Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)

07/09/2004 01:03:47 AM · #1

Hey folks!

Got the Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) today and OMG! It is awesome!!! It's like having a totally different camera. I have never seen such clarity from a digital camera until today. This is awesome!!! I highly recommend this lens!!! :o)

Here are a few pictures I took today with it:

I just have to say it again, "WOW!!!".

Also, let me know what you think of the pics. :o)

Message edited by author 2004-07-09 09:21:14.

07/11/2004 12:35:27 AM · #2

Took this one today with the new lens. Still lov'in it!

d14

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

07/11/2004 12:42:34 AM · #3

What were you using before? I've been trying to decide what to get myself. I'm currently using cheap sigma glass and haven't been too overly happy with it.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/11/2004 02:04:57 AM · #4

Previously I was using the DR kit lens: $100 lens, not a great lens but was a good lens to start with for the DR.

I also have a Sigma 28-200mm lens which I am very happy with for a sub $200 lens. You can find a link to this lens from my profile page. It does produce nice pics and is fairly sharp.

The new Tamron however is in a class of it's own. No only because of the 2.8 throughout but also because of the awesome sharpness and picture quality. Pictures kinda look like they come from a totally different camera all together. :o)

superdave_909

Canon EOS-60D

07/11/2004 08:00:00 AM · #5

I was thinking about getting this lens.
Kinda going back and forth between this one
and the canon 28-135 IS.

Did you do any post processing to your examples?
If so, what did you do?

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/11/2004 10:02:05 AM · #6

Wow, Bill, I'm impressed! Thanks for sharing this info.

I went looking for a similar lens from Canon and all I could find was a 24-70 f2.8 'L' that sells for over $1100!!!

This Tamron appears to be about $800 less. I'm just curious, has anyone been able to compare the two lenses? I can't afford the 'L' series lenses, but this Tamron sounds good to me.

P.S.
I have the Canon EF 75-300 IS USM lens and I gotta tell you, I love this lens! Another favorite of mine, in spite of it's very low price, is the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 II lens. Very fast lens, yet only about $70.

07/11/2004 10:44:34 AM · #7

Originally posted by superdave_909:

I was thinking about getting this lens.
Kinda going back and forth between this one
and the canon 28-135 IS.

Did you do any post processing to your examples?
If so, what did you do?

Post processing done to the example photos was as follows:
- cropped to 3.75x5.75 aspect ratio
- resized image to 300dpi @ 3.75"x5.75"
- 50% USM w/radius = 1.0 & threshold = 0
- resized canvas to 1228x1818pxl to optimize for 4x6 printing and to add 1/8th inch border to all sides
- added copyright statement using text layer
- merged all visible layers
- resized to 640pxl on the long side for upload to DPChallenge Portfolio

I use some level of USM on every shot. These were the sharpest images I have ever seen come directly out of my camera. My camera seems to be metering better and exposure seems to be better straight out of the camera with this and my Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. Maybe because of the wide aperature it uses to calculate exposure and AF? Don't know for sure.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/11/2004 10:48:33 AM · #8

Originally posted by dwterry:

Here is how they stack up on the lens test chart:

f/2.8 Wide-angle zooms Optical Quality
Canon EF 2.8 24-70mm USM L 4.16 (3) = very-good
Canon EF 2.8 28-70mm USM L 4.15 (5) = very-good
Tamron AF 2.8 28-75mm LD XR Aspherical SP 4.14 (3) = very-good
Nikkor AF 2.8 35-70mm D 4.11 (5) = very-good
Nikkor AF-S 2.8 28-70mm IF ED D 4.05 (4) = very-good
Pentax SMC-FA 2.8 28-70mm AL 3.90 (5) = very-good
Minolta AF 2.8 28-70mm G 3.76 (4) = very-good
Tokina AF 2.8 28-80mm AT-X Pro 3.66 (4) = good
Canon EF 2.8-4.0 28-80mm USM L 3.56 (4) = good
Sigma AF 2.8 28-70mm EX DF 3.50 (2) = good
Tokina AF 2.6-2.8 28-70mm AT-X Pro II 3.42 (5) = good
Sigma AF 2.8 24-70mm EX DF DG 3.40 (3) = good
Sigma AF 2.8-4 28-70mm HS 3.05 (2) = average
Tokina AF 2.8 28-70mm AT-X Pro SV 3.12 (2) = average
Tamron SP AF 2.8 28-105mm LD (IF) 2.93 (5) = average
Sigma AF 2.8-4 28-105mm Aspherical 2.48 (5) = sub-average
Generic AF 2.8-3.8 28-105mm 2.18 (5) = poor

The full chart of lens ratings can be found HERE.

Message edited by author 2004-07-11 16:58:47.

superdave_909

Canon EOS-60D

07/11/2004 01:26:49 PM · #9

hey thanks for the info!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/11/2004 05:04:20 PM · #10

Originally posted by superdave_909:

hey thanks for the info!

No problem. Let me know if you get the lens and how you like it. I'm sure you will love it just as much as I do. I think these will be my next 2 purchases:

Canon EF 4.0 70-200mm USM L 4.17 (3) = very-good

Sigma AF 2.8-4 17-35mm EX (HSM) 3.02 (3) = average
OR
Tamron SP AF 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical (IF) (Not yet on the list but I have read really good things about this lens in photography magazines)

Message edited by author 2004-07-11 17:04:45.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

07/12/2004 12:01:09 AM · #11

Thanks for the lens rating site. That helps a LOT!