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Should I get the 17-55mm IS USM lens?

Started Jun 6, 2015 | Questions thread
Jay Brookstone Regular Member • Posts: 487
Re: Agree - But ACK! TMI! TMI!

I read about the Tamron panning bug just before one of my crew used it to shoot some baseball finals in SoCal.  He nailed the pitching (lateral view), 1-2 and 2-3 base running shots with no problem, IS "ON", so I'm not sure that I've actually seen the issue, but will probably send it in after the current furor has died down.

I was shooting the same event with a big 400 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 and was way less mobile, not to mention my usual backache at the end of the day.  The only thing the Tamron had some difficulty with (compared to the 400) was fast swivels to catch outfield action on the fly.  AF was slower on the Tamron.

We've used this lens now as an auxiliary on about eight sports shoots with little trouble.  It is not as sharp or fast (aperture or AF) as the pro lenses - but entirely usable as an agile mobile backup for a 2nd/3rd photographer.

I have no experience with the Sigmas.  We stopped using that brand some years ago because of problems with compatibility with newer bodies - not just firmware issues but drive voltage issues as well.  We've been luckier with the (few) Tamrons we inventory.  The oldest still in use is an ancient, noisy and slow 24-135 that is at least 15 years old but still provides excellent images.

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