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Anyone have focus issues w/ Tamron 150-600?

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daviddavis71

daviddavis71

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I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
I have the D750/Tamron 150-600 combo which I have used for nearly 2 years. The Tamron is a little slow to focus for BIF especially those coming at you. To counter that, I usually try to prefocus at a distance I think the bird will be at. Also, I found group focus to be relatively quicker than 9-point. My pictures with that combo are at my flickr site (link below).

I have never used the Siggy-C so I cannot comment on the relative performance. Mans Soderberg on this forum had the Tammy which he sold to get the Siggy-C so he may have more information. But he used those with the D7200. Having tried the Tammy on both D750 and D7200, I can tell you that the Tammy focuses faster with the D750.

- Amit
 
I have the same combo.

Are you shooting with the IS on or off? For high SS I turn mine off.
Although the stabilisation helps keep the subject in the VF I think it can affect the focus and sharpness slightly.

Care to share any examples?
 
daviddavis71 said:
I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
daviddavis71 said:
I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I had two Tamron 150-600s that were exactly how you describe. I've since dumped them for the Sigma 150-600 C, no worries.
 
rjjr said:
daviddavis71 said:
I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I had two Tamron 150-600s that were exactly how you describe. I've since dumped them for the Sigma 150-600 C, no worries.
Click to expand...
Don't use VC for BIF or at the long end, kills sharpness!

Mine's good on the D750, not so good an the D7100!

 
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DAVID MANZE said:
rjjr said:
daviddavis71 said:
I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I had two Tamron 150-600s that were exactly how you describe. I've since dumped them for the Sigma 150-600 C, no worries.
Click to expand...
Don't use VC for BIF or at the long end, kills sharpness!
Click to expand...
What's the point of having VC if it kills sharpness at the long end? That's when it's needed the most. There's no such problem with stabilization on the Sigma.
 
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I used the Tamron with my D7100, D7200 and D610. The contrast was a bit lacking wide open at 600mm but it was usable.

I switched to the Sigma C 150-600 that was a little bit sharper and had better contrast especially wide open at 600. I also think it focuses a little better but nothing dramatic.

Here are two samples of the D610 with the Tamron, I remember that the keeper rate was decent for the average BIF situation:

25573258412_2c0cf0d70d_o.jpg




25691689675_5762f4ed8f_o.jpg




--
 
rxb dc said:
daviddavis71 said:
I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I have that combo. I just started having trouble with focus and exposure with the tamron on the d750 after the d750 came back from shutter replacement, mirror repair, sensor cleaning and firmware updates. I thought I had it narrowed down to firmware updates causing it. Maybe not, given your lens is new and it sounds like your camera is not. I will try the suggestions here for testing it further. Is your d750's firmware up to date as of this summer?
 
Try cleaning the contacts. Worked like a charm and I get more keepers than my Siggy friends. Go figure. And anyone telling you to use VR at those high shutter speeds doesn't know what they're talking about.
 
knightmelodic said:
Try cleaning the contacts. Worked like a charm and I get more keepers than my Siggy friends. Go figure.
Click to expand...
That didn't help with my 2 Tamron 150-600s. Both were soft and on the first one AF simply stopped altogether. Contacts on both were cleaned both my myself and at the local shop I where I bought them. Even with MF with magnified live view they were too soft.

My Sigma doesn't have those problems.
 
rjjr said:
knightmelodic said:
Try cleaning the contacts. Worked like a charm and I get more keepers than my Siggy friends. Go figure.
Click to expand...
That didn't help with my 2 Tamron 150-600s. Both were soft and on the first one AF simply stopped altogether. Contacts on both were cleaned both my myself and at the local shop I where I bought them. Even with MF with magnified live view they were too soft.

My Sigma doesn't have those problems.
Click to expand...
Good for you. Obviously your experience is not everyone's. Far from it.
 
knightmelodic said:
rjjr said:
knightmelodic said:
Try cleaning the contacts. Worked like a charm and I get more keepers than my Siggy friends. Go figure.
Click to expand...
That didn't help with my 2 Tamron 150-600s. Both were soft and on the first one AF simply stopped altogether. Contacts on both were cleaned both my myself and at the local shop I where I bought them. Even with MF with magnified live view they were too soft.

My Sigma doesn't have those problems.
Click to expand...
Good for you. Obviously your experience is not everyone's. Far from it.
Click to expand...
No need to be snarky.

Lesson learned after getting two screwed up Tamrons, I won't touch another Tamron with a 10 ft. pole. Nor would I ever recommend them.
 
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rjjr said:
knightmelodic said:
rjjr said:
knightmelodic said:
Try cleaning the contacts. Worked like a charm and I get more keepers than my Siggy friends. Go figure.
Click to expand...
That didn't help with my 2 Tamron 150-600s. Both were soft and on the first one AF simply stopped altogether. Contacts on both were cleaned both my myself and at the local shop I where I bought them. Even with MF with magnified live view they were too soft.

My Sigma doesn't have those problems.
Click to expand...
Good for you. Obviously your experience is not everyone's. Far from it.
Click to expand...
No need to be snarky.

Lesson learned after getting two screwed up Tamrons, I won't touch another Tamron with a 10 ft. pole. Nor would I ever recommend them.
Click to expand...
I wasn't being snarky. If something works for you then good. I stayed away from Sigma for many years because of issues I had with them. So what? It didn't make me trash the whole brand and swear avoidance in perpetuity. They stepped up their game and I bought Siggy without a second thought. Time moves on. I buy what's best for my needs. It's your money man. Do whatever you want.
 
knightmelodic said:
rjjr said:
knightmelodic said:
rjjr said:
knightmelodic said:
Try cleaning the contacts. Worked like a charm and I get more keepers than my Siggy friends. Go figure.
Click to expand...
That didn't help with my 2 Tamron 150-600s. Both were soft and on the first one AF simply stopped altogether. Contacts on both were cleaned both my myself and at the local shop I where I bought them. Even with MF with magnified live view they were too soft.

My Sigma doesn't have those problems.
Click to expand...
Good for you. Obviously your experience is not everyone's. Far from it.
Click to expand...
No need to be snarky.

Lesson learned after getting two screwed up Tamrons, I won't touch another Tamron with a 10 ft. pole. Nor would I ever recommend them.
Click to expand...
I wasn't being snarky.
Click to expand...
Your "Good for you." = snarky
knightmelodic said:
If something works for you then good. I stayed away from Sigma for many years because of issues I had with them. So what? It didn't make me trash the whole brand and swear avoidance in perpetuity.
Click to expand...
The Tamrons I've had were so bad I no longer trust the brand.
knightmelodic said:
They stepped up their game and I bought Siggy without a second thought.
Click to expand...
That looks like something to which you'd respond with a "Good for you."
knightmelodic said:
Time moves on. I buy what's best for my needs. It's your money man. Do whatever you want.
Click to expand...
I don't need your permission to do whatever I want.
 
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daviddavis71 said:
I just got my Tamron 150-600 and I am using it on my Nikon D750. Most images were soft or missed focus. Last summer I rented the Sigma 150-600C and got many more winners. Anyone else have issues with the lens? I was shooting at 1/2000. Even with slow moving planes. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thanks

--
http://www.daviddavis.photography
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hail2pitt/
instagram: @daviddavisphotography
Click to expand...
The Tamron 150-600mm is a good lens.. I know many who uses it on a regular basis and gets good results.. there may be "sample variations" to consider here.. but the bottom line is, get the lens that you want and feels the most comfortable with.. below is a few links to look at..

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3958706#forum-post-57162614

https://photographylife.com/nikon-d750-for-wildlife-and-landscape-photography

--
Cheers, John
Photography is my hobby.
http://www.pbase.com/johnshenphotography
 
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Ohh, one more thought on this to consider.. this is just from my experience on this okay.. personally, I think the Tamron 150-600mm lens is (works) better for higher resolution cameras than the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary.. I know many who uses their Tammy on their D800 & D810 cameras (36mp), and the results are good.. again, this is just from my own experiences only.. when used my Sigma C on a D3100 (14mp) camera, it worked good, images are good.. when used on a D3300 (24mp) camera, the images was a bit soft and not as sharp (tried on both D3200 & D3300 bodies, both 24mp's, same results for me).. I used the lens on a D500 camera (20mp), and the results are good.. so now my Sigma C is permanently attached to the D500 camera, lol's.. just some thoughts to share..

--
Cheers, John
Photography is my hobby.
http://www.pbase.com/johnshenphotography
 
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jshen808 said:
Ohh, one more thought on this to consider.. this is just from my experience on this okay.. personally, I think the Tamron 150-600mm lens is (works) better for higher resolution cameras than the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary.. I know many who uses their Tammy on their D800 & D810 cameras (36mp), and the results are good.. again, this is just from my own experiences only.. when used my Sigma C on a D3100 (14mp) camera, it worked good, images are good.. when used on a D3300 (24mp) camera, the images was a bit soft and not as sharp (tried on both D3200 & D3300 bodies, both 24mp's, same results for me).. I used the lens on a D500 camera (20mp), and the results are good.. so now my Sigma C is permanently attached to the D500 camera, lol's.. just some thoughts to share..
Click to expand...
Were you using a tripod your tests?

Since the D3200 and D3300 don't have MFA, did you manually adjust AF on the Sigma for the higher MP bodies using the Sigma USB dock?

Did you try live view with the Sigma and the D3200/D3300? It eliminates any front/back focus errors that can occur when using the OVF and the AF module since it takes focus directly from the sensor.

There is no noticeable difference in sharpness with my Sigma on my Canon 18mp and 8mp bodies and my Sony 24mp A6000. But there is a difference in the amount of detail due to the differences in resolution. The Sigma is noticeably sharper on all those cameras than my Tamrons were.
 
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rjjr said:
jshen808 said:
Ohh, one more thought on this to consider.. this is just from my experience on this okay.. personally, I think the Tamron 150-600mm lens is (works) better for higher resolution cameras than the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary.. I know many who uses their Tammy on their D800 & D810 cameras (36mp), and the results are good.. again, this is just from my own experiences only.. when used my Sigma C on a D3100 (14mp) camera, it worked good, images are good.. when used on a D3300 (24mp) camera, the images was a bit soft and not as sharp (tried on both D3200 & D3300 bodies, both 24mp's, same results for me).. I used the lens on a D500 camera (20mp), and the results are good.. so now my Sigma C is permanently attached to the D500 camera, lol's.. just some thoughts to share..
Click to expand...
Were you using a tripod your tests?

Since the D3200 and D3300 don't have MFA, did you manually adjust AF on the Sigma for the higher MP bodies using the Sigma USB dock?

Did you try live view with the Sigma and the D3200/D3300? It eliminates any front/back focus errors that can occur when using the OVF and the AF module since it takes focus directly from the sensor.

There is no noticeable difference in sharpness with my Sigma on my Canon 18mp and 8mp bodies and my Sony 24mp A6000. But there is a difference in the amount of detail due to the differences in resolution. The Sigma is noticeably sharper on all those cameras than my Tamrons were.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your experiences, that's what these forums all about.. and I'm just sharing mine.. yes, I did try fine tuning, maybe not well enough, but still the same results.. I also tested my Sigma C on a D3000 camera (10mp), and the results are good too.. in a forum, there was a D750 camera user was noticing things with his Sigma C, and recommended him to adjust and lower the resolution (mp) in his camera and to test again, he did that and noticed the performance improved.. I'm very glad & happy your lens works out for your cameras, that's what we all wish & want from our gears.. 👍
 
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