Slovakia & Poland (Tamron 17-35 lens pics)

Lostkat · 7 May 2006 at 19:12

Right, I keep meaning to post pics to demonstrate how lovely the Tamron SP AF 17-35mm F2.8/4 Di etc. lens is, so I thought I'd combine it with boring you all to death with some pictures from our holiday to Slovakia & Poland in March.

I apologise in advance for any leaning buildings. I am rubbish at perspective transforming things, so I just generally tend not to bother with it.

First off, the Slovakian capital Bratislava. It's a gorgeous city, and I'd highly recommend anyone to go there. Cheap beer, cheap/nice food, loads to see and the people are nice too. Completely opposite to how the film 'hostel' depicts it.

View of the old town from the clock tower, which also houses the gun museum. Most people go up there to stand and look of the balcony at the amazing views though

Someone important (from one of the African countries, but I can't remember which) visiting the Slovakian PM. Just happened to stumble across this whilst we were waiting for the gun museum to open.

Slovakian church. I've only put this one in to show the lack of CA. This lens didn't even give any CA when we were at Auschwitz and the sky was full of snow.

CA test:

View up the street to the clock tower. Don't be fooled by the beautiful weather, it was below freezing.

Lostkat · 7 May 2006 at 19:12

Next, we moved on to Krakow in Poland. Whilst there we visited Auschwitz, the WW2 death camp. It was probably one of the most horiffic places I'll ever see. You can just feel the death in the air, and it's so upsetting to imagine all the people who went there to die. We were there in the snow, and I can't believe that anyone could come out alive after living in those conditions. Well worth a visit though, I'm glad we went.

I took these with B&W in mind. Still deciding whether I should have added some grainyness to them to add to the effect

No room for Krakow pics, and they're not brilliant either. It's a gorgeous city though. We'll definitely be going back.

Lostkat · 7 May 2006 at 19:13

Finally, we caught the train to Warsaw, capital of Poland. I wasn't too excited about this, as I imagined it would be like any other concrete capital city, especially after having been obliterated in the war. Don't think I could have been more wrong! It was all totally re-built after the war, but they restored the buildings to their original state, so Warsaw has a newish 'old' town.

See, I tried to sort the perspective out on this, and failed miserably! lol

Saw another ceremony, with representitives of the Polish Airforce, Army & Marines. Since this one carries so much detail, I thought it would be perfect to show the fullsize original, so you can get a sense of the sharpness of the lens. Click the link for fullsize. All I did was crop it.

His ears looked so cold! I just wanted to give him my scarf.

Few buildings on one of the old town squares.

Well that's it. Any comments/constructive criticism on the photos would be appreciated, as would comments/questions on the lens. These pics aren't supposed to be arty by the way, they're just my way of recording our holiday.

noob · 7 May 2006 at 19:28

The Austwitch photos brought back memories. I went there last August, very emotional place. I saw many documentaries about the place and photos but when you actually go there the scale shocks you. Did you go to Birkenau?

themask70 · 7 May 2006 at 20:10

Very nice, i think that some grainieness would look good on the Auschwitz pictures.

nolimit · 7 May 2006 at 20:26

awesome pics. and also lovely lens.

Lostkat · 7 May 2006 at 20:28

noob said:
The Austwitch photos brought back memories. I went there last August, very emotional place. I saw many documentaries about the place and photos but when you actually go there the scale shocks you. Did you go to Birkenau?

Yeah we did. Birkenau was the worst. It really hit you just how much these poor people went through there. I started to think that I would have rather been one of the people who were just shipped in and gassed immediately. I am amazed that people managed to survive Auschwitz. I didn't get many pics at Birkenau because the weather was so bad by the time we got there. Here are a few (pretty poor) shots anyway:

Samiad · 7 May 2006 at 20:39

The lens is every bit as sharp as I would expect - I take it you are happy with it?

It's the most underrated lens I own. One of the sharpest.

Mohain · 7 May 2006 at 20:41

Fantastic Auschwitz and military pics. A bit of grain certainly wouldn't hurt the black and whites. Good job

Lostkat · 7 May 2006 at 20:43

Samiad said:
The lens is every bit as sharp as I would expect - I take it you are happy with it?

It's the most underrated lens I own. One of the sharpest.

It's incredible, I'm very happy with it. Worth every penny! I'm so glad I decided to go for it, despite the possibility of me getting a duff one. I was a little worried after the first few test shots I did at home with it, but after looking at the results from Poland/Slovakia I'm well and truly chuffed with it.

nolimit · 7 May 2006 at 20:51

i think there is only 3 lens worth buying from tamron, the 17-35, 28-75 and 90 SP macro

might get myself the 17-35. how much did u pay for it lostkat?

Lostkat · 7 May 2006 at 20:54

nolimit said:
i think there is only 3 lens worth buying from tamron, the 17-35, 28-75 and 90 SP macro

might get myself the 17-35. how much did u pay for it lostkat?

£330 from the highstreet. It was more expensive to buy online where I wanted to get it from (£1 cheaper, but postage made it more expensive), plus it meant that I could return it easily if it had quality issues.

Samiad · 7 May 2006 at 22:02

I've not known anyone to get a duff one of these lens (or the Canon 17-40mm for that matter). Seems to be a consistent zoom range.

Now, the 24-70's of this world.................that's a different story (you're lucky to get a good one first off!)

cyKey · 7 May 2006 at 22:04

Excellent shots. That lone cold solider is a great example of what the lens can do. Sharp and a nice depth of field. The camp shots are cold, which I imagine is just how they should be. You really do get a feeling of death from them.

Now that lens looks very nice and I was all set to pop into town and buy a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8. However people say it has terrible CA at f/2.8 @ 18mm and yours has none. Buuuut people say its fixable in RSP. That lens does look very tempting.... *ponders*

Zheka · 7 May 2006 at 22:32

Impressive work. WW2 death camps photos are very sad and effective.

Sleepyd · 7 May 2006 at 23:30

Finally! great stuff, now I feel I'm not the only one without a 17-40L who's just as happy

Lostkat · 8 May 2006 at 06:43

Samiad said:
I've not known anyone to get a duff one of these lens (or the Canon 17-40mm for that matter). Seems to be a consistent zoom range.

Now, the 24-70's of this world.................that's a different story (you're lucky to get a good one first off!)

Whilst reading the reviews for this lens, there were a few comments questioning consistency of quality between lenses. That's why I was worried about potential quality issues. From what you and a couple of others said, it sounds like that was a load of rubbish

Sleepyd said:
Finally! great stuff, now I feel I'm not the only one without a 17-40L who's just as happy

I really am glad I didn't fork out for the 17-40L. I just don't think it's worth another £150-200 on top of this.

KizZ · 8 May 2006 at 06:56

Very nice pics, and sad at the same time.

DizMatt · 8 May 2006 at 10:42

good pics kat
nice to see something with some real poignant history

I heard Victoria Vincent speak when I was about 20. She was in that place as a child and managed to get home. Mainly by the luck of the draw. Such a powerful and moving lecture.

titchard · 8 May 2006 at 11:20

Lostkat said:

I'm particularly fond of this one, I love it, I am sure that this has something to do with me thinking that train tracks are pretty cool, how they weave in and out of each other.

Was this shot on the Tamron 17 -35?

Quite intrigued if it is, as I am looking to purchase a few lenses, this may get into the shopping list!

Rich