Focussing issue. Lens or body?

[gatecrasher3]

I have recently purchased an EOS 40D which I am very happy with and was advised to pick up a Tamron 28-200 Aspherical lens as a general walking around lens.

It seems to provide good results but is does not appear quite as sharp as I expected. I recently listed my old camera for sale on eBay and took some photos with the Tamron using a tripod and the text around the buttons is slightly soft/blurred. I appreciate that its not a macro lens however I have just been out for a play and took some shots of my car which are ok but again not particularly crisp.

Does anyone have any experience with this body and lens combination? I appreciate that it could be my technique but I am using the AF with centre focal point so not sure what else I could try.

Any thoughts anyone please?

 

[gatecrasher3]

What an overwhelming response, thanks!

Fortunately I have found the details with some help from Google.

 

[GeForce Junky]

Post up some example pictures and we can try and work out where it is genreal lens softness or focus inaccuracy.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

What do you blame when your multi-purpose house cleaner doesn't do the job properly?

It is the same with the lens. It is 28-200mm at the cost of all the rest. All super-zooms are there to get a shot quickly and 'cheaply' at the same time.

 

[zeugma]

What do you blame when your multi-purpose house cleaner doesn't do the job properly?

It is the same with the lens. It is 28-200mm at the cost of all the rest. All super-zooms are there to get a shot quickly and 'cheaply' at the same time.

Same as:
A lens with that focal range will have to make an *extensive* series of optical compromises.
You cannot expect a £250 compromise to come without optical cost I'm afraid.

 

[gatecrasher3]

Thank you guys for the replies they are appreciated. I am hoping that this is simply the fact that it is a general multi-purpose lens as you say.

I managed to pop into Jessops and try a 55-250 Canon on my body and my 28-200 on a 7D. The 55-250 was marginally sharper but not massively and the 28-200 slightly improved.

I will post up the comparison images.

Ultimately I am think of getting a 120-400mm Sigma for motorsports but would welcome suggestions for a good quality lens to use for such as stationary car shots and general use.