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

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  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    This morning after Setting my AF fine tune to +6 and having really crappy light, I can really give this lens a serious nod of approval... check out the first 12 or so on my page and check the exif.. it performed very well at high ISO...
  • TriShooterTriShooter Posts: 219Member
    @Costalconn I looked with great pleasure at your Flickr site, and very impressed with your shots. I sold my 200-500mm Tammy, and will be waiting I am sure for some time for the new 150-600mm. Meanwhile I have my 400mm f/3.5 with a modified TC16a which is more than decent.

    Thank you very much for sharing your early experience with this wonderful new lens. Your comments, and your expertise on bif shooting were very helpful, and most appreciated by me.
  • PhotobugPhotobug Posts: 5,751Member
    Very nice work @Coastalconn.
    D750 & D7100 | 24-70 F2.8 G AF-S ED, 70-200 F2.8 AF VR, TC-14E III, TC-1.7EII, 35 F2 AF D, 50mm F1.8G, 105mm G AF-S VR | Backup & Wife's Gear: D5500 & Sony HX50V | 18-140 AF-S ED VR DX, 55-300 AF-S G VR DX |
    |SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
  • PB_PMPB_PM Posts: 4,494Member
    A local bird photographer (former long term newspaper guy) just got this lens within the last week. He said it was no match for his 500mm F4 VR, with or without TC (kind of a given), but for a light weight travel lens, or for long hikes, he thought it was good enough.
    If I take a good photo it's not my camera's fault.
  • @Coastalconn Very useful information, thank you. Can you try a couple of shots on the D600 you had before?
    Those who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those doing it!
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    @PB, lol, I don't think anyone thought it would be as sharp at a 500 F4. I'm happy it can come sorta close to the 120-300 with the 2x TC... I think it is sharp enough for the vast majority of people unless you want to pixel peep and argue with people on DPR, lol... For the price I think it is close enough to the 80-400 VR that it's a no brainer to pick the Tamron as a first long lens...

    @Ton, I will see if my friend will let me borrow it again..
  • tc88tc88 Posts: 537Member
    I got mine during the week. Here is my current assessment.

    Pros: AF is surprisingly quiet, fast and accurate. I really like that. Resolution it beats my 300 f/4 + TC20III. It could use some more microcontrast, but I understand it's a zoom and not a prime.

    Cons: It has a long zoom throw. While I in general prefer long zoom throw, it may be too much to turn during BIF. Also it's a little bit heavy and my technique become sloppy due to the weight. While I hand hold my 300 f/4 very well, I think I have to adapt to this lens differently. My copy also creeps badly in both directions.

    Today when I took it out to shoot, I noticed the ISO jumps up more than I expected. After I got home, I took some controlled interior shots. Comparing to my 300 f/4, even though this TAMRON is supposed to be f/5.6 at 300, it requires 3x of the light (3x shutter time) to reach the same ISO. At 600, it needs at least 4x. So it's really f/8 at 600 for light transmission purpose. That's my biggest disappointment so far.
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    @TC did you notice you can lock it around 400mm?
  • tc88tc88 Posts: 537Member
    Coastalconn, no I would never find it out had you not mentioned it. Thanks for the info. How did you find it out? :)
  • @tc88 On which camera you had it?
    Those who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those doing it!
  • MsmotoMsmoto Posts: 5,398Moderator
    Thanks, Kristofer
    Msmoto, mod
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    @TC, I read it online, lol.. it was one of the first things I checked.. I did some , real life comparison shots with the 120-300 this morning, but I won't be able to post them til tonight.. I will probably put them on DPR, since I can upload them there.. I went early and had some nice light and might have surprising results...
  • tc88tc88 Posts: 537Member
    Ton, I have been using D7100 since it came out. It's an excellent DX camera (as long as one can tolerate the buffer limitation and gets a copy without back/left focus issues).

    Coastalconn, yes, it would be interesting to read your new results.
  • TC Thanks for the info, seems to be a great combo, Kristofer posted stunning results with it on Flickr, handheld 400 - 600mm.
    Those who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those doing it!
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    I think I have to do a re-test with the 120-300, it seemed way less sharp than the Tamron. The preliminary results are here.. http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53739942

    Not sure why, but in normal usage the Tamron seems to exhibit more shadow noise than the sigma. Today I used a little ETTR and got much better results. I also have to change my processing. I've been leaving WB set to auto and not changing it since the Tamron seems to produce better colors. The Tamron also can't take as much sharpening because of the noise thing.
    So on a shot like this, at 600mm wide open, SS 1/2000, ISO 1600, I lowered the exposure by .83. +10 contrast, -5 highlights, -12 blacks, +2 clarity and +7 Vibrance, I think the results were very good.. I only did a high pass sharpening at .6 and 40%.. no noise reduction...
    Osprey flight 1 5_26
    2000px..https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastalconn/14255930286/sizes/o/

    As far as AF tracking, to me it is very good for BIF.. Here's a 10 shot landing sequence.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastalconn/sets/72157644866430505/
  • tc88tc88 Posts: 537Member
    Coastconn, impressive pictures as usual. A couple of questions for you. What EXIF viewer do you use to get the subject distance? Also how much did you crop on the sequence? If not much, you have very steady hands. :) Thanks.
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    @tc88, Flickr actually lists the "approximate focus distance" in the exif if you expand it. These are not cropped much.. They are barely cropped, first one is like 5700x3200.. as always.. handheld..
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,675Member
    I would say that lens is looking very good, quite a bargain.
  • PhotobugPhotobug Posts: 5,751Member
    This lens is such a big value, expect more people to buy it this year. From the pictures I have seen, it sure is a hit producing sharp photos.
    D750 & D7100 | 24-70 F2.8 G AF-S ED, 70-200 F2.8 AF VR, TC-14E III, TC-1.7EII, 35 F2 AF D, 50mm F1.8G, 105mm G AF-S VR | Backup & Wife's Gear: D5500 & Sony HX50V | 18-140 AF-S ED VR DX, 55-300 AF-S G VR DX |
    |SB-800, Amaran Halo LED Ring light | MB-D16 grip| Gitzo GT3541 + RRS BH-55LR, Gitzo GM2942 + Sirui L-10 | RRS gear | Lowepro, ThinkTank, & Hoodman gear | BosStrap | Vello Freewave Plus wireless Remote, Leica Lens Cleaning Cloth |
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited May 2014
    Thank you Kristofer, I appreciate it very much.

    I have the D600 now for 1-1/2 year and was always impressed by the IQ, the biggest lens I worked with was 400mm and experienced that as very difficult. You gave your settings in the other (BIF) thread, mine were mostly the same, but after setting my AF to - long -you gave me a lot of work, because of the dramatic increase in useful hits. :)

    ISO 6400 (6 stops) is no problem and tracking is spot on as we can see.

    If I buy the lens, there are many practice days (ok weeks) to come, but on my age with plenty of time, photography became now for 90% a hobby.
    Post edited by [Deleted User] on
    Those who say it can't be done, should not interrupt those doing it!
  • jjb930jjb930 Posts: 80Member
    Thanks for the awesome updates Coastal.

    I have a few quick questions
    1) Are you using a UV filter? What brand if so?
    2) Thoughts on using this lens with a monopod? I know it has VC, but in certain circumstances, it may be helpful.
    Nikon D800 | Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 | Nikon 50mm f/1.8G | Nikon 85mm f/1.8G | Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro | Tamron 150-600mm f/ 5-6.3 | Nikon SB700 | Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set | Cactus V6 Transceiver Set | SDMV Speedbox 60 Diffuser | FotoPro T83-C CF Tripod | FotoPro NGC-75 CF Monopod
  • CoastalconnCoastalconn Posts: 527Member
    @jjb930 I do not have a UV filter on any of my lens. I pretty much never have a lens cap on for that matter, I am always ready to shoot, so I cant help you with that..

    As far as monopods, I am sure it would work fine, my personal preference is always handheld. I can get sharp results down to 1/125th at that point the subject is more likely to move..

    I uploaded a raw file here if anyone wants to see what it looks like.. Wide open at 600 with the D600 http://www.mediafire.com/download/kfbk288d499a8ty/DSC_5604.NEF
    It's this picture...
    Juvi Red Tail Hawk 5_29 19
  • donaldejosedonaldejose Posts: 3,675Member
    Looks real good to me!
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