150-600mm tamron is it worth it.

gaddypaid

gaddypaid

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i have a Nikon AF-S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G on my d5200 and am quite happy with it but im mainly out birdwatching trying to capture what ever i can, but always want that bit more reach because when it comes down to cropping my pictures it leaves them a bit soft since most of the time my lens is out fully out to the max just to try and fill the frame to get the most out of seeing through the lens.
I have looked on Flicker and seen loads of nice pictures but they mostly range from 350-600mm .
I have just enough money to get the tamron 150-600mm lens is it gonna be worth the extra cash, i have mixed concerns and wanted feedback off people who use one.
I have heard its not very sharp fully open and worried that my images will bigger but softer, yet i look at pictures taken with it and they look fine. I could go on and on with it.
 
Seen some reviews which give it a very good rating.

I believe the Sigma, contemporary version, is due out soon so may be worth waiting on that. Even if you don't buy it, it will probably drive the price of the Tamron down.
 
My longest lens is a Nikon 2.8 300mm .Since this summer i have a 2x converter for it,so it makes it a 600mm.Its a (in more than one way) great combination.I only soon found out that 600mm is great lens,but the times i use it are scarces.I would sugest to buy a 1.4 or 2x converter for the single time you want to use 600mm.Perhaps upscale to a F2.8
I doubt that F5.6 600mm works from the hand that easy. Your convicted to atleast a monopod.
 
Something to be aware of is that any of these megazoom or long telephoto primes are massive - not something you'd be taking for a casual walk around. I know when I had a Sigma 150-500 I never actually used it and preferred my Nikon 70-300VR.

The new Tamron should be a fair bit better than the old Sigma but it will be big and heavy, just so long as you know.
 
I love my Tamron 150-600, it has become my 'go-to' lens for everyday wildlife.
For a 600mm lens it is light enough to handhold, though I normally use it with a beanbag (monopod is also fine).
It isn't as sharp as my long primes were but it is capable of excellent results that come quite close, it auto-focuses very well and has good VC (VR).
 
Love mine and have got some excellent results with it.
It stacks up very well against the long primes which are obviously better but also cost at least 3x the price, so they should be.
I did originally have the Sigma 150-500mm and the Tamron is head and shoulders above that plus an extra 100mm at the long end.
I cant say that I have noticed that it is soft wide open either. I wouldnt be without mine.
 
I use a 600mm f4 as my main lens, I use it for 99% of my photography.
Walk miles & miles with it, sometimes with a 1.4x t.c. Attached.

Would love a smaller, lighter lens that would cover the same range & be of equal optical quality so
I'm following this thread with interest.
 
it wont in most situations, the new sigma sports will be closer but its 3kg or so
 
drexyl said:
Would love a smaller, lighter lens that would cover the same range & be of equal optical quality so I'm following this thread with interest.
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It's smaller, lighter and covers the same range but it is not going to match the optical quality of the prime, it will however give excellent results, especially when stopped down ... mine is mostly at f7.1/f8.
For some this will present problems in certain low-light situations but if you use a camera body that has reasonable ISO capability it should not be a major problem ... at the price it has to be a compromise :)
 
gramps said:
It's smaller, lighter and covers the same range but it is not going to match the optical quality of the prime, it will however give excellent results, especially when stopped down ... mine is mostly at f7.1/f8.
For some this will present problems in certain low-light situations but if you use a camera body that has reasonable ISO capability it should not be a major problem ... at the price it has to be a compromise :)
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I don't have any problems with using high ISO , I don't usually shoot below ISO1000
I usually shoot (or aim to) at f8 as my gear performs so much better.

Will possibly try one out.
 
drexyl said:
I don't have any problems with using high ISO , I don't usually shoot below ISO1000
I usually shoot (or aim to) at f8 as my gear performs so much better.

Will possibly try one out.
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Well worth investigating :)
 
I've just received mine and have had a quick play with it on my 70D and it looks like a great lens for the money. Yes it is pretty big and with the camera and grip fitted is quite heavy. First impressions are that it focuses really well even at small apetures and images look sharp too. I can't wait to get outside and try it properly.
 
Just bought this bargain lens yesterday for £650! First impressions are it's very good!
 
gramps said:
Good price! :)
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I know. I might get burned at the the stake for this-but thought I'd give slr hut a try. Ordered Monday evening and it arrived Friday morning.
the lens itself is comfortable enough to handhold. autofocus is faster than I expected And image quality is brilliant.

Warning! !*- at 600m with the lens hood on its too big to pass as a 70-200. The other half cloked this instantly and before I'd worked out a reason for why I NEND this lens. School boy error.
 
addicknchips said:
Warning! !*- at 600m with the lens hood on its too big to pass as a 70-200. The other half cloked this instantly and before I'd worked out a reason for why I NEND this lens. School boy error.
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Ah ... lack of planning! :D
 
Nawty said:
Something to be aware of is that any of these megazoom or long telephoto primes are massive - not something you'd be taking for a casual walk around. I know when I had a Sigma 150-500 I never actually used it and preferred my Nikon 70-300VR.

The new Tamron should be a fair bit better than the old Sigma but it will be big and heavy, just so long as you know.
Click to expand...

The best accessory you can buy with this lens is a sling, so your whole body is carrying the weight and not your neck or arms.
 
Jeff Watson said:
The best accessory you can buy with this lens is a sling, so your whole body is carrying the weight and not your neck or arms.
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Took this lens to the zoo with me and it's absolutely fine attached to a black rapid.

Also noted the price of lens has gone up £60 since I bought it.
 
addicknchips said:
Took this lens to the zoo with me and it's absolutely fine attached to a black rapid.

Also noted the price of lens has gone up £60 since I bought it.
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I saw that too, I was considering getting one for a while. Has anyone got any images shot at 600mm with this lens that they can post here?
Allan
 
Lez325 said:
I use one its sharp enough at the 600mm end- around f8 is the sweet spot I find on mine
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Slightly off topic, but since you're using one on A-Mount I was wondering if you had compared it to the Sony 70-400 G (with cropping)?

I use the A900, and am wavering between the Sony and Tamron :)
 
Faldrax said:
Slightly off topic, but since you're using one on A-Mount I was wondering if you had compared it to the Sony 70-400 G (with cropping)?

I use the A900, and am wavering between the Sony and Tamron :)
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That's not a lens I have tested it is far more expensive that the Tamron too - I did test it against a Sony 100-300 mm and the IQ is 100% better

Les
 
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