Camera Labs

[Thomas]

I know that Tamron is a smaller 3rd party lens manufacturer than Sigma, but perhaps there is a lot of interest out there.
Just complete the poll to give the editor of Camera Labs an idea of where your interest lies.
Watch out though, the AF18-200mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD IF has already been tested here: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Tamron18200mm/
_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D300+assorted lenses

[stumpjumper]

Can't work the poll ! review the 28-75mm2.8di macro and the17-50di11 please

[ettlz]

As there are only six votes so far... how about the Tamron AF 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di II LD (possibly vs. the Sigma lens of the same spec)?

[___]

New Tamron 18-250 is not mentioned in the poll.

17-50 should definetely be tested with the EOS 400D. I have one big problem with your camera tests: When you test a new body you frequently test it with a very cheap kit lens and, therefore, you cannot reasonably compare different bodies (because some bodies from with rather good kit lenses, e.g., the Oly bodies). You should separate bodies from lenses. Each body should be tested with a decent lens. You should not assume that every purchaser of a cheap "entry level DSLR" has a tight budget and cannot afford a decent lens. Some people pick entry level DSLRs because of the size & weight. Thx.

[Thomas]

Just added the new lens.
In Gordons reviews I never found it a problem to separate the quality of the kit lens from the quality of the body.
_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D300+assorted lenses

[___]

I do. Look at this:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/OlympusE510/outdoor_results.shtml

The Oly body looks sharp:



And the Canon body looks like cr*p



But this is just because of the very bad kit lens. Basically, these photos say nothing about the bodies.

Another suggestion: You frequently perform innovative tests. How about creating a dynamic range test? Allegedly, lack of dynamic range is the biggest weakness of the new Oly 10MP sensors. The review does not say much about this issue: "We'd say it's pretty close, although the 400D / XTi sample hasn't blown its highlights as much on the mountain ridge." Please take this as constructive critiscm. I do like a lot about this site. Otherwise I would not even post here.

EDITED: I appreciate the new 17-40 L review mentioning that "the biggest difference can be seen in the final row of crops. Here the EF-S 18-55mm sample is quite soft in comparison, losing the finest detail in the branches and foliage."

400D with 17-40



400D with kit lens

[Thomas]

Well, to quench at least some of your thirst for information and before Gordon does the ultimate test of some of these lenses, here is a collection of links to some lab-tests of Tamron lenses:
- 11-18mm (my own review is here)
- 14mm
- 17-50mm
- 18-200mm, an alternative review is here
- 18-250mm
- 28-75mm
- 90mm macro
- 180mm macro
- 200-500mm (my own review is there)
- 500mm mirror-lens (my own take on this lens/mirror is here)
_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D300+assorted lenses

[Gordon Laing]

Hi ___, I stand by our approach of testing entry-level DSLRs with kit lenses because the fact is that's what most people will be using them with. I travel a fair amount and live in a big tourist destination, so I'm always seeing people with DSLRs and virtually every single one of them uses the kit lens. Sure, that's anecdotal, but figures from the manufacturers back it up.

I'm aware that testing the body with its kit lens is a review of that particular system as a whole and not of the body alone, but I think I make that clear in the review. We also occassionally test bodies with fixed focal length lenses - see our 10 Megapixel group test.

There are of course exceptions: photographers who switch to a better lens sooner rather than later, and I salute every one of you! That's why we also test bodies with other lenses to show what they can do, and unlike most sites, additionally perform group tests. In our Canon and Nikon lens upgrade group tests for example we've illustrated the benefits of upgrading from the kit lens.

As for dynamic range, it's something we're considering, but there's only so many tests we can perform if we want to publish a reasonable number of reviews per year - and to publish them in a timely fashion. You have to draw the line somewhere, and we already do a number of real-life comparative noise and resolution tests which are very time consuming.

I'd also like the reviews to remain readable, easily navigable, and crucially to deliver a set of results and information which you won't find on every other site. With industry standard charts, there's inevitably going to be some overlap, but we hope to offer some unique content here!

Gordon

[1exotic]

Is the tamron 18-200/18-250/18-300 a good lens?

I want to upgrade i only have a 18-55 and a 75-300 lens

Does this lens take good sharp picture's? better then the kit ones i own..

ill be buying them from the internet so money will not be a problem, can anyone recommend any other lenses for me?

I photography cars "Automotive Photography" so i want to colour to stand out alot, doesn't have to be perfect just good.

thanks.
_________________
Canon Rebel XTi

[Thomas]

[Frost]

The 18-250 Tamron lens I tired did not stack up against my older 28-200 XR lens. However, the latest lens, the Tamron 28-300 VC seems to have a great potential. It is a lens for shooting lower ISO and slower shutter speed and still making the grade. My thought of image quality of it, so far, is pretty darn good. Holding and using it, felt solid and appealing. I just didn't have the cash at the moment, nor the test results back.
I loved the way it gave crisp, almost 3D view of the word "NIKON" in a test photo.

Perhaps someday it could be on your sites lineup of test.
_________________
Cheers!
Vern
http://vernsdidj.com Didgeridoo info and other pictures and links.

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
(Jn 8:23)

"I started out in life with nothing....and I've managed to keep most of it!"

[SCREAMnSHOUT]

I was scrolling through Tamron's website today, looking at their lenses. Found many that were so similar to Sony's (or the other way round, perhaps)

Suddenly remembered that Gordon mentioned, in his review of the Sony DT 11-18mm, that the Tamron one and the Sony one were identical.

Heard elsewhere that it was because Sony owns shares in Tamron..

Because of that, I didn't vote for the 11-18mm.

Was thinking of 14mm or 180mm macro, but voted for 90mm macro since I already didn't vote for the ultra-wide angle and 90mm seemed capable for 'normal' event applications, i.e. closer range. 180mm seemed a little too long.

Oops too long a post =x

SnS
_________________
.: DT 18-70mm :: 75-300mm :: Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 :: SLIK Pro 330DX :. inactive member



"Life is beautiful - Capture it with Alpha" (From Bjorn van Sinttruije)

my flickr

[Frost]

If that be the case, that Sony owns shares in Tamron or have a "connection" it might work out to their interest to have Tamron build their lenses, and Sony build the "guts" the camera part to capture images. After all, cameras used to be light tight boxes, that advanced film and held it to a flat plane, and controlled the shutter(sometimes), AND was a mount for a lens. Some cameras had a lens with the shutter built into it. Basically it was a box for holding film.

Now, with digital, it's a computer with imaging capabilities. How well it can collect an image on a sensor, and translate that image through
sharpening, enhancemetns, noise, etc is all in the programming of that particular computer.....er camera. Digital camera with large image collectors like the D3 and Canon Full Frame, have a lot of advantages to start with.
_________________
Cheers!
Vern
http://vernsdidj.com Didgeridoo info and other pictures and links.

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
(Jn 8:23)

"I started out in life with nothing....and I've managed to keep most of it!"