Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC NIK

Thunderbird010

Thunderbird010

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Andy
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Im looking at replacing the kit lens for my Nikon D3100 and im looking at the above as I could use it as an everyday lens due.

Just wondered if anyone has this lens and what they think of it or if anyone has any alternatives that they can recommend.
 
I used to have the self same lens. I sold it because it used to drive me nuts! Optically its not too bad at all and it seems to be a convenient way of having two lenses in one.......
BUT! the focussing system is crap in anything other than very good light. If you want to use it indoors or at times when the light is not so good then you'll struggle. The lens will eventually focus lock but it can take literally 5 or 6 seconds of the lens hunting back and forth....fine if you are taking a pic of a static subject but if its of anything thats moving....well, you've just missed the shot!
Its also prone to zoom creep and whilst there is a small plastic mechanical zoom lock button, half the time you forget to put it on and the other half you forget that its on and cant zoom the bloody lens!
Many on here say to get two shorter range lenses and I used to disagree....that is until I got this lens.....now I have seen the light and would never go back to a super zoom.
EDIT: Another point is, for me anyway, the amount of times the lens was over the 55mm focal length were few and far between. I pretty much know when I'll need the longer reach of my other zoom now so there is no real inconvenience for me to have two lenses.
Neil
 
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Thanks Neil, the more reviews I read the more it puts me off especially for £370.00.

What lens did you replace it with im considering the Nikon AF-S 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 ED VR now instead
 
I bought a couple of Nikon lenses off ebay, second-hand; 18-70mm and the 70-300VR. Both are way better in all aspects than the 18-270mm. I paid £300 for the longer one and £115 for the 18-70mm. The 70-300mm now go for around £260.
 
or look at a second hand Nikon 18-200 VR, as a walk about lens option.
 
I'm going to throw the spanner in the works...
I read a review on this lens when I owned a Canon 450D.
Stuart from Digital Depot brought a Nikon fit version along to one of our meets and I had a good play with it.
I bought one and for the price, I loved it but the AF and and VC are slower than the likes of a Canon 70-300 IS.
If you plan to use the lens outdoors as a walk about with general good light it worth the money.

As to low light, well this is obvious as nothing less than f/2.8 is worth it in my opinion.
I love my Canon 70-200L IS f/4 but in low light it struggles.
I am trying to sell mine so I can buy a Sigma Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS.
Again with f/5 I will expect it to struggle in low light I am not bothered because I will only shoot with good natural lighting.

As far as all round budget walk around lenses go, you can do much worse than this lens.
 
I bought the lens as a replacement, originally, for two Nikon kit lenses. To me the idea of a walkabout lens is one that can be used as a general purpose lens for taking various different types of photograph.
Most people who are looking at buying this will not be having a separate lens for shooting indoors, so to my mind anyway, it ought to be capable of focusing indoors with no problems......and it doesn't. Sure if you are only going to be taking photos on sunny days outside, then yes its fine. Most people who own this lens though will not be doing just outside shots. Even with the focus assist on my SB-900 this lens really struggled indoors, even wide open at 18mm.
I agree that an f/2.8 is going to give far better results but then we're not comparing like for like; both in price and in ability.

Neil
 
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