Tamron 150-600 Review

[BluTuna]

I would have to say it is worse than the Sigma, otherwise I probably wouldn't have noticed.

I don't remember the Sigma going off on its own as often as the Tamron does but I'll live with that considering the advantages - sharpness, better stabiliser, longer reach, no back focusing........

Thanks!

I got the D5100 myself but find it difficult to handle with all those focal dots (or whatever the proper term is in English ).
Most of the time I use my old D60 and am much happier with the outcome.

There's only 11 of them! Set your focus to single point, then you can use the arrows to set the focal dot you want in the viewfinder.

[BluTuna]

Here are the focus tests.

The image was set at 45 degrees from the lens and the centre focus spot was placed on the middle line. The left of the image was nearest to the camera. Both lenses were F6.3, maximum zoom and close to minimum focus.

This is the Sigma.


as you can see, the actual focus is right of the centre line which means it was focusing behind the subject.

This is the Tamron.


Perfect! And sharper.

[Peter Connan]

I read one review of this lens that said the AF is inclined to hunt with the D7000, but is much better with the D7100. Something about the lens not liking the older focus system.

If this is true, the same is very likely with the D5100.

I spent a few hours in Marievale's Hadeda hide last Friday next to a guy shooting a D750 with the Tamron lens. I did not get to see any of his pics, but he was getting way more shots in on passing birds than I did (D7000 + Nikkor 500mm f4). But there are LOTS of factors at play here that have nothing to do with focussing speed...

[Mel]

Mel change the focus settings, you can set the focus as you want

Tried that, didn't work. I'm probably too daft. Must be doing something wrong...

There's only 11 of them! Set your focus to single point, then you can use the arrows to set the focal dot you want in the viewfinder.

10 too many.

[BluTuna]

I read one review of this lens that said the AF is inclined to hunt with the D7000, but is much better with the D7100. Something about the lens not liking the older focus system.

If this is true, the same is very likely with the D5100.

I spent a few hours in Marievale's Hadeda hide last Friday next to a guy shooting a D750 with the Tamron lens. I did not get to see any of his pics, but he was getting way more shots in on passing birds than I did (D7000 + Nikkor 500mm f4). But there are LOTS of factors at play here that have nothing to do with focussing speed...

Could be! The D5100 uses the same sensor and focusing system as the D7000! I'm looking to get a D7200 when it eventually arrives - rumour has it that the announcement will be soon.

I was at Rietvlei in the Island View hide on Sunday morning, lots of machine gun sounds from others in the hide - I had the same feelings of inadequacy

[BluTuna]

Here's a shot I took at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens on Saturday. Hand held @ 600mm 1/1000 @ F/8, ISO 400, distance around 3 metres = minimum focal distance..

This is the uncropped image - original size was 16Mpixels.


Same image at 1:1.

[Dewi]

Does your camera have focus tracking BT? Might be an option to try when shooting BIF's?

Otherwise, the pics above look great.

[BluTuna]

It does have tracking - tried it at the hide and it went haywire, it tracked all if the ripples on the lake. I will try it again when I'm not near water.

[Dewi]

Works great when you get used to it. Especially when you use the AF-on thumb option rather than the shutter, as once locked on, it stays with the subject as long as you keep AF-on depressed.

[BluTuna]

Don't have a button for that on the D5100, but do have continuous focusing set on.