Tamron 150-600 Raise your right hand....

I am just an interested bystander at this point. My 100-400L does not see much, if any, use in the winter (just zoo trips if we have a break in the weather, and 400mm is enough there), so there is no need for me to buy anything now. I can wait for more reviews, and a possible Tamron rebate, before deciding on anything. Besides, I hate the idea of giving up the 100-400L due to the size and weight difference -- and my copy performs very well. I pack the 100-400L a lot when we fly, and it's very compact for a long telephoto zoom lens.

RHU

I will keep my hands off until real lab tests comes out. I went back to review Sigma 50-500 reviews...and understand that there is no free lunch in the world

Scott M wrote in post #16612722
I am just an interested bystander at this point. My 100-400L does not see much, if any, use in the winter (just zoo trips if we have a break in the weather, and 400mm is enough there), so there is no need for me to buy anything now. I can wait for more reviews, and a possible Tamron rebate, before deciding on anything. Besides, I hate the idea of giving up the 100-400L due to the size and weight difference -- and my copy performs very well. I pack the 100-400L a lot when we fly, and it's very compact for a long telephoto zoom lens.

One of the reasons...is to check up the real world performance of Tamron against our 100-400L. If Tamron suffers greater degrees of focal length focusing, the difference between the reach of the two lenses will be minimal.

I was waiting for the upgrade on the 100-400 . Has not come . I got the 70-200 mk II .
I just wanted something a little better [AF and coatings] than my 28-135 and 35-350 . The 2X III put me really close to 100-400 [f stop wise] with faster focusing and better flare resistance . [at least compared to a borrowed one .]
Now the 150-600 is out , so Canon has till around March - unless the Tammy really sucks . By that I mean an 8.5 X 11 print in a cheap picture frame at 5 feet . Maybe cropped 25 % .

One of the first tests in the UK, I think!

For the length and cost it holds well compared to:
Nikon D5200 + 50-500mm OS (very sharp copy, compared well to the 120-300mm sport + 2x DG)
Nikon D800e + Sigma 500mm + Kenko 1.4x (very sharp copy, as sharp as the Nikon 500mm VR I sold after I bought the Sigma)

Considering that the 7D is the weakest camera from the three and most people say that it is much better on the 70D and the 5DIII, I have great expectations with those cameras and the Nikon sensors (when the Nikon version is released).

The stabilization is good and the AF is fast and locks easily even in the terrible light we have today

Overall very happy for the price and even considering getting a 70D to play with it until the Nikon version is released.

Comparison shots here:

http://www.flickr.com …87805817@N00/12​011366395/
http://www.flickr.com …87805817@N00/12​012186796/
http://www.flickr.com …87805817@N00/12​011661103/

Added a few birds from my garden:
http://www.flickr.com/​photos/87805817@N00/

For the bad light and the high ISO capabilities of the 7D I am happy with these

Overcast
All at f7.1, ISO800 and speeds between 1/80th and 1/160th handheld

I ordered.
It will be here on Tuesday.
I hope it is better than my 70-300L with a TC.
I was looking at Sigma 150-500, the old Tamron 200-500, Canon 100-400L and Sigma 120-400 when this was suggested to me. It really interested me to see if it can provide the reach I want and the sharpness I need.

After reading the lens rental MTF comparative test results, I ordered one for me and one for the wife last night from B&H. Hopefully they will get them in the next few weeks. Of course I don't know how fast Tamron is shipping or long the order queue is at B&H.

http://www.lensrentals​.com …150-600-telezoom-shootout

Pre-ordered on 1/18, still waiting for it now. I can't wait for it because i wanted to get the non-IS version, but saw the rumors for this one, so I couldn't pass up the price on it. But, I'm hoping it lives up to the sharpness reviews I have seen for it at greater lengths.

Mine shipped.

I asked B&H and they hinted that my order will not get fulfilled until the end of Feb. Evidently the second shipment is next wee (after Chinese New Year holidays are over). The next shipment is near the end of Feb. With luck, our two units would come from that shipment. So it could easily be March before we have them.

unusually for me, I took a chance and preordered end of Dec, got it with first batch from B&H. So far the only problem is that it's bitter cold here, nearly froze my hands off shooting some ducks at a local reservoir. I did get some shots of far away ducks that would have been impossible at 400 or even 500mm.

So far I am 100% pleased with IQ and handling.I can verify that it helps a lot to stop down to f8 when at 600mm. As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm not a BIF specialist, so I can't weigh in on complaints others have made about focus tracking. I have shot in all focus modes and all lengths w/no obvious problems.

I need to build up some upper body strength or take more arthritis meds to be able to carry this around but I can't blame Tamron. ..and am learning how to use a tripod instead of just the monopod I've been using for lighter lenses like 100-400L.
I never liked the 100-400L but it was a last resort when i needed it's length.

I'm so tempted! Sold my Ruckus last week for $1200. But I have been in the market for a classic Mini and have been searching for one, but nothing locally. I'm starting to lose interest a little bit and keep wanting to find out about the Tamron... If it is as good or better than my 400mm DO then I would sell and get the Tamron, but I need to see a head to head.

Right hand is back down!
Ordered on 1/25 and yesterday in my hands.
Price and the first results here on POTN convinced me to take the plunge.
The weather here was not terrific but the first atempts prove to be promissing. There is a 600mm 1/15 handhold shot from a cat in the garden that is surprisingly good.
Who knows that this lens might (in time) replace my (old) 300/4L. But before that I'll do some more testing because the 300 is still going strong!
Good luck and greetings,
Alain