Just got my Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di II LD Asp

Invertigo · 15 Sep 2011 at 19:47

I see no issues with sharpness of mine at 50mm f/2.8. It's just a very narrow depth of field, but having used a 50mm f/1.8 for 6 months, I'm well used to shallow dof. The text in focus is still perfectly sharp.

DB_SamX · 15 Sep 2011 at 23:18

I bought myself a 2nd hand non VC motorised one and got it yesterday. Not had the chance to check for sharpness but I have noticed that the zoom righ is very stiff compared to my Nikon and Sigma lenses. Seems a feature of that lens though.

DB_SamX · 15 Sep 2011 at 23:20

Ejizz said:

Ejizz, where did you download the template or buy this from please?

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:31

UPDATE, seem to be ok... But I find this lens difficult to deal with in terms of exposure, is it because of the lens Hood?

F/2.8 50MM

F4.0 50MM

F2.8 17MM

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:35

F/13 17MM

2Thumbs · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:41

Define 'difficult'...

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:46

The exposures don't come out as easily as the canon kit lens Constantly having to adjust them and also these shots lack contrast, they look flat. I know lighting makes a difference, but even on a nice evening, they still look flat.

How does the sharpness look to everyone now?

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 13:52

ON ANOTHER NOTE -

What size Polarizer do i need for this lens?

a1ex2001 · 16 Sep 2011 at 14:18

Neil79 said:
The exposures don't come out as easily as the canon kit lens Constantly having to adjust them and also these shots lack contrast, they look flat. I know lighting makes a difference, but even on a nice evening, they still look flat.

How does the sharpness look to everyone now?

field sharpness looks fine to me, I'd stay away from 100% crops and focus charts for me if it's good enough in the real world it's good enough and all this peeping and testing can only lead to disapointment and frustration. Remember sharpness isn't everything some of the best pictures of all time would fail the modern photographers pbsessive definition of sharpness.

Your problem with exposure is confusing me it should be no different to using your kit lens, what mode are you shooting in? If manual what method are you using to get the correct exposure.

Alpherah · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:01

Exposure looks fine to me?
Shadows are a bit harsh but thats because the camera's trying to stop the sky blowing out.. so in that sense its done its job.

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:14

Thanks all

, I think i'm confusing myself probably all the meds i'm on haha

Again though, what Polarizer size would i need for this lens?

Alpherah · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:17

67 i think.. but i would google it yourself first just to be sure.
I think different versions of this lens have different filter sizes.

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:23

Filter Thread 67mm...

Yeh looks good to me, thanks Alpherah

Neil79 · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:37

Hmm the vc Filter size 72mm (non-rotating), so is the non VC 67 and the VC 72?

An Exception · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:42

DB_SamX said:
Ejizz, where did you download the template or buy this from please?

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=829126

Alpherah · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:45

Neil79 said:
Hmm the vc Filter size 72mm (non-rotating), so is the non VC 67 and the VC 72?

Thats what i said to check first

my google fu is weak. It should say somewhere in the documents/box/lens itself

An Exception · 16 Sep 2011 at 15:56

a1ex2001 said:
field sharpness looks fine to me, I'd stay away from 100% crops and focus charts for me if it's good enough in the real world it's good enough and all this peeping and testing can only lead to disapointment and frustration.

Or a kit bag where all the components work perfectly together, giving you more keepers and less missed opportunities.
Anyway I guess Neil can rest assured now you've given his lens the "all clear".

a1ex2001 said:
Remember sharpness isn't everything some of the best pictures of all time would fail the modern photographers pbsessive definition of sharpness.

Indeed sharpness isn't everything, but what ABSOLUTELY does kill an image imo is if the sharpest part of the photo is in the wrong place, how would you rate the images in the below thread, and what would your advice be if any?

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=351399

a1ex2001 · 16 Sep 2011 at 16:24

Ejizz said:
Or a kit bag where all the components work perfectly together, giving you more keepers and less missed opportunities.
Anyway I guess Neil can rest assured now you've given his lens the "all clear".

Calm down, I never gave his lens the all clear I just said test it as you would use it and if it produces the goods then don't go shooting focus charts or pixel peeping at 100% plus.

Ejizz said:
Indeed sharpness isn't everything, but what ABSOLUTELY does kill an image imo is if the sharpest part of the photo is in the wrong place, how would you rate the images in the below thread, and what would your advice be if any?

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=351399

Not sure what that has to do with this thread and if anything it supports my argument that field testing is all that has required as those shots clearly fail the real world test assuming the poor focus is equipment rather than user error.

An Exception · 16 Sep 2011 at 16:50

a1ex2001 said:
Calm down, I never gave his lens the all clear I just said test it as you would use it and if it produces the goods then don't go shooting focus charts or pixel peeping at 100% plus.

More bad advice, in fact it's this kind of advice that will ironically lead to "disappointment and frustration".
You obviously don't understand the relationship of precise AF that doesn't suffer either front or back focus Vs Keeper rate, as a correctly functioning AF will have more margin for error (that inevitably happens by the user and equipment) than a setup that is on the edge of spec, let alone slightly off spec.

I wonder how many poor folks are out there right now taking a picture one minute that's in focus, and the next OOF and not knowing why that is happening, no doubt blaming themselves one minute, and their gear the next.
How disappointing and frustrating must that be do you think?
Well I can tell you, VERY.

Rojin · 16 Sep 2011 at 17:11

Focus tests are pointless unless you test all focal lengths at all distances and f stops that you will be using the lens. A lens that you suspect of poor performance enough to look at a focus test can easily have issues at near and far distance as well as focus shift when stopping down.