New TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011 - Tests.

Coastalconn

@Golf, lol, I am certainly the type that doesn't blame my gear:)

jjb930

Excellent news everybody. My lens arrived this afternoon!! I went into the backyard and snapped a few pics with my D800.

First impressions are that the D800 + Tamron 150-600 combo feels quite heavy (far heavier than anything I've ever handheld). That being said, the lens is very solid and well built. The autofocus seemed very snappy/responsive and I did not have any issues with focus hunting (I even tried by using the shadows in the backyard).

I won't be able to do extensive testing until this weekend, but I will share my results and impressions after I get some time with it.

Happy shooting!

Photobug

Today I was at a local Tamron event and FINALLY got to touch, feel, and shoot a Tamron 150-600mm lens. The bad news, the Tamron representative only had a Canon mount so I was shooting with a Canon 5D.

I really liked the feel of the new lens. It's certainly seems to be heavier than my 200-500mm that I recently sold. As a few others have said this one belongs on a mono pod or tripod. I liked what saw today.

Over the past two years I have built a good reputation with the local Tamron representative and he told me that Tamron got caught with a low forecast for this lens and within the next two months the output will be doubled on both Canon and Nikon lens. They are expanding the plant capacity. The tech representatives still can't believe the price is $1069 and had expected something in the $1600 to $1800 range.

The local camera dealer does not have this lens to show a customer. They are taking deposit and every Nikon and Canon lens that comes in is sold. The dealer has 24 on back order, 8 from their west side store. I talked to a Canon user who has been waiting one month and the store is telling him expect his lens in October. They are telling the Nikon shooters to expect September for delivery. Tamron won't commit to a delivery date on any lens and their story is that the capacity has been doubled.

Coastalconn

I really like mine a lot! It is all I use for my Osprey.. I put up a bit of a review on DPR.. http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/54061583

There are a few wide open samples there. I would highly recommend it for the bang for the buck factor..

jjb930

I'm pretty happy with the lens so far. I've been pretty bogged down with work (primarily working weekends where I get most of my shooting done), so I haven't got as much time in with it as I wanted. However, I think my technique is improving and I am starting to get more keepers.

Handheld @ 500mm, 1/320s, f8, iso 800

jjb930

Got some time with the lens tonight.

Handheld @ 550mm, 1/800s, f8, iso 1000:


Handheld @ 550mm, 1/800s, f8, iso 1250:

Wuwho

There is one for sale right now on Amazon via Norman Camera & Video for $1069

Photobug

@Wuwho, FYI the going price for the Tamron 150-600 is $1069; check out B&H, Abes, and Adorama in NYC. Even my local dealer sells them at $1069. I hate it when stores list the MSRP or a false price and claim its on sale. But then most people buying at this price point know the going price.

Wuwho

I should probably edit my previous post, it looks like the lens that Norman Camera and Video sold for 1069 and amazon is just putting the next available lens up.

Rmologic

Hi all and thinks for taking your time to share your wisdom. Would any of you believe that this lens would even work on a D3200 in good light much less mediocre light ? I do like to shoot small birds whom appreciate there personal space!. TIA. R

Photobug

Hi all and thinks for taking your time to share your wisdom. Would any of you believe that this lens would even work on a D3200 in good light much less mediocre light ? I do like to shoot small birds whom appreciate there personal space!. TIA. R

Yes this fine Tamron lens would work on your D3200. The good news is that this lens has a USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) motor built into the lens. The D3200 does not have a built in AF motor so the lens will AF for you. If the lens did not have a built in motor, you would have had to manually focus the lens - not a good thing for BIF.

Having owned the previous model, 200-500mm, my recommendation is that once you mount the lens on the body you hold it by holding onto the lens, not the camera body. The best place to hold and support the lens when shooting or carrying is to hold onto that lovely large tripod/shoe mount on the bottom of the lens. It's big enough to wrap your hand around. That will reduce the stress on the body mount.

Watch your shutter speed when hand holding this lens, remember to use the reciprocal of the zoom length; i.e. if you at 300mm, your minimum shutter speed should be 1/300; 500mm calls for 1/500. Faster is always better. So adjust your aperture or ISO to keep your shutter speed above the zoom length. The other advantage is that this lens has VC (Vibration Compensation) which is Tamron's proprietary image stabilization system.

The majority of the time I used my 200-500mm on a tripod for sharp pictures but was able to get sharp ones hand held when I used higher shutter speeds and put my elbow down against my hip/stomach.

The meter system in the D3200 will work fine with this lens, so don't worry. Using this lens gives you the equivalent of a 225-900mm lens on your D3200 so it should work great for BIF. The new lens is really good and there are some BIF posted in PAD for July and maybe early August.

Rmologic

Thanks Photobug. I appreciate the quick response. The camera can take great pictures when I don't F up! But the decidedly consumer grade limited functions make me hesitant to assume that it will work with anything other that generic Company products. Thanks much, I am sooooo envious of Costalconn's pics hh at 600mm That I cannot come close to with tripod and a 300mm. Much work to do!!. Cheers. R

Photobug

@Rmologic - you are welcome. The nice thing about buying good glass is that when you move up to a better camera you have that lens that will work on it.

Coastalconn

@rmologic... Thanks It just takes a lot of patience, perseverance, settings, light and sometimes some good ol' luck. On the D3200, use auto-iso and exposure compensation in aperture mode. Set minimum shutter speed to 1/1000th or more depending on light/subject. I shoot in manual mode with auto-iso, but I don't think there is an easy way to change exposure compensation on the D3200 if you are in manual mode.. Hope that helps a little...

Rmologic

+1 Costalconn. Thanks actually I don't think I can even use auto ISO in Manual at all, at least I have not found out how to yet. And Yes changing Exp comp is a big pain in M & P but with the +- button is piece of cake in A & S. Just one of the reasons I am looking at a 7100 as a upgrade [-O<. Focus motor, Metal lens mount, bigger Grip, front wheel, Better auto ISO functionality. I usually have to decided am I shooting up or down and set a Exp comp to suit and hope for the best.
I am in awe of your crisp shots at such long mm. =D>^:)^
I am still sucking with a 300mm. ( Thanks for all the tips and keep those shots coming. Btw that last Pad with the blood drops! =D> Cheers!

Photobug

@Coastalconn - as I said on your Flickr account...keep taking photos like that and I am going to have to cave in and buy that lens. :-))

EiTaro

Déjà vu Sigma 150-600mm. I've placed an order on Tamron since it's announcement and I have not received it yet. Let's hope that the demand for a super telephoto zoom is covered by Tamron and Sigma's version will be available in reasonable time. Bless you Tamron...

Photobug

I wondered how long it would before Sigma redesigned the 150-500mm lens. According to the main blog they have two new 150-600mm lens...one for sports and one for general photography. No pricing yet but my hunch is that the Sport model will be more than the Tamron 150-600mm. Now lets see how the DxO ratings are.

jjb930

The Adorama pre-order link suggested $1999 for the Sigma 150-600mm sports edition. The MTF charts posted earlier this week suggests the Sigma will be sharper, but I am never a fan of those charts (e.g., optimal conditions). I want to see real world performance.

Also, as an owner of the Tamron 150-600, I typically use AUTO-ISO up to 1600 to get acceptable BIF shutter speeds (depending on lighting conditions, obviously). As the new sigma will also be in the f/6.3 range 500+mm, I don't know whether the potential sharpness differences will be as obvious.

Photobug

Bringing this forum alive from April. Our friend Ken Rockwell has reviewed the Tamron 150-600mm. Here is the link:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tamron/150-600mm.htm
Good review. He makes a good point about the plastic body and it lasting 10 years. I was not aware of how much air movement it makes during zooming. Users or buyers should watch their sensor for dirt. Just remember he KR tends to over exaggerate once in a while so read his review carefully.

Coastalconn

Phew, I almost thought the apocalypse was upon us! I agreed with everything that KR wrote... Luckily I made it through to the part about always keeping a filter on it. Phew, something I disagree with LOL.

I've had mine since May as you know, probably taken 80-90K clicks with it. Still going strong, except for the occasional focus delay glitch.. I'm guessing mine might have more use than just about any out there, lol..

heartyfisher

@Coastalconn : KR should pay you for endorsing his review .. I wouldn’t have read it if not for you !

Coastalconn

@heartyfisher, LOL. I found another thing I disagree with. The Sigma 150-500 is not sharper than the Tammy. Besides photobug made me read it....

sevencrossing

I have a friend who is mad keen on motorcycle road racing
he is not a photographer, he simply want a record of the riders and the event, for his own use
He currently uses a P&S and heavily crops
Needless to say the results are often out of focus and blurred
but they do provide him with a personal record of the race
he looking to upgrade his P&S
I have suggest a D4s and 600m f 4 but this exceeds his budget by a factor of about 20
The TAMRON SP 150-600mm plus something like the D5300 would seems a good choice but I suspect even this might also blow his budget
any suggestions ?

heartyfisher

Nikon1 v3 70-300