Tamron 200-400mm F/5.6 LD

[MarineManiac]

Just got this lens on saturday, picked it up used, and had sometime today to take it out to the park. This is my first impression of this lens so far and im impressed enough to keep it. there seemed to be a lot of slack out there about this lens and i dont know why. i shoot a 40D and i found it to have accurate AF, although slow and was terrible in servo. it was as sharp as i thought it would be wide open and even better stopped down. it was easy hand holdable for me (170lb, 6ft, 24 yr old) but does come with a tripod ring. this is my first push/pull zoom and i found it easy to be come accustomed to with a zoom of this length. although i've heard its a complete dust magnet when the seals start to go. thankfully mine is in almost pristine shape. i found contrast/saturation on par with the price and is by no means an "L lens", but nothing that cant be fixed in post. overall i am happy and would recommend this as a cheap and effective way to get to 400mm.

Pros:
-constant 5.6 throughout zoom
-push/pull zoom (IMO)
-light = hand holdable
-sharp stopped down

Cons:
-needs lots of light
-soft at 400mm
-slow focus
-doesnt keep AF with tele-converter

pics are straight from camera. look for edits after.

1. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_5934.jpg

2. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_5942.jpg

3.http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_5948.jpg

4. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_6017.jpg

5. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_6048.jpg

6. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_6068.jpg

7. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_6070.jpg

8. http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_6078.jpg

[H20boy]

I so badly want to disagree with you, and feel bad that I don't have any images to post in this sample lens archive from when I once owned this lens.

And, respectfully, f5.6 throughout the range, and the push-pull, are not pros in my opinion.

BTW, where are your images?

[zelseman]

I think his pro about the constant 5.6 is that it is in fact, constant and not variable like some large tele-zooms.
But i disagree as well about the push-pull being a pro. Thats inconvenient.

[MarineManiac]

a quick edit shows promising result

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/4009250885_96bd0ef30c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/4010031004_8a373259df_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2426/4010057442_80b2e68509_b.jpg

[MarineManiac]

how is constant aperture bad?

i like the push/pull due to the fact that it is very comfortable to hand hold and easy to maneuver.

[MarineManiac]

second impression comes from when i went to the zoo today. the learning curve with any lens just takes time to adapt and get comfortable in your new shooting style. this is my first long lens and it definatley takes some time getting used to the weight and length. along with being very critical of shutter speed. i still have NOT used a monopod (but i probably will invest) and everything is hand held.

all straight from camera, with some in camera adjustment. im impressed.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/4027000993_61cf551815.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/4027105309_c141f20a40.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/4027118657_24b2e77668.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/4027137789_c7f2951c3c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4027094767_1832319ca2.jpg

100% crop

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/cabbage2003/IMG_6646.jpg