Tamron 28-300mm VC Di AF Lens - Nikon Fit

Comments about Tamron 28-300mm VC Di AF Lens - Nikon Fit:

If you are a serious photographer, do not be tempted to buy this lens. Dismiss what it is said about how good it is. I was swayed by favourable comments on buyer's sites (such as this) and it isn't. Such a wide-ranging zoom is always going to be a compromise; it's how much of one is the real question. However, it's not a total disaster and needs some close scrutiny for its weaknesses to be revealed. I'm glad I tried it but now I'll sell.

For me and my semi-pro photography, it's not up to scratch, at any focal length, or at any aperture. When at its limits, the results are just plain soft, with a purple aberration around many things at longer lengths that I'd only ever encountered before with a cheap tele-converter. At its best (from 28mm, centre) the results are OK. Compared to my 24-120 f3.5-5.6 and 70-300 f4.5-5.6 Nikkors, which I'd normally use and which aren't exactly perfect either, the Tamron is noticeably disappointing. Pictures might look OK on a camera screen or as high contrast images at first glance but that's as good as it gets.

It is however, an easy to use lens, light in weight and compact at its 28mm setting, which it can be locked at. Good thing as the lens always wants to unravel to 300mm under gravity. Watch out if you take a shot and you lower the camera to your side and then expect that if you want to take the same picture again - the focal length will be longer and you'll have to re-frame your carefully composed shot.

I much prefer the focussing ring, at the front end of the lens barrel, to that of my Nikkor G-series lenses. The focus snaps into focus quickly, with a short twist of the ring. For those who have to live with AF; it works well enough, though the Vibration Control is quite noisy when active and keeps active for (seemingly) quite a while after the shot is taken. Rather distracting.

I didn't really try the "macro"; close-focus in actual terms, but at 1/3rd life-size, pretty useful. For users of polarising filters, the internal focus (IF) means the lens barrel does not rotate, which is good. The lenshood, typically for such a range, is inadequate at both extreme ends – which is where you need it.

For travellers who fly or those who can only use one lens (mountaineers?), this Tamron is certainly a credible choice and for some, the best option at a not too silly price. The only rival for us Nikon users (mine's a D700) would be Nikkor's own 28-300 at around double the price.

Though I've not used a 'bridge' type of digital camera, in theory, alone, this Tamron should be superior in almost every sense and with those cameras becoming increasingly popular, this 28-300 should please a lot of people with DSLRs a lot of the time.

There is no doubt that Tamron have enveloped every conceivable technology in producing this lens and in an almost unbelievably convenient package. I'm used to lugging around bags of lenses and enjoy their fruits in picture quality terms, something of which I'm both unwilling and unable to compromise, not to the degree needed – and expected, by a lens such as this.

Comments about Tamron 28-300mm VC Di AF Lens - Nikon Fit:

Surprised at just how good this lens is. Just what the Nikon D3 needs to turn it into a general purpose camera but with the advantages of full frame. Particularly good if you don't like changing lenses in the field. Works well on the D3X but one out of 5 frames exhibits a very slight ghosting about 5 pixels wide.

Comments about Tamron 28-300mm VC Di AF Lens - Nikon Fit:

In the fast pace world of wedding photography this lens is a must. I was fed up changing lenses all the time and deiced to try one of these at focus on imaging. i found it great so i bought 1. Its the best thing i have bought for my kit bag. its versatile sharp and good all round. I still use my ultra wide lens for a couple shots but this lens allows me to shoot almost an entire wedding with 1 lens