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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 DI IF VC USD (4 Viewers)

Some decent user reviews coming from good photographers in the States - the consensus thus far is that the Tammy at 600mm is certainly better than the 100-400 + 1.4x tc (560/f8). Several folk have also stated that it is a lot better on a full frame (5D3) than on a crop Camera like the 7D. Still early days yet thought :eat:
 
One of the first tests in the UK, I think!

For the length and cost it holds well compared to:
Nikon D5200 + 50-500mm OS (very sharp copy, compared well to the 120-300mm sport + 2x DG)
Nikon D800e + Sigma 500mm + Kenko 1.4x (very sharp copy, as sharp as the Nikon 500mm VR I sold after I bought the Sigma)

Considering that the 7D is the weakest camera from the three and most people say that it is much better on the 70D and the 5DIII, I have great expectations with those cameras and the Nikon sensors (when the Nikon version is released).

The stabilization is good and the AF is fast and locks easily even in the terrible light we have today

Overall very happy for the price and even considering getting a 70D to play with it until the Nikon version is released.

Comparison shots here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/12011366395/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/12012186796/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/12011661103/
 
Good comparison shots Micloi! How far away were the shots taken? Nice to see that the 150-600mm holds up well against the prime. Have you tried shots from a longer distance?
 
Hor Kee said:
Good comparison shots Micloi! How far away were the shots taken? Nice to see that the 150-600mm holds up well against the prime. Have you tried shots from a longer distance?
Click to expand...

Maybe 7-8 meters away.
Light is not good enough for distant shots, will wait for a sunny day
 
The alarm is around 45 meters from my house
All are approximately 100% crops
The 1DS3 shot had to be upscaled to match the other two
The Tamron was downsized slightly (10%)

Comparison of:
D800e and Nikon 600mm VR at f4
Canon 1DS3 and 500mm f4 IS MK1 at f4
7D and Tamron 150-600mm at 600mm f7.1

Tamron EXIF: f7.1, ISO500, 1/100sec, Handheld

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/12013648755/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/12013649005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/12013648925/
 
just been through whats been taken and shown by mic ,and knowing from a visit how far away that alarm is in a real life situation .the performance is stunning .its holding its own admirably with good contrast against two lenses that each cost over 4 grand more .the bird shots i,m particularly impressed with for feather detail .gonna have to do some wheeling and dealing methinks.

hopefully you can get out and test on b.i.f tomorrow mic ,looks a good day
 
Really good results. I'm just wondering on the feasibility of handholding a slow long lens in the deep shade of our rainforests here. This lens suggests that it might just be possible!
 
micloi said:
Added a few gulls, happy with the AF for BIF on the 7D:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87805817@N00/
Click to expand...

They look good to me. Are you hand holding or using a wimberley? I've not used anything larger than my 300/tc combo, other than quick goes with 100-400 and 400 f5.6 - I briefly carried a mate's 500 and decided that even if I could afford one I would never take it out - so would have to consider technique if I ever do decide to get a Tamron.

I do like the look of the shots in decent light.
 
Paul - Herts said:
They look good to me. Are you hand holding or using a wimberley? I've not used anything larger than my 300/tc combo, other than quick goes with 100-400 and 400 f5.6 - I briefly carried a mate's 500 and decided that even if I could afford one I would never take it out - so would have to consider technique if I ever do decide to get a Tamron.

I do like the look of the shots in decent light.
Click to expand...

All handheld. I used to handhold the 800mm though...
 
micloi said:
All handheld. I used to handhold the 800mm though...
Click to expand...

Blimey! I love the timing on that shot of the gull landing, perfectly caught with wings spread.

I haven't the steadiest of hands so could be on a hiding to nothing. Would do better on a tripod with slow moving targets methinks.
 
I read that report on TP and am not fully convinced there is a AF problem although he maybe right - first off he talks about using all focus points!!! and also that the white swan was filling the frame (so almost no contrast maybe) same applies to the ridge tiles where there will be little contrast. At f6.3 the lens is never going to AF as good a faster lens IMHO. I guess at the end of the day if there is a AF problem then it will be fixed under guarantee.Of much more concern would be the dust issue.

I have now seen hundreds of sample shots thus far with the lens and and for the money it looks a good buy although I have get to see a single shot that has wowed me. It certainly looks better at 600/8 than the 100-400 + 1.4x tc (560/8). I await with interest a good comparison against the 400/5.6 prime + 1.4x tc.
I would like to see how it fairs at 600 f8 in good light and on a tripod (not all this handholding at 1/25 sec).
 
Last edited:
Dust doesn't surprise me that much, it was a real issue with the old 200-500, I had tons of dust with mine in the first week of use, I actually send that lens back twice in a year to be cleaned.
I guess this is to be expected in a lens with such a long zoom range that is not completely weather sealed (if that is even possible for this type of lens), the lens zoom displaces lots of air and in dusty environments it's very difficult to keep it from taking dust in.
 
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