Not so great pictures with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II..

I have XSi and got Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF SP AF after reading the excellent reviews for this lens..
now after having used it for a while, i can say that i do not get really great pictures as it was supposed to produce... Not that i have not tried everything, but i tried almost all the modes... tried landscapes, silhouettes. portraits, etc...In general my opinion about the pictures is "OK".. now i m thinking was it really worth spending that much money?
I also have nifty-fifty, and I usually am more amazed by its output than that for Tamrons... I never had a kit lens so cant compare with it...

I took a chance of assuming that it is the XSi that is the issue and recently ordered T3i..I have not received it yet, but i hope that i get good sharp images with that body..

Am i forgetting something, like post processing all the pictures? Any opinions? (I expect some bashing here that People should not blame lens/gear, but themselves, but believe me, I am fair at photography and knowledge, i am really happy with 50mm f/1.8)

posting pics with exif intact would help

It's a decent lens just try it on a different body. Pictures would help

Yeah...post some pics.

Saginus wrote in post #14276090
.... I also have nifty-fifty, and I usually am more amazed by its output than that for Tamrons... I never had a kit lens so cant compare with it...

I took a chance of assuming that it is the XSi that is the issue and recently ordered T3i..I have not received it yet, but i hope that i get good sharp images with that body..
..

I'm confused .. if the 50mm gives good results on the XSi but the Tamron doesn't, why would a new T3i make a difference ?

It would help to know EXACTLY what your issues are .. lack of sharpness, color, contrast ?

attached are the pictures...will add two more in next reply..

Image1:

Filename - IMG_1582.jpg
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2012:04:07 18:02:18
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 1/100 seconds
FNumber - 5.60
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2012:04:07 18:02:18
DateTimeDigitized - 2012:04:07 18:02:18
ComponentsConfiguratio​n - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/99 seconds
ApertureValue - F 5.66
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 03
SubsecTimeOriginal - 03
SubsecTimeDigitized - 03
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 800
ExifImageHeight - 533
InteroperabilityOffset - 9506
FocalPlaneXResolution - 4865.60
FocalPlaneYResolution - 4876.71
FocalPlaneResolutionUn​it - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - High , +3
Saturation - High , +1
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Focal length - 17 - 50 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
Auto ISO - 100
Base ISO - 200
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0.00
Image Type - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.0.9
Owner Name -
Camera Serial Number - 520100361 (1F0006665)
Camera Temperature - 25 C
Sharpness (EOS 1D) - 0
Directory index (EOS 450D) - 100
File index (EOS 450D) - 1582
File number - 000 - 0000
Sharpness (A0) - 5

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 9648
JpegIFByteCount - 12245

-===============

IMAGE2:

Filename - IMG_1568.jpg
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2012:04:07 17:55:03
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 1/160 seconds
FNumber - 9
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2012:04:07 17:55:03
DateTimeDigitized - 2012:04:07 17:55:03
ComponentsConfiguratio​n - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/166 seconds
ApertureValue - F 9.11
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 23 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 03
SubsecTimeOriginal - 03
SubsecTimeDigitized - 03
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 800
ExifImageHeight - 533
InteroperabilityOffset - 9506
FocalPlaneXResolution - 4865.60
FocalPlaneYResolution - 4876.71
FocalPlaneResolutionUn​it - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - High , +3
Saturation - High , +1
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Focal length - 17 - 50 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
Auto ISO - 100
Base ISO - 400
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0.00
Image Type - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.0.9
Owner Name -
Camera Serial Number - 520100361 (1F0006665)
Camera Temperature - 24 C
Sharpness (EOS 1D) - 0
Directory index (EOS 450D) - 100
File index (EOS 450D) - 1568
File number - 000 - 0000
Sharpness (A0) - 5

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 9648
JpegIFByteCount - 7927



===============
IMAGE3:


Filename - IMG_1568.jpg
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2012:04:07 17:55:03
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 1/160 seconds
FNumber - 9
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2012:04:07 17:55:03
DateTimeDigitized - 2012:04:07 17:55:03
ComponentsConfiguratio​n - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/166 seconds
ApertureValue - F 9.11
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 23 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 03
SubsecTimeOriginal - 03
SubsecTimeDigitized - 03
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 800
ExifImageHeight - 533
InteroperabilityOffset - 9506
FocalPlaneXResolution - 4865.60
FocalPlaneYResolution - 4876.71
FocalPlaneResolutionUn​it - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - High , +3
Saturation - High , +1
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Focal length - 17 - 50 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
Auto ISO - 100
Base ISO - 400
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0.00
Image Type - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.0.9
Owner Name -
Camera Serial Number - 520100361 (1F0006665)
Camera Temperature - 24 C
Sharpness (EOS 1D) - 0
Directory index (EOS 450D) - 100
File index (EOS 450D) - 1568
File number - 000 - 0000
Sharpness (A0) - 5

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 9648
JpegIFByteCount - 7927


===============

IMAGE4:
Filename - IMG_1604.jpg
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2012:04:07 18:13:18
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 1/50 seconds
FNumber - 6.30
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2012:04:07 18:13:18
DateTimeDigitized - 2012:04:07 18:13:18
ComponentsConfiguratio​n - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/49 seconds
ApertureValue - F 6.44
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 29 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 02
SubsecTimeOriginal - 02
SubsecTimeDigitized - 02
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 800
ExifImageHeight - 533
InteroperabilityOffset - 9506
FocalPlaneXResolution - 4865.60
FocalPlaneYResolution - 4876.71
FocalPlaneResolutionUn​it - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - Fine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - High , +3
Saturation - High , +1
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Focal length - 17 - 50 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
Auto ISO - 100
Base ISO - 400
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0.00
Image Type - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.0.9
Owner Name -
Camera Serial Number - 520100361 (1F0006665)
Camera Temperature - 26 C
Sharpness (EOS 1D) - 0
Directory index (EOS 450D) - 100
File index (EOS 450D) - 1604
File number - 000 - 0000
Sharpness (A0) - 5

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 9648
JpegIFByteCount - 10003

Can't see the EXIF data but are these wide open?

two more... I did not change anything except that I had to resize it...

I added EXIF info for all the images... (taken from IrfanView)

Perfect_10 wrote in post #14276434
I'm confused .. if the 50mm gives good results on the XSi but the Tamron doesn't, why would a new T3i make a difference ?

It would help to know EXACTLY what your issues are .. lack of sharpness, color, contrast ?

That is why i said, I took a chance of assuming that it is the body that is messing up... I may be wrong...

my issues, are mostly Sharpness.. I have tried kit lens (on my frnds setup), output is similar (talking about nonXSI+18-55mm)..did not see Tamron standing out... When i newly brought this lens, i did try the "focal length" test...couldn't figure out much, seemed ok... let me dig through that test results, if found i will post that too....

Are you unhappy with the sharpness? the exposure? Was a ND filter ir any filter
used?

I am not quite happy with the sharpness...
my friend with t1i (50% sure abt model, but definitely REBEL) + 18-55mm IS II seem to have similar pictures of the same subject..
no filter.. no post processing of any sort..

And also low light performance is not great either...even at f/2.8.. i do not have pictures to share right now, but will do it tonight..

Sharpness looks fine on those...though, small photos.

one more..

at f/32 and ISO 400..this was on a tripod...
Even at 2X zoom, the quality degrades a lot..