Tamron 70-300mm VC

c22w1

c22w1

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Chris
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I have the Tamron 70-300VC lens coupled with my canon 7D and I find the focus very hit and miss with some shots pin sharp but others way off focus, same results are obtained with my 550D.
I use single point expanded focus and the camera shows, on the recorded image that the lens has focused where I want it but that area is more often than not out of focus. Is this normal for this lens or do I have a duff copy? I bought second hand and I am now wondering if this is why it was sold in the first place.
What do other users find that are using this lens
 
Hi Chris,

I have one that I use on my 5D and I'm very happy with its AF accuracy, even in very low light!
I was expecting it to be not too good though, especially because this is a very outdated body.
I'm glad I bought it! (although I'm not sure if I'll use it often) :p

ps:I feel the zoom ring is a bit stiff and not linear, comparing to the one of my 24-105L. How's yours?
ps2: maybe I'm being unfair comparing it with an L lens. This Tamron is an incredible piece of glass for what it costs. It's just not a 70-300L IS, costing several times more. ;)
 
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I have it on a Nikon d7000 and focus is very good, I'd send it back and get anothet
 
PitaDaVespa said:
ps:I feel the zoom ring is a bit stiff and not linear, comparing to the one of my 24-105L. How's yours?
Click to expand...

The zoom ring on my copy behaves exactly as I expected it to but I don't have a L series to compare it to.

I am very tempted to sell this one and get what I can for it, then buy another as all I have heard are good things and nothing out there comes close for the money and in my budget but didn't want to do that if I am only going to get another one exactly the same.
I would love the Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS but cannot justify the spend, then there is convincing the wife that I have to have it, now that would be a challenge.
 
If you got some kind of warranty along with it (ie from a used equipment retailer) I'd return it. Otherwise I suggest contacting Tamron, they may be able to fix it for less than you'll lose by selling this one on and buying another. They might ask for one of your cameras and they may calibrate them together.

That way your conscience is also clear that you haven't sold something you believe to have issues to someone else (even if you advertise it as broken). :)

When I first used my 70-300VC (bought new) with my 7D I had a few shots that were way OOF, nothing in the scene was in focus at all. This happened during the first few days then hasn't happened again, and it's been used quite often since.
 
stu.artd said:
If you got some kind of warranty along with it (ie from a used equipment retailer) I'd return it. Otherwise I suggest contacting Tamron, they may be able to fix it for less than you'll lose by selling this one on and buying another. They might ask for one of your cameras and they may calibrate them together.

That way your conscience is also clear that you haven't sold something you believe to have issues to someone else (even if you advertise it as broken). :)

When I first used my 70-300VC (bought new) with my 7D I had a few shots that were way OOF, nothing in the scene was in focus at all. This happened during the first few days then hasn't happened again, and it's been used quite often since.
Click to expand...

x2 ;)
 
I think I have sorted my problem. I bought this lens second hand and with a jessops UV filter attached. I have been looking at the lens elements and the filter today to see if there are any smears etc. I can see nothing on the lens nor the filter, all LOOK to be crystal clear.
However having taken the filter off I decided to take a few shots without it..... Bang on focus and the majority are now just what I expected from this lens, what an amazing difference it has made.
I will have to make a mental note to myself to remove any filters I have attached to my other lenses.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
 
Chris,

A filter will always degrade the image to some point, especially the cheaper ones.

That Tamron is a great lens. I'm selling mine just because I used it maybe 5 times and I prefer to sell it to found a 17-40. Otherwise, I'd keep it. ;)
 
Yep, certainly does. I never gave it a thought that it could be the filter because some shots were in focus while others were not, and also most very soft while very few were sharp, very strange. Obviously the filter must have had some sort of effect on the focus system too but I don't know how?
I also upgraded the firmware on my camera, maybe that has also helped.
 
As far as I know, a filter has to be very good to be used on a tele, because the magnification if so big that any "imperfection" on the filter can be noted.
 
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