Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 DI IF VC USD

Well further look at Park seems to put them ahead in the price stakes :)
 
It looks like all UK stores have put the price up on the Sigma 150-500mm, I can't find it less than £749.00 at the moment! Still with £100 cash back (in cash too) and 3 years warranty it makes for an interesting offer!
 
Cashback is good although it will take up to 2 months to get it back.

Panamoz are £569 or £541 if paying by bt.
 
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Still, £100 for full UK-basde 3-year warranty, and a warm fuzzy feeling inside for supporting UK business is a pretty good deal.
Pondering about returning my 105mm macro and getting this instead...
 
Roy C said:
I have now read about several very experienced long lens photographers who have returned their 150-600 because of a AI servo AF problems when at the long end - apparently Tamron have now confirmed they are aware of the problem and are looking into it. It seems as if it is only guys with a lot of experience in long lenses that are picking up this problem which figures I guess as they know what to expect from AI servo mode. For static shots most are saying that the lens is excellent. I really hope that Tamron can fix this problem (maybe with a firmware update). Although I have seen some reasonable BIF shots they have mostly been of slow flyers like gulls,Owls and soaring birds.

<snip>
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I spoke to Tamron's UK distributor today, Intro 2020, and they are not aware of any AF problems. There are no production or 'poor copy' issues and the only difficulty they have ATM is trying to keep up with huge global demand.
 
Roy C said:
I have now read about several very experienced long lens photographers who have returned their 150-600 because of a AI servo AF problems when at the long end - apparently Tamron have now confirmed they are aware of the problem and are looking into it. It seems as if it is only guys with a lot of experience in long lenses that are picking up this problem which figures I guess as they know what to expect from AI servo mode. For static shots most are saying that the lens is excellent. I really hope that Tamron can fix this problem (maybe with a firmware update). Although I have seen some reasonable BIF shots they have mostly been of slow flyers like gulls,Owls and soaring birds.


Here are a few quotes:-

'In AI Servo, the lens will not change focus in the 450-600mm range when I focus on something close then focus on something distant. In reverse, it will refocus. It does not matter in which position the focus-limiter is set. And the near subject I focus on is not closer than the MFD anyway. This problem occurs with both my 7D & 1D4.
It is going back to the retailer for a refund.

I'm convinced that I've got a rotten egg. I set up my blind 10 yds from my feeder where there is a downed elm tree with lots of perches for birds to land on. Took about 150 shots and they all stink. I used a monopod, shot wide open and stopped down. Kept a fast shutter speed to avoid motion blur. Sending it back.

Went out yesterday with 1DMKIII, I too have an AF problem on continuous focus. A call to Tamron service confirms they are aware of the problem
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been thinking about this lens to get the extra reach on my 1D3 as you know roy,tried out my lads 1.4 t.c on the 400mm 5.6 today and am that pleased with the results thats the way i will go ,saves a lot of hassle and gives me 560mm or 728mm once you take crop factor into it ,and hand holdable to .b.i.f no problem either .tammy now on back burner till they sort out a/f problems and bring down the cost .(that will no doubt happen)
 
Jeff, what make 1.4x are you using? Presumably you will have had to manual focus (f8) with the convertor attached?
 
Yes
Brayg01 said:
It looks like all UK stores have put the price up on the Sigma 150-500mm, I can't find it less than £749.00 at the moment! Still with £100 cash back (in cash too) and 3 years warranty it makes for an interesting offer!
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appears all moved up by £50 overnight
 
Jackwow said:
Jeff, what make 1.4x are you using? Presumably you will have had to manual focus (f8) with the convertor attached?
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no jack ,i was using my 1D mkiii with 400mm f5.6 and canon 1.4 mk iii .the 1D3 will autofocus at f8 ,below is a photo from yesterday taken with this combo hand held .the camera is still new to me so trying out different things between breaks in the weather .

s*** thats sharp by blackfox wildlife and nature imaging, on Flickr
 
Phil Young said:
That just takes the biscuit! Excellent.
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Thanks

Some interesting facts.

I took about 30 shots last night at different settings and found it difficult to choose a 'best' one, there was a very high level of consistency.

Camera was tripod mounted but I forgot to switch off the VC. Seemed to work alright with it on though.

I've taken moon shots before but am continually amazed to watch it traversing across the focus box in live view on the camera. Worked out that during the 1/125 second it took to take the picture, the moon moved to the right by about 8 metres...

I know the birders out there are very keen to see if this is a lens for them. I wouldn't know. But I do think that in combination with the 5d iii I have a very versatile package with high IQ capable of helping me make decent shots from just a few metres away or 384,000 km. It's IQ is very good I feel and it is also able to deal with creative shots too. All in all I'm quite pleased for now.
 
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Silly question perhaps... but what is the user error people are talking about (as a reason for 'poor performance')? The longest lens i have used is a 300mm on DX, so 450mm effectively. Would there be much of a learning curve? Most pics would be me panning planes anyway.
 
every movement is much more amplified, weight too, so theres a adjustment to that.
and lining up before you look through viewfinder too, its quite a jump when you put camera to your eye :)
 
Cool! Looks *really* good!
waytogo2.gif


600 mm?
 
So, a question for all the owners of this lens that have also had or used a Sigma 150-500 OS. Is the IQ from the Tamron better, worse or about the same as the Sigma. I've got a very sharp Sigma that I'm very happy with and was wondering if it's worth changing to the Tamron. I know I'd gain an extra 100mm, but is that enough to justify the outlay.
 
Wex have a tamron 150-600 refurbished with 6mth warranty for £699 right now! !
 
Just that it's refurbed by manufacturer and has 6 mth warranty. Took a screenshot on my phone and tried to attach.
 
Thanks, quite a reduction!
 
Just search for the normal 150-600 and click the used tab when looking at the canon fit one.

Edit, looks like it's gone now.
 
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cambsno said:
While they do look impressive, they also benefit from great lighting - somewhere with a nice sun, so high shutter speed probably and could well be stopped down a bit.
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.....Isn't that just the real basics being met?!

-Shoot at a time when the sun brings out a nice light.
-use a shutter speed to freeze your subject.
-stop down if you can.
 
Phil Young said:
.....Isn't that just the real basics being met?!

-Shoot at a time when the sun brings out a nice light.
-use a shutter speed to freeze your subject.
-stop down if you can.
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Sure, but its not always possible, especially in the UK. Certainly at some air shows you have no control over the time you shoot, light (or where you are in relation to it) and you may have cloudy conditions etc...
 
cambsno said:
Sure, but its not always possible, especially in the UK. Certainly at some air shows you have no control over the time you shoot, light (or where you are in relation to it) and you may have cloudy conditions etc...
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Well it's no good bringing an argument of low light into the equation since this lens is built to be used in good light.

You should buy and use the right tool for the job, not buy something then expect it to do what it's not designed for...
 
Phil Young said:
Well it's no good bringing an argument of low light into the equation since this lens is built to be used in good light.

You should buy and use the right tool for the job, not buy something then expect it to do what it's not designed for...
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There is good light and there are perfect conditions. I am sure I could take a Nikon 70-300 VR to a setting like that and great similar pics - an 18-55 in great light and at f8 will perform very well. I am not saying I should be able to go into a dark church and snap away with that with perfect results, but seeing it in some more real world situations would be great.
 
cambsno said:
There is good light and there are perfect conditions. I am sure I could take a Nikon 70-300 VR to a setting like that and great similar pics - an 18-55 in great light and at f8 will perform very well. I am not saying I should be able to go into a dark church and snap away with that with perfect results, but seeing it in some more real world situations would be great.
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A sharp lens is a sharp lens.

You're going more into body and iso performance...
 
cambsno said:
Sure, but its not always possible, especially in the UK. Certainly at some air shows you have no control over the time you shoot, light (or where you are in relation to it) and you may have cloudy conditions etc...
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Is there a lens with a similar zoom range available at the same or a lower price that would perform better under cloudy conditions etc.. ?
 
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