Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD lens

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valb

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I have been considering buying this lens for some while but I am in two minds whether my money would be better spent on buying this or a second hand Canon 24-70 Mark 1. Yes the Canon would be older, heavier, more expensive and not have VC BUT it is a Canon L series lens! Would the Canon be much sharper and with better IQ?

I would really value the opinion of members who have owned and used the Tamron for a while on its strengths and weaknesses. If you have owned and used both your observations on the relative merits of the two would be invaluable.

At the moment I would use the lens on both my 7D and 6D but I shall be selling the 7D later this year with a view to buying a 5D Mark 3.

Many thanks.
 
Have a look on DXOmark Val, the tamron compares very favourably to the mk2 canon L lens so I suspect it will at least match the mk1.
 
I don't envy your decision. I spent weeks deciding between the Tamron and Nikon lenses. It's a tough call. Both get excellent reviews but both had well documented problems (Tamron=aperture, Nikon=stiff zoom ring). There were a couple of features a about the Tamron which put me off. First, it takes 82mm filters so for me this meant the added cost of a new polarising filter. Second, it's physically shortest at 24mm and extends towards 70mm. This means that the lens hood is only really effective at 24mm. The Nikon (and Canon) are both physically longest at 24mm and shortest at 70mm. This makes the lens hood effective over the whole zoom range. I'm not knocking the Tamron in any way. I came very close to buying one but in the end I went with the Nikon.
 
I should add that if you use your camera to shoot video the VC on the Tamron will come in very handy. Good luck choosing. I suspect you won't go far wrong whichever way you decide.
 
Brazo said:
Have a look on DXOmark Val, the tamron compares very favourably to the mk2 canon L lens so I suspect it will at least match the mk1.
Click to expand...

Not sure I fully understand the DXOmark but I will certainly have a look.
 
White Rose said:
I don't envy your decision. I spent weeks deciding between the Tamron and Nikon lenses. It's a tough call. Both get excellent reviews but both had well documented problems (Tamron=aperture, Nikon=stiff zoom ring). There were a couple of features a about the Tamron which put me off. First, it takes 82mm filters so for me this meant the added cost of a new polarising filter. Second, it's physically shortest at 24mm and extends towards 70mm. This means that the lens hood is only really effective at 24mm. The Nikon (and Canon) are both physically longest at 24mm and shortest at 70mm. This makes the lens hood effective over the whole zoom range. I'm not knocking the Tamron in any way. I came very close to buying one but in the end I went with the Nikon.
Click to expand...

Not too concerned about filter size - I rarely use a CPL anyway. Interesting comment re lens hood. Are you saying that this would make the Tamron more prone to flare? I have missed the comments re Tamron aperture problems - can you summarise the problem for me please to save me trying to find it?
 
If you compare the size of the lens hood on the Tamron to the Canon you'll notice that the Canon one is much bigger. This is because the lens is one of a tiny minority which get physically shorter as the focal length gets longer. Almost all other zoom lens work the opposite way i.e. physical length gets bigger as focal length increases. The advantage of the 1st method is that the lens hood can be much larger and be effective across the whole zoom range. On most zoom lenses the hood is only really effective at the shortest focal length. If you look at the review of the Canon lens on Photozone.de they've got pictures of the lens which will explain things better than my clumsy attempts.

Re the Tamron aperture problem. Some early samples were reported as having inaccurate aperture settings around f4. I believe it was related to the adjustment of the aperture lever on the lens. It was quite well documented in reviews and forums at the time. I've not read anything about it recently and frankly I'd be amazed if it hasn't been resolved by now. To be honest I had decided not to worry about it. The fact that the choice (for me at least) boiled down to minor things like filter size and lens hoods gave me confidence that I wouldn't make a bad choice whichever way I went.
 
Val, I used to own an old Canon 28-70mm f/2.8 which was one of the sharpest lenses ever in my hands. I recently bought Tamron 24-70mm and I must say it's at least as sharp as Canon. Haven't got any images to compare as Canon has been sold long time ago. The only thing you'll have to live with is this:

View attachment 4602

Bokeh cropped from the night portrait taken wide open.
 
sthwild said:
Val, I used to own an old Canon 28-70mm f/2.8 which was one of the sharpest lenses ever in my hands. I recently bought Tamron 24-70mm and I must say it's at least as sharp as Canon. Haven't got any images to compare as Canon has been sold long time ago. The only thing you'll have to live with is this:

View attachment 4602

Bokeh cropped from the night portrait taken wide open.
Click to expand...

The dreaded onion ring effect I've read about. Thanks for sight of this.
 
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