Tamron Lenses for D700

Hi,

I'm looking for a lightweight walkaround lens for my D700. I have nikon 50mm 1.4, 80-200 and a 85mm 1.8.

i've been on the boards looking at the nikon 28-105, tamron 28-70, 24-135 and 28-300. i would like to have some range and also something wide enough for indoor family stuff. also, something light. my concern is with the tamrons. i've read there's a concern to get a "sharp copy". i'm looking at some used ones online and there is a refund policy. i'd rather not go through that hassle. is this a hit and miss thing with tamron lenses?

I have the 28-75 on a d700 and it's awesome, although i bought it second hand after it has been serviced/adjusted so can't tell if it was a good copy to begin with!

i was reading the the AF fine tuning can correct the sharpness of the tamron if there is one. has anyone tried it?

I've had on my D700 pretty much all the Tamrons you mentioned: 28-300 (few times) 24-135, and Nikkor 28-105 AF-D, also Nikkor 24-85 F/2.8-4, Tamron 28-75, and some others I am sure I don't even recall now. Oh, Nikon 28-200 too.....

I ended up keeping Nikkor 28-105D. I think I paid $80 for a copy I got over a nikocafe for sale forum.

Although Tamron 28-300 is not bad at all and a pretty sharp lens (Non-VC version) and the great thing about 28-300 Tamron is that it is very very small and very very light. That helps a lot when you take it on vacation for example in San Francisco when you have to walk up and down the hill a lot:





Tamron 24-135 I was very excited about the range, but I ended up not using it that much....it is a larger heavier lens. Nikkor 28-105D proved to be the winner. Also 28-105D has 1:2 Macro which does not hurt either.

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I use a Tamron 28-75mm as lightweight "holiday" lens.
It's a decent lens but imo now awesome. AF is ok but not in AF-S leaque.

To get the best out of the D700's sensor you'd better get the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 or something like that.
Still, a nice lens for the money. Get the non-BIM type (used) if you can.

Samples (check Exif, some photos in the set or shot with a LX3)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucdeschepper/sets/72157624816502617/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucdeschepper/

I have the 28-75 non motor version and despite the fact that I don't use it a lot it's a pretty good lens.

For the money, convenience and the weight it's exceptional.

Here's a few from the weekend







--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://blog.jamestux.com

What about Nikon 24-120 F4 VR?

DE1988 said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a lightweight walkaround lens for my D700. I have nikon 50mm 1.4, 80-200 and a 85mm 1.8.

i've been on the boards looking at the nikon 28-105, tamron 28-70, 24-135 and 28-300. i would like to have some range and also something wide enough for indoor family stuff. also, something light. my concern is with the tamrons. i've read there's a concern to get a "sharp copy". i'm looking at some used ones online and there is a refund policy. i'd rather not go through that hassle. is this a hit and miss thing with tamron lenses?

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i'm going down to a local store to check out the 28-105. they have 2 used ones. thanks for the feedback.

the 28-75 looks really good too. thanks for sharing the pictures. of course the 24-70 is a must have (when i have the money) but i'm also looking at the 24-120 f4 but again when i'm ready to spend. i'll go with the 28-105 for an all day walkaround. looks so light and i can put my 50mm 1.4 in my pocket

Cenk said:

DE1988 said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a lightweight walkaround lens for my D700. I have nikon 50mm 1.4, 80-200 and a 85mm 1.8.

i've been on the boards looking at the nikon 28-105, tamron 28-70, 24-135 and 28-300. i would like to have some range and also something wide enough for indoor family stuff. also, something light. my concern is with the tamrons. i've read there's a concern to get a "sharp copy". i'm looking at some used ones online and there is a refund policy. i'd rather not go through that hassle. is this a hit and miss thing with tamron lenses?

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I have this and I love the lens....but it's far from being lightweight.

'24-120 F4 VR' is perfectly suitable for a heavyweight Nikon D700 pro body IMHO...

Cipher said:

Cenk said:

DE1988 said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a lightweight walkaround lens for my D700. I have nikon 50mm 1.4, 80-200 and a 85mm 1.8.

i've been on the boards looking at the nikon 28-105, tamron 28-70, 24-135 and 28-300. i would like to have some range and also something wide enough for indoor family stuff. also, something light. my concern is with the tamrons. i've read there's a concern to get a "sharp copy". i'm looking at some used ones online and there is a refund policy. i'd rather not go through that hassle. is this a hit and miss thing with tamron lenses?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I have this and I love the lens....but it's far from being lightweight.

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It is small and light and very good. Like most lenses, best to stop down a bit if you can. Plus the macro function is indeed handy. Here are a few examples, with D700:









--
Steve

28-105D



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DE1988 said:

i was reading the the AF fine tuning can correct the sharpness of the tamron if there is one. has anyone tried it?

Click to expand...

I bought a second-hand 28-75 for my D700. The focus was off, but the error was consistent, so AF fine tuning took care of it.

It's a great walkabout lens. I kind of doubted all the hype about how good it was, but I found a cheap copy and bought it figuring that if it wasn't sharp, I could always stop it way down and use it with a flash for family snapshots. Well, I find it very usable wide open when necessary, and it's nicely crisp by f/3.5-4. For landscapes, corner sharpness is good by f/8.

I will probably never ditch this lens for a 24-70/2.8 Nikkor, because I love that the Tamron is so lightweight. I also don't have unlimited funds and prefer to spend my money on lenses like the 70-200 VR and 300/4 AF-S, as I do need good tracking ability in the telephoto range.

The 24-105 also interests me for the wider zoom range and the closer focus, and I sometimes wonder if I wouldn't prefer that lens, but OTOH, I like the fact that the Tamron is a constant f/2.8, and I'm usually going to be carrying a telephoto and UWA anyway, so the range is not such a big issue. It depends on your needs, I guess.

At any rate, if you get the Tamron, you probably already know that you should look for a motorless model, as the AF is supposed to be faster.

Julie

For the last 2 years I've used the Tamron 28-75 with built in motor, and found it to be very sharp, and very good at focusing, even in low light. Maybe I got lucky, I don't know, but it is my "go too" lens for most shots when I don't need longer.

PS - That, the new 50mm 1.8g and my Nikon 80-200ED, are my carry kit, and with SB900 flash, I've not found much lacking.

Now if I could find a cheaper 35mm F1.4 with autofocus, then I would be happy.

Nice shot and use of lighting.

Absolutic said:

28-105D



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thank you

LarryPhoto said:

Absolutic said:

28-105D



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why not the Nikkor 24-85? I have the f2.8-4 version and I find it is a nice lens though not as small as the Tamron. The extra 4 degrees on the wide end means the world to me. I purchased the tamron 28-75 first and unfortunately wound up with one that barked. BF'd too far for the D700 to compensate so back it went.
Wolfgang
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Old timer

Had two copies of the Tamron 28-75, pretty good both of them. Matter of fact the 28-75 w/o BIM survivided a 5ft fall onto concreted that did in my D700. ROFL laughing about people who say the build is crappy. Almost certain that if I had the 24-70 nikkor it would have been two things toast.

Now is it sharp.. In the center of the FX pretty good, not as good contrast or warm as the nikkors IMHO. Corners don't get sharp till F4-5.6 and are never as good as the nikkor. Since I picked up the Beast for 600 bucks I haven't shot them. Everytime I lug the D3s and beast I wonder about going ot mirrorless.

The 28-300 I had for a couple years, okay, the nikkor is far superior iMHO, but at 2x the price used you simply can't argue about the value of the tamrons over nikkors.

If one never prints aove 8x10 nor peeps at 100% I think you'll be reasonablly satisfied, bad copy or not.

FWIW after my tamron had the fall I sent it in for 130 bucks they gave it a full tune up.

DE1988 said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a lightweight walkaround lens for my D700. I have nikon 50mm 1.4, 80-200 and a 85mm 1.8.

i've been on the boards looking at the nikon 28-105, tamron 28-70, 24-135 and 28-300. i would like to have some range and also something wide enough for indoor family stuff. also, something light. my concern is with the tamrons. i've read there's a concern to get a "sharp copy". i'm looking at some used ones online and there is a refund policy. i'd rather not go through that hassle. is this a hit and miss thing with tamron lenses?

Click to expand...

Another recommendation. Amazingly compact and lightwieght for a 2.8 zoom. It is sharp, perhaps a bit too contrasty resulting in occasionally harsh bokeh, but that can be processed out if truly distracting. It is a great all-arounder and a perfect compliment to the D700.





It has personality. Bonus, it is a quite capable macro lens.



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Taking pictures of what I want to...
http://www.photobriangray.com/