Should I send in my Tamron 70-200?

I bought the Tamron 70-200 2.8 VC a couple months ago, and have been, for the most part, very happy with it. I shot a wedding this last weekend, and it performed very well.

However...it seems to really struggle at long distances. I don't know if it's just soft at 200mm, or if it has problems focusing on things far away or what. I know this isn't a real wildlife lens, but I should be able to get half-way sharp shots. With the subject at closer distances, even at 200mm, it is still sharp.

Here are a number of wildlife photos over the last week or two that show what I"m talking about.

Here's an antelope and her baby...fairly far away, but doesn't look too bad.

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Here's some shots showing that this lens is very capable of very sharp shots...just not at as long of distances.

My pup, nice and sharp, followed by a 100% crop

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I have the Tamron and looked at some of my shots at 200 mm and I think you can get better from this lens. However, I think we need more info. I tried to look at the exif but it's asking me to login.

Are you saying you're only having trouble at distances when using 200mm or at 200mm all the time. I would think if it's soft at 200 mm that it'd be all the time.

Although I shoot Nikon, mine is the same way. It's like that with 3 of the crop bodies I had. But it's outstanding on my full frame D700. It's like a different lens. Anyone else have the same experience?

NewCreation wrote in post #16994030
I have the Tamron and looked at some of my shots at 200 mm and I think you can get better from this lens. However, I think we need more info. I tried to look at the exif but it's asking me to login.

Are you saying you're only having trouble at distances when using 200mm or at 200mm all the time. I would think if it's soft at 200 mm that it'd be all the time.

Right, only at long distances. I can shoot at 200mm at closer up subjects and they are very sharp, just when they are far away are they super soft.

Just looking at a couple shots, the Bear shot was at ISO 200, f4.0, 1/800. Bison shot was f4, 1/1600, antelope was f2.8, 1/3200

I shot with this lens on both a 7d and 60d, and tend to get the same problems. I always manually select a single point on both cameras, and even spot-focus on the 7d.

davidmtml wrote in post #16994046
Right, only at long distances. I can shoot at 200mm at closer up subjects and they are very sharp, just when they are far away are they super soft.

Just looking at a couple shots, the Bear shot was at ISO 200, f4.0, 1/800. Bison shot was f4, 1/1600, antelope was f2.8, 1/3200

I shot with this lens on both a 7d and 60d, and tend to get the same problems. I always manually select a single point on both cameras, and even spot-focus on the 7d.

Hmmm...Let me do some test shots with mine and see what I find. Can the 7d do MFA? I know the 60d can't.

619shooter wrote in post #16994036
Although I shoot Nikon, mine is the same way. It's like that with 3 of the crop bodies I had. But it's outstanding on my full frame D700. It's like a different lens. Anyone else have the same experience?

Yes, I found that my Tammy sings a pretty song on my FF.

619shooter wrote in post #16994036
Although I shoot Nikon, mine is the same way. It's like that with 3 of the crop bodies I had. But it's outstanding on my full frame D700. It's like a different lens. Anyone else have the same experience?

Interesting, I've taken a number of shots with this lens and the 5Dc, and most seem to be pretty sharp. However, I haven't tried to really use it for subjects as long distances, as in those cases I use a crop sensor for the extra reach.

Took some shots out the back door. I used both my camera bodies.

60d:

looks like you've got consistent backfocus at infinity.

Charlie wrote in post #16994210
looks like you've got consistent backfocus at infinity.

It does look that way. I decided to send it in since I'm having problems with the VC anyway. Hopefully they can get it figured out.

Please post back with the results.

NewCreation wrote in post #16994375
Please post back with the results.

Will do, and thanks for your test! It definitely seems to be better on the 6d.

Although not the 70-200. My tamron 28-75 did the same exact thing. The closer the range the better the shot. At 75mm and 200 feet it was horrible. Even at f8.

Tamron repair is awesome. 3 days after getting the lens in their hands it was on its way back to me. They cleaned the lens inside and out, made adjustments sent it back better then new. Before it went in my mfa was +4 @28 and +17 @75 on my 70D. After it came back it was -1 @28 and +1 @75

Really please with their customer service/repair department. Canon should strive to be more like them.

Scoobert wrote in post #16994448
Although not the 70-200. My tamron 28-75 did the same exact thing. The closer the range the better the shot. At 75mm and 200 feet it was horrible. Even at f8.

Tamron repair is awesome. 3 days after getting the lens in their hands it was on its way back to me. They cleaned the lens inside and out, made adjustments sent it back better then new. Before it went in my mfa was +4 @28 and +17 @75 on my 70D. After it came back it was -1 @28 and +1 @75

Really please with their customer service/repair department. Canon should strive to be more like them.

This is great to hear as I'm a first-time with Tamron customer service. I hope I end up with the same outcome!