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Tamron 90 macro - D90 - Sport !!! (6 samples)

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gerryd04

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Just got a near new copy of the tammy and what better way to test its focus speed and accuracy than with my daughters netball game. I'll get to the cat later :)

I normally use an 80-200 AFD so that was my yardstick, the 80-200 gives me 99% shots in the target focus area (when groups of players and bodies around) and early 90% region for spot on the point or player I want.

The tammy around 80% in the area and maybe 70% on the money. Slower to lock and more prone to miss, but still capable of nice results. Tammy also a tad warmer than the nikon but not unpleasant for skin tones etc.

None of these for comp etc, just to give you an idea of results, all f3.2 to f4, neutral PC, +5 sharpness, -1 brightness, +1 contrast CW metering. Lighting was difficult with full sun jumping in and out from the clouds, and plenty of little white areas in frame.

So some of these where I missed



And plenty of these where I was pleased







Skin tones and rendering very nice, this at f4



Resolves quite well also, this was my daughter on the ground below me, just pointed down blind and shot for fun, check the original for the hair definition

Original
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/gallery/6803709_svWQM#549733569_pSEGc-O-LB



--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.' - Steven Wright
 
Very nice..Great colors. I love the tones of this lens...it's warmer than my Nikkors and I favor warmer tones.

I've shot this as portrait lens with excellent results wide-open. It really is a steal of a lens for the money.

Thanks for sharing :-)
 
Interesting experiment, since macros are never known to have the fastest AF, although AF is better beyond the close-up range. I'm kind of surprised that lens did so well with action shots, these look great.
--
Lora

I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting history has been lost along the way...

 
Question about your PC settings and choice of CW:

Do you use that for nearly all your shooting? I just recently picked up the D90 and find MM to be a bit prone to overexpose/underexpose, but I am not wanting to get into that argument...

I really like your how your pictures came out and were these shot in JPEG or RAW with PP?

Thanks
 
I've tried the same thing although I think your results were better than mine. It is hard to beat the 80-200 for these type of shots. Kid sports move more slowly and you can get closer. Good shots.
gerryd04 said:
Just got a near new copy of the tammy and what better way to test its
focus speed and accuracy than with my daughters netball game. I'll
get to the cat later :)

I normally use an 80-200 AFD so that was my yardstick, the 80-200
gives me 99% shots in the target focus area (when groups of players
and bodies around) and early 90% region for spot on the point or
player I want.

The tammy around 80% in the area and maybe 70% on the money. Slower
to lock and more prone to miss, but still capable of nice results.
Tammy also a tad warmer than the nikon but not unpleasant for skin
tones etc.

None of these for comp etc, just to give you an idea of results, all
f3.2 to f4, neutral PC, +5 sharpness, -1 brightness, +1 contrast CW
metering. Lighting was difficult with full sun jumping in and out
from the clouds, and plenty of little white areas in frame.

So some of these where I missed



And plenty of these where I was pleased







Skin tones and rendering very nice, this at f4



Resolves quite well also, this was my daughter on the ground below
me, just pointed down blind and shot for fun, check the original for
the hair definition

Original
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/gallery/6803709_svWQM#549733569_pSEGc-O-LB



--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore
like an idiot.' - Steven Wright
Click to expand...
--
OK, not so purely a hobby.
 
lac111 said:
Interesting experiment, since macros are never known to have the
fastest AF, although AF is better beyond the close-up range. I'm
kind of surprised that lens did so well with action shots, these look
great.
Click to expand...
Lora, the lens did quite well in terms of AF, but plenty of light and slower sport helps. I also used the AF limit switch, but it was its first use so I'm not sure how much effect that had on speed.

I suspect low light action would be a nightmare :)

--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.' - Steven Wright
 
Agree, the slow speed of the action, and the lighting were helpful. It won't be replacing the 80-200 :)

Just thought I'd post my impressions for those looking at the lens for more than macro/portrait. Low light action would be difficult I think.
winparkman said:
I've tried the same thing although I think your results were better
than mine. It is hard to beat the 80-200 for these type of shots.
Kid sports move more slowly and you can get closer. Good shots.
Click to expand...
--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.' - Steven Wright
 
d3oo said:
Question about your PC settings and choice of CW:
Do you use that for nearly all your shooting? I just recently picked
up the D90 and find MM to be a bit prone to overexpose/underexpose,
but I am not wanting to get into that argument...
Click to expand...
I was not comfortable with MM from the start, have learnt more since then and do use it at times with no problems, but find CW better for my kids sports. I have -1/3 EC dialled in for matrix (for that mode only, you can fine tune each mode but it does not show as EC so you need to remember it is dialled in) and found that helped.

The neutral PC is less saturated and contrasty so nice for people shots and less likely to blow hot spots. Can be a bit duller for other types of shots but gives a nice base to start off.

I do pp most shots, generally all these have had is a slight contrast bump and some USM, then the odd rotate and crop if needed. Sometimes a face brighten or lowering a hot spot. Most shots are a 30 second to 1 minute tweak.
d3oo said:
I really like your how your pictures came out and were these shot in
JPEG or RAW with PP?
Click to expand...
I always shoot kids sport in NEF+ normal jpeg, often the jpegs are fine and used, the NEF is for the odd shot where I get it wrong or the camera does :} or for that special one that may go larger.

I do find I can extract more from the NEF at the pixel peep level but it is not something the audience for these would notice or care about. Often it is to recover one where some whites are blown a bit that it is handy.

--
Gerry,
http://gerryd.smugmug.com/ discount code on homepage

'There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.' - Steven Wright
 
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