Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 vs Sony DT 18-70mm f3.5/5.6

Evolutionist

Evolutionist

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Chris
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I want to get a better short zoom for my Sony A200. I assume that the Tamron would outperform the Sony kit lens. Does anybody have experience of this particular combination and can advise how much better (if any) the Tamron is?

Thanks
Chris
 
Hi

I can't give specific advice on the Sony/Tamron combination, but I can give you some advice on the Tamron 17-50 2.8...whatever you do...do NOT buy the VC version.

It's awful. The softest lens I've ever owned...
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
whatever you do...do NOT buy the VC version.
Click to expand...

You can't get the VC version on the sony anyway, cos of the in build stabilisation :D


As for the Sony vs the Tamron:
The tamron is about a million times sharper, much more nicely built, far better looking, much more contrast, overall a far superior lens! :)
Also, don't worry about losing the extra reach. You get better results cropping the Tamron @ 50mm than you get shooting at 70mm with the sony.

Go for the Tamron, you really won't regret it :)
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Hi

I can't give specific advice on the Sony/Tamron combination, but I can give you some advice on the Tamron 17-50 2.8...whatever you do...do NOT buy the VC version.

It's awful. The softest lens I've ever owned...
Click to expand...

As pointed out the Sony has built in VC. In fact it seems a bit of waste of money on such a short focal length lens and sensors having usable ASA ratings of 800 or better and having a maximum aperture of f2.8. Seems rather like gilding the lilly! :D
 
joesmith said:
You can't get the VC version on the sony anyway, cos of the in build stabilisation :D


As for the Sony vs the Tamron:
The tamron is about a million times sharper, much more nicely built, far better looking, much more contrast, overall a far superior lens! :)
Also, don't worry about losing the extra reach. You get better results cropping the Tamron @ 50mm than you get shooting at 70mm with the sony.

Go for the Tamron, you really won't regret it :)
Click to expand...
I had a look at the lens on a Canon 60D body at Jacobs in Leeds on Saturday. As you say the build quality and feel are better than the Sony, hardly surprising, but the quality of the images in terms of sharpness were so poor it rather put me off the lens. Hence the question here to see if it was me rather than the lens that was buggering things up!

Thanks for your input!
 
i agree that the sony 18-70 is a very poor performer...i upgraded to the sigma 17-70 which was light years ahead,and i now have the sigma 18-50 F/2.8 EX DC which is another fantastic performer...

southerndownsunset_6_edit.jpg



melincourtwaterfall_1.jpg


tha tamron should be equally as good :thumbs:
 
Evolutionist said:
I had a look at the lens on a Canon 60D body at Jacobs in Leeds on Saturday. As you say the build quality and feel are better than the Sony, hardly surprising, but the quality of the images in terms of sharpness were so poor it rather put me off the lens. Hence the question here to see if it was me rather than the lens that was buggering things up!

Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...

I'd guess that either you were using the VC version (as it's for the Canon body), the lens was a bad copy or you were using some seriously dodgy settings :lol:
This lens is honestly very sharp, very usable at f/2.8 throughout the range, and super sharp at f/4.
Only thing this lens isn't so sharp for is close up stuff.
 
stan the man said:
i agree that the sony 18-70 is a very poor performer...i upgraded to the sigma 17-70 which was light years ahead,and i now have the sigma 18-50 F/2.8 EX DC which is another fantastic performer...

southerndownsunset_6_edit.jpg



melincourtwaterfall_1.jpg


tha tamron should be equally as good :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Now that's the sort of feedback I was looking for! I think they had a Sony version so I'll go in next week and try that one. Thanks for making the effort :)
 
joesmith said:
I'd guess that either you were using the VC version (as it's for the Canon body), the lens was a bad copy or you were using some seriously dodgy settings :lol:
This lens is honestly very sharp, very usable at f/2.8 throughout the range, and super sharp at f/4.
Only thing this lens isn't so sharp for is close up stuff.
Click to expand...

Now it's interesting that you mention the close up aspect as I was taking shots of stuff on the counter rather than at a longer distance.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
joesmith said:
You can't get the VC version on the sony anyway, cos of the in build stabilisation :D


As for the Sony vs the Tamron:
The tamron is about a million times sharper, much more nicely built, far better looking, much more contrast, overall a far superior lens! :)
Also, don't worry about losing the extra reach. You get better results cropping the Tamron @ 50mm than you get shooting at 70mm with the sony.

Go for the Tamron, you really won't regret it :)
Click to expand...

lol my bad! :bonk:
 
I hadn't considered the Sigma 17-70. I'll have a look at that one!
 
Sigma 17-70 is a great lens but i went for the Tamron as i got a great deal from Amazon £275 new!

Here's a quick sample i took about 10 mins ago. Little PP as it was dull as dish water outside!!:D

 
Thanks Andy. I assume you are happy with your Tamron? Does it have any performance issues as far as you are concerned?
 
Evolutionist said:
Thanks Andy. I assume you are happy with your Tamron? Does it have any performance issues as far as you are concerned?
Click to expand...

Yep! VERY happy :)

The only thing i noticed on the last one was it was a tiny bit soft at f/32 but i was doing long exposure shots without filters. I should have used filters and f/11 or f/16. The AF is quick but a little noisy, they all are! It's well built and surprisingly easy hand held. I used mine in the Lake District last year and found that nearly all my hand held shots were keepers. I'm rubbish doing hand held but the Tamron was fine. It balances nice on the 500D.
 
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