortly. I have a mid-nineties Tamron 28-200mm 1:3.8-5.6 LD lens collecting dust on my shelf.

Is this a lens that will work well with the 20D? Has current lens technology rendered this lens ineffective?

[slin100]

Others may know for sure about your specific lens. Some older Sigma lenses will not work properly with late-model Canon SLRs. Some can be "rechipped" by Sigma. Sigma's website suggests contacting them at (631) 585-1144 or via email at info@sigmaphoto.com.

[RichardtheSane]

I doubt sigma would rechip a Tamron though.

I have not heard any reports of older Tamron lenses not workingon DSLR's but I would imagine you might be dissapointed with the quality. Hyperzooms today are lacking in quality, so one that is 10 years old might be even more lacking - it shows more on Digital too.

[flyfishnj]

I bought that lens about 6 years ago and it works on my 10d -- However, it is too soft to work well. I just leave it on a film body.

[ron chappel]

i have used a couple of that exact model lens on my 300D.You should have no compatability problems at all.

Used wide open they have strong colour and contrast but lowish resolution ,which is extremely typical of cheap zoom lenses.

[MediaMagic]

I still have this lens. Here are a few shots taken with a 10D using this lens. These were some of the first shots I ever took with a DSLR. Nothing fancy, but some are in sunlight, some overcast, etc.. you can at least see something from the lens. It's not a stellar lens, but it's not that bad for a walkaround either. It's quite a bit *less* bad than I first thought it was. Let's just say, it's wasn't always the lens causing the problems.

http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron01.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron02.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron03.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron04.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron05.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron06.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron06crop.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron07.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron08.jpg

[willg]

I'm using a tamron 28-105 that i bought used for $100 and it does pretty well..not as sharp as the kit lens but hardly noticable especially after an unsharp mask

[flyfishnj]

I still have this lens. Here are a few shots taken with a 10D using this lens. These were some of the first shots I ever took with a DSLR. Nothing fancy, but some are in sunlight, some overcast, etc.. you can at least see something from the lens. It's not a stellar lens, but it's not that bad for a walkaround either. It's quite a bit *less* bad than I first thought it was. Let's just say, it's wasn't always the lens causing the problems.

http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron01.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron02.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron03.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron04.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron05.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron06.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron06crop.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron07.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron08.jpg

Those are better shots then I ever got from it

[ron chappel]

I still have this lens. Here are a few shots taken with a 10D using this lens. These were some of the first shots I ever took with a DSLR. Nothing fancy, but some are in sunlight, some overcast, etc.. you can at least see something from the lens. It's not a stellar lens, but it's not that bad for a walkaround either. It's quite a bit *less* bad than I first thought it was. Let's just say, it's wasn't always the lens causing the problems.

http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron01.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron02.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron03.jpg

http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron05.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron06.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron06crop.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron07.jpg
http://www.mediamagicnw.com/shares/tamron08.jpg

Those are better shots then I ever got from it

Excellent example of what is acheivable !
Some outstanding shots,some average.
#01 is amazing,#4 my favorite :) there aint no way he's stopping!lol

[MediaMagic]

Thanks.. yeah, that little guy was crazy on the field and fun to photograph.

Those were all taken back in late august, early september of 2003. I haven't really used the Tamron much at all since bankrupting myself with a bunch of L glass about that same time. Of course, at that time I also blamed the lens for all my bad shots (I'm sure everyone is familiar with that "just got my 10D and my lens now sucks" song and dance).

A couple things that can be issues with this older Tamron is the low light AF "hunt" and purple fringing under some bright light conditions. If there isn't substantial available light, the assist would almost certainly be necessary.

It really isn't a bad lens at all for what it is, the cost, etc. I'd recommend it to anyone needing a 28-200 zoom in the under $200US price range. These lenses are dirt cheap these days. I think I've seen them for around $100US on ebay from time to time. Not a bad deal for a lens that is quite capable with a little practice.

[DSMITH131]

I use a tamron 70-210 f2.8 with no trouble

[jwhee0615]

I have this lens on my 20D. Not very happy with performance though and really want some L

[slin100]

I doubt sigma would rechip a Tamron though.

Doh! :o

It's been long rumored that Tamron licensed the mount from Canon. If true, then there should be no compatibility issues.