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

Guessing they holding back nikon to fix the issue prior to shipping after the canon issues?
 
It's a good policy to look after the important customer's :woot:
 
Phil Young said:
So wait...

You were happy with the AF, got it checked anyway and they dertermined it had a fault??
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:withstupid: How does that compute?

The Tamron AF? Even faulty, it's good!
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sthwild said:
So far Tamron told me that they're dealing with big amount of returns. I can't imagine them not addressing the issue officially.
I'm in Birmingham now on the show and people are trying 150-600mm at the Tamron stand. I can hear lots of complaining about hunting AF...
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Sounds like it could be embarrassing for Tamron, I hope it can be sorted as this could be a great lens.
 
sthwild said:
So far Tamron told me that they're dealing with big amount of returns. I can't imagine them not addressing the issue officially.
I'm in Birmingham now on the show and people are trying 150-600mm at the Tamron stand. I can hear lots of complaining about hunting AF...
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there possibly winding it to 600mm and wondering why it doesnt want to focus well in crappy trade show light ?
 
Well I tried it at the nec, thought the AF was fine even in crap light, iso 2500 on a 60D body, not too shabby handheld at 600mm either, maybe they picked a good copy for the show, £949 was tempting
 
Mad Badger said:
Well I tried it at the nec, thought the AF was fine even in crap light, iso 2500 on a 60D body, not too shabby handheld at 600mm either, maybe they picked a good copy for the show, £949 was tempting
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Any special deals on this lens at any of the dealers? Were they available from Tamron directly?
 
Mad Badger said:
Well I tried it at the nec, thought the AF was fine even in crap light, iso 2500 on a 60D body, not too shabby handheld at 600mm either, maybe they picked a good copy for the show, £949 was tempting
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My guess is that there's nothing wrong with this lens. But, it's f/6.3 and that is above the AF f/5.6 threshold for most DSLRs, so it's bound to struggle in some conditions.

The 150-600's focusing mech is actually very fast, but AF is a game of two halves. The lens can only respond to instructions from the camera, and the camera only has data delivered by the lens to work with. When they're both working well together, ie with the AF point properly nailed to a nice contrasty subject, no problem - it will lock focus and hold it. But that's not always easy, and there's a lot of operator technique, camera set-up, and practise needed to get the best out of any super-telephoto.
 
HoppyUK said:
My guess is that there's nothing wrong with this lens. But, it's f/6.3 and that is above the AF f/5.6 threshold for most DSLRs, so it's bound to struggle in some conditions.

The 150-600's focusing mech is actually very fast, but AF is a game of two halves. The lens can only respond to instructions from the camera, and the camera only has data delivered by the lens to work with. When they're both working well together, ie with the AF point properly nailed to a nice contrasty subject, no problem - it will lock focus and hold it. But that's not always easy, and there's a lot of operator technique, camera set-up, and practise needed to get the best out of any super-telephoto.
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That makes sense. It must be frustrating for a manufacturer to come up this something that's ****-hot technically but they get complaints because users have problems of their own making. A long tele zoom is a pretty specialised piece of equipment.
 
Hoppy I totally agree - I've owned a Sigma 150-500, which is f/6.3 at the long end and it struggles on grey UK days, I've also owned a Canon 600mm f/4 - that locked on fast & stayed locked - but it's 6 times the price of the Tamron.

There's a huge learning curve with a long lens - I was pointing the Tamron at high contrast targets and it performed fine for a lens under a grand.
 
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Just to reinforce the point, it's no coincidence that neither Canon nor Nikon makes a lens with a max aperture smaller than f/5.6. The f/6.3 Tamrons and Sigmas have to trick the camera into thinking they're really f/5.6 or the camera wouldn't focus at all and simply switch out. But that doesn't change the fact that the actual aperture is still f/6.3...

I think this new Tamron is a great lens, especially for the money, but it can't work miracles. For anyone interested, my review with MTF sharpness graphs and AF servo-tracking shots are in the next edition of Digital SLR Photography mag, April-dated I think.
 
but how big was the high contrast targets ?and how fast were they moving? i agree that there is a huge learning curve with a long lens ,i would like to see this lens in the hands of people that do a lot of bif regular
 
The target was pretty small, and no it wasn't a BIF at the NEC - agree, we need to see some shots taken in the field, off for a quick google.
 
I'd be interested to hear from someone with a body that maintains focus to f8 and see if they experienced any problems.

I did think that could be the issue for a lot of folk though and sounds like that could be the issue Richard.
 
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Too many reports for this to be just user/camera error if you ask me.
 
I have one pre ordered for Nikon mount. Been feeling a little twitchy about it since some of the reported AF issues, so much so that I have been having an on going argument with myself about buying the 300mm f4 and a 1.7 tc instead.

Still have not made my mind up but I expect I shall just wait for my pre order in the hope issues have been resolved by the time the nikon mount is available.
 
I hope they get this lens right, it could be a very good seller for them.
 
I am keeping my Nikon 300mm f4 for now and have got a 1.4 TC on its way to me, once the lens is out for Nikon (and maybe I use one from Lenses for Hire to test) then I ca decide.

Going a bit off topic...

- neither Canon nor Nikon makes a lens with a max aperture smaller than f/5.6. The f/6.3 Tamrons and Sigmas have to trick the camera into thinking they're really f/5.6 or the camera wouldn't focus at all and simply switch out. - What does this actually mean... can anyone explain this in simple terms as I don't see why say an f8 lens couldn't AF.
- Why couldn't Tamron have made this into say an f5.6 lens rather than f6.3 at 600mm - what would be involved in that?
 
making it much bigger and heavier, quick look and the nikon 600mm old manual model has 122mm front element and weighs 2700g
cannon 600mm f4 is 3900grams
and those are primes...

and expensive
 
cambsno said:
I am keeping my Nikon 300mm f4 for now and have got a 1.4 TC on its way to me, once the lens is out for Nikon (and maybe I use one from Lenses for Hire to test) then I ca decide.

Going a bit off topic...

- neither Canon nor Nikon makes a lens with a max aperture smaller than f/5.6. The f/6.3 Tamrons and Sigmas have to trick the camera into thinking they're really f/5.6 or the camera wouldn't focus at all and simply switch out.

- What does this actually mean... can anyone explain this in simple terms as I don't see why say an f8 lens couldn't AF.
- Why couldn't Tamron have made this into say an f5.6 lens rather than f6.3 at 600mm - what would be involved in that?
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Phase-detect AF works by comparing images from either side of the lens. The further apart they are, defined by the f/number, the more different they are when out of focus, and this differential makes AF easier - more accurate and faster. When they're too close together, the two sides look very similar and the AF struggles to see much difference, so it gets slower and more hesitant, sometimes failing altogether if the target hasn't got sufficient contrast to lock on to.

If the Tamron was f/5.6 rather than f/6.3 at 600mm, it would be much heavier, more expensive, and not as sharp.
 
I've just taken delivery of one, bought from South Africa and have to say, based on the brief tests I've done..... it's an awesome lens! The focus is much much faster than on either of my Canon 100-400mm lenses. The trick I've been practicing with is pre focus at say 400mm, zoom the rest of the way and re-focus and so far (touch wood) this seems to ensure a sharp and accurate focus on the subject... even worked on a dull grey bird in shadows.... photos to follow!
 
jerry12953 said:
That makes sense. It must be frustrating for a manufacturer to come up this something that's ****-hot technically but they get complaints because users have problems of their own making. A long tele zoom is a pretty specialised piece of equipment.
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Why did tamron choose to demonstrate this lens on a camera that couldn't focus it at the long end? I tried focussing at c.300mm and it was fine, but at 600mm, no chance. Be aware of the limitation on this lens, if you can live with it then fine but it is a budget lens.
 
BBR said:
Why did tamron choose to demonstrate this lens on a camera that couldn't focus it at the long end? I tried focussing at c.300mm and it was fine, but at 600mm, no chance. Be aware of the limitation on this lens, if you can live with it then fine but it is a budget lens.
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Not sure I get your drift.........
 
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i was compairing it to some lenses that are faster and same max focal length, just that 1 stop would really add alot of weight, size, and cost :) :(
 
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