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

Ironheart

Nikon1 v3 70-300

+1 Perfect tool for the job

Photobug

I understand where you are coming from @Coastalconn...

Photobug

Much to my surprise I read an email from Ritzy Camera today and the 150-600 was $1089. So I checked B&H and Adorama...both at $1069 plus their special deals, 4% etc. Hope this is not a precursor to a price increase.

mustangdaren

I got my 150-600 last week and took it to the MCAS Beaufort air show to test it out on a D610. I have been to many shows using Nikon and Tokina glass and I can say I am impressed with the Tamron lens. I had the highest keeper rate of any lens I have used even under less than idea conditions. I would say my Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 is slightly sharper up to 180mm but the extra range really makes up for the little difference in sharpness. As for the VC, it is what really impressed me. I took some photos of the MV-22 Osprey at 600mm, 1/125 sec, f/11 handheld to get good prop blur and the aircraft was perfectly sharp. I repeated that with several other prop aircraft and all looked good. In my opinion, that is some of the most difficult shots at an air show. For the money it would be hard to beat this lens.

ntime60

I love my Tamron 150-600. It can't be beat for the price. Look at my flickr site and you be the judge. www.flickr.com/ntime60.

I'm getting ready to upgrade camera bodies and I can't wait to see what it does on an fx body with better iso response. I know, I'll miss some reach but better IQ wins I think.

mustangdaren

A few photos taken with the

Photobug

Got to bring this thread back. For the first time ever, Tamron has a rebate on the 150-600mm lens.
B&H and others have the $70 USD rebate. here is the specifics:
Reg. Price: $1,069.00
Mail-in Rebate: $70.00
Price After Rebate: $999.00

Wonder if the Sigma lens have slowed the sales of this fine Tamron lens. Anyway a great price reduction. Had to come back, if you buy from B&H they are also providing a 4% rewards rebate which you get in 45 days after purchase of the lens. That would cover a filter or apply to any other item.

heartyfisher

Its more likely the Nikon 200-500...

heartyfisher

I can get my hands on a mint second hand one (tam150-600) ... half the price of a new 200-500 nikon .. I have a few days to consider it ..... I have the old Tam 200-400 F5.6. ...

groan .... ...

My current thoughts...

1) I am a Dx shooter primarily but I also have a D610. The Tam150-600 IQ on FX is very good but on DX it is clearly weak. For a DX shooter the Nikkor 200-500 is the better option, due to the much better centre sharpness.

2) Upgrading my 200-400 to a 200-500 does not seem worth it. 150-600 looks better. .. but probably unwise thinking. I feel like I may be fooling myself !

3) Both tami and niki have reputed sample variation. So a second hand Tamron 150-600 may be too risky...

Pistnbroke

12 Months ago I bought a Sig 150-500 to take to the Somme Estuary in france but the Gite was so bad the wife would not stay ..we came straight home the same day.
Having tested the lens I don't think its quite there in terms of sharpness and looking at the tests flicking back from one to the other the Tamron seems the best buy ..sharper than the Nikon and only £600 ($850) Grey but in UK maker has to give you 12m warrantee.
So as soon as the sigma sells it Tamron here I come

KnockKnock

I had to google gite! Bummer!

Coastalconn

@heartyfisher I don't exactly think my Tamron images were particularly weak on the D7100, I actually thought they were pretty good. Here is a quick set of 20 images from the Tamron I put in a set. I think 2 are with a D800 and rest are with the D7100... https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastalconn/albums/72157663773565110

If you search for a site called slickdeals net, They have been posting some crazy rebates on Tamron for some reason. Lenses come from an authorized dealer via ebay. I'm not sure if the deal will pop back up, but the rebate made the Tamron $680.. If you can find the website PM me, I know we are not supposed to post direct links here.

As an example, they currently have the Tamron 24-70 for 1299 - $200 Tamron rebate - $270 Slickdeals rebate making it $829 I have 0 affiliation with the site, but you probably remember I am a bargain shopper. You could also try Greentoe as they are a broker and can generally get 20-30% off MSRP with authorized dealers...

Photobug

Coastalconn is correct...Tamron has been running some crazy rebates. The regional Tamron representative told me there sales are down due to the Nikon 200-500 F5.6 and the two new Sigma lens.

Last Winter they had a Tamron workshop here and there were 3 rebates...National rebate+Special even rebate $50 and the local dealer's $25 rebate. I think the total was $175 instant rebates.

Pistnbroke

Well I just paid £596 or $860 ..awaiting delivery will let you know how it compares to the Sig 150-500 which is on its way to Australia...aint ebay wonderful

heartyfisher

Should blow that Siggy away .. Its not one of the well regarded Sigs. When I was looking at the reviews when I was considering it as an upgrade, I think the 50-500 was much better.

heartyfisher

@Coastalconn Terribly Nice images :-) I was trying to convince myself that the IQ is not up to scratch !! :-) now I will just have to settle for "I cant afford it" ;-)

Photobug

Someone has TAS.

heartyfisher

NSXTypeR

I haven't been really following the reviews, but what's the consensus on the Tamron 150-600 vs. Nikkor 200-500?

spraynpray

Nikon sharper and faster, Tamron cheaper and still pretty good.

Photobug

NSXTypeR - I have been following the reviews on the new Nikon 200-500 and the comparisons test between the Nikon 200-500, Tamron 150-600, and Sigma 150-600 C and a few with the Sigma 150-600 Sport.

General consensus is that the Nikon 200-500 F5.6 is the better lens overall. However, for infrequent use and at one focal length the Tamron matched the Nikon in resolution. There are several links to the lens comparisons in the Nikon 200-500 thread...worth checking it out.

retread

I have had the impression the Sigma sport came out on top from my reading. Also biggest and heaviest.

heartyfisher

retread said:

I have had the impression the Sigma sport came out on top from my reading. Also biggest and heaviest.

And most expensive ...

For infrequent use ... For me I probably should keep using my old Tamron 200-400 F5.6.
Besides these 150-600 zooms, I have also been tempted by the Nikon 300 F4 PF which is super sharp and can be used with TC to reach 600mm.. or 510 with my tc17. The 300 PF F4 is small and light and Bright but its as expensive as the Sigma Sport. However it will probably see much more use, dont you think? The Zoom vs Prime flexibility seems to favor the 300 this time due to the weight and size.

Coastalconn

@heartyfisher Thanks! I have almost 2000 more samples on my flickr page, lol.. I very briefly had the Sigma Sport and a D7200 about two weeks ago as I was going to switch back to Nikon after a strange thing where Canon wanted me to sign a NDA to keep a 7D M2 that was almost up to par.. Anyways, it seemed OK, I only shot it for a few hours on a cloudy day. I didn't give it a really good run but AF seemed terribly slow to, at least to how I remembered the Tamron. I would say it was 1/3 stop sharper than the Tamron with better contrast and slightly better colors. I still think if those huge rebates come back it would make the Tamron a no-brainer. I pretty much just shot it at F8 although it was decent at F7.1.

A friend of mine has the 300 PF and he loves it. Shoots it on a D810 with a 1.4x TC. I still think the 300 F4 Af-S is a pretty fantastic lens especially now that I see them in the $700 range.

Parke1953

What's a NDA ?