New Tammy 28-75 f/2.8

Well, the new Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 arrived just before the weekend. Although all glass in the house is technically "community glass" shared between mine and The Wife, the Tammy is destined to be the primary lens for her 50D. Ideally, this well-regarded lens will 1) maximize the image capabilities of the 50D without breaking the bank, and 2) let me have my 28-135 IS back, since The Wife has all but commandeered it for her camera.

So, I haven't actually been able to test out the Tammy yet, other than taking a few quick low-light shots to test its speed. She, on the other hand, has been working it hard. From what I can tell, the AF doesn't have any significant problem locking on in low light conditions, which was the one recurring concern we'd seen in otherwise glowing reviews for this lens. AF is fairly quiet, too--not silent like USM, but a mere whisper when compared to something like the Nifty Fifty. The MF grip does rotate during AF, which is very annoying, but you get used to that very quickly and instinctively learn the best way to hold it.

Initial indications are that this is indeed a sharp lens. Haven't gotten around to pixel-peeping yet, but the images look crisp. Contrast does seem better than the 28-135. And yes, the Tamron lens cap is by far the best design on the market!

These are just preliminary impressions. The Tammy hasn't been micro adjusted on the 50D yet, so that could improve things considerably. But it looks like the Tamron lens is equal, if not superior, to the 28-135 in most areas. Looks like I've got my main lens back...

i had this lens before.. i liked it but doing a side by side comparison of this lens against my canon kit lens and the color reproduction wasn't as good. It seemed that the Tamron had duller colors. I dunno if it was just my copy though.

Which Canon kit did you compare it with? Obviously, I'd expect the 24-70L to kick Tammy butt, but if you had the L then there'd be no reason for you to have the Tammy...

fann wrote in post #7767710
i had this lens before.. i liked it but doing a side by side comparison of this lens against my canon kit lens and the color reproduction wasn't as good. It seemed that the Tamron had duller colors. I dunno if it was just my copy though.

I found this to be the complete opposite for me. My 28-135 kit lens was no match for the Tamron 28-75 in color reproduction and sharpness. I consequently sold the kit lens and kept the Tammy lens. I love it!!!

I had the 28-75. Sold it, like a dummy. Bought a 28-135 IS. Sold it. Bought another 28-75.

The 28-135IS was a good lens. I liked it, especially at the long end. Liked the IS feature. Outdoor shooting was good with this lens. I may get another one some day. But its overall capabilities fell short of the Tamron 28-75. I get much better results with less hassle and concern. It focuses quickly, gives better contrast and color, has a "macro" feature. Good portrait lens. And really nice results at f2.8.

jdlloyd67 wrote in post #7767811
I found this to be the complete opposite for me. My 28-135 kit lens was no match for the Tamron 28-75 in color reproduction and sharpness. I consequently sold the kit lens and kept the Tammy lens. I love it!!!

My experience thus far seems closer to yours--although the 28-135 isn't that much overshadowed by the Tammy. But the Tammy does seem to have the edge at this early stage. Even so, we've got two cameras, so the 28-135 ain't going anywhere!

jblaschke wrote in post #7767433
Well, the new Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 arrived just before the weekend. Although all glass in the house is technically "community glass" shared between mine and The Wife, the Tammy is destined to be the primary lens for her 50D. Ideally, this well-regarded lens will 1) maximize the image capabilities of the 50D without breaking the bank, and 2) let me have my 28-135 IS back, since The Wife has all but commandeered it for her camera.

So, I haven't actually been able to test out the Tammy yet, other than taking a few quick low-light shots to test its speed. She, on the other hand, has been working it hard. From what I can tell, the AF doesn't have any significant problem locking on in low light conditions, which was the one recurring concern we'd seen in otherwise glowing reviews for this lens. AF is fairly quiet, too--not silent like USM, but a mere whisper when compared to something like the Nifty Fifty. The MF grip does rotate during AF, which is very annoying, but you get used to that very quickly and instinctively learn the best way to hold it.

Initial indications are that this is indeed a sharp lens. Haven't gotten around to pixel-peeping yet, but the images look crisp. Contrast does seem better than the 28-135. And yes, the Tamron lens cap is by far the best design on the market!

These are just preliminary impressions. The Tammy hasn't been micro adjusted on the 50D yet, so that could improve things considerably. But it looks like the Tamron lens is equal, if not superior, to the 28-135 in most areas. Looks like I've got my main lens back...

my upgrade path was 28-135 to tamron 28-75. the tamron was the first lens that i owned that gave me professional IQ. it was the lens that got the ball rolling for me .

ed rader

ed rader wrote in post #7767948
it was the lens that got the ball rolling for me .

ed rader

Me too!!! That ball is now rolling and man it's costing me more and more everytime it stops.

Should I start out with the Tamron 28-75mm or the Canon 50mm f/1.4 on a Canon 40D?. I'm used to shooting with a 50mm on a film camera so I figured either of these would suffice. Anyone has experience with both?

A-FABS wrote in post #7769002
Should I start out with the Tamron 28-75mm or the Canon 50mm f/1.4 on a Canon 40D?. I'm used to shooting with a 50mm on a film camera so I figured either of these would suffice. Anyone has experience with both?

Thought about the Simga 50mm 1.4? I borrowed it from my friend and it's really a remarkable piece of glass and very reasonable in price as well. Just throwing you another option.

I just bought a used Tamron 28-75, off of another POTN member and I just love it to pieces so far!!!

A-FABS wrote in post #7769002
Should I start out with the Tamron 28-75mm or the Canon 50mm f/1.4 on a Canon 40D?. I'm used to shooting with a 50mm on a film camera so I figured either of these would suffice. Anyone has experience with both?

Would the 50mm be your only lens? As much as I love my prime lenses, I personally couldn't live without at least one zoom lens.

out of curiosity, does your "new" tamron 28-75 says TAMRON JAPAN 'ASSEMBLED IN CHINA' on its body?

A-FABS wrote in post #7769002
Should I start out with the Tamron 28-75mm or the Canon 50mm f/1.4 on a Canon 40D?. I'm used to shooting with a 50mm on a film camera so I figured either of these would suffice. Anyone has experience with both?

Keep in mind the 50mm on the 40D will have the apparent field of view of an 80mm lens. Which is good for portraits, but is kind of long if you're shooting a lot indoors. You'll be backing into a lot of walls--I know I did!

The Tamron really seems to be a high-quality piece of glass at a sweet price point. I'd recommend the zoom for your initial lens purchase with primes added later.

LOVE this lens. Amazing value for quality.