Tamron 70-200mm VC vs Nikon 70-200mm VR III

So I just came from CES and yesterday I visited Nikon booth. I have/had a problem D500 eating batteries even though camera is off. So one of the reps tried to help me and only the time will tell if it is fixed.

Anyway while there I had my D500 with Tamron 70-200mm VC attached. The rep asked me how come I shoot with Tamron (I had my D810 with Tamron 24-70mm VC also) and I said because it does the job I need. He said that the third generation 70-200mm is twice as sharp and focuses faster plus bokeh is better. I said that my lens focuses just fine for my needs. Well, I can't verify all of his claims because I don't have the lens but....they had two on display. One was attached to D500 and the other is to D5. This rep asked me to show how my lens focuses in my hands so I did and he said it was fast. After he left to talk to another customer I looked at Nikon 70-200mm on both cameras.

My Tamron was definitely 100% sure focusing faster than Nikon 70-200mm VR III on my D500. I played with both cameras and I thought maybe some setting on those are set differently but I could not find any difference.

I could not check his other two claims because they would not let me to insert my memory card in their cameras.

Just goes to show, reps are bull******s, everywhere. They tend to give up on me. I don't know why any real photographer would try to bull**** me as if I can't see through claims when I inspect the goods. Some of these people say they do pro photo work sometimes. Yeah, obviously that's why right now you're travelling the country trying to bull**** people instead

Interesting enough info on the VR III not focusing especially fast.

fishy wishy said:

Just goes to show, reps are bull******s, everywhere. They tend to give up on me. I don't know why any real photographer would try to bull**** me as if I can't see through claims when I inspect the goods. Some of these people say they do pro photo work sometimes. Yeah, obviously that's why right now you're travelling the country trying to bull**** people instead

Interesting enough info on the VR III not focusing especially fast.

Click to expand...

Nikon focuses as fast as Sigma 70-200mm OS I would say. Even though I have Sigma too I mostly use Tamron because it is so fast. But I also just found out that Tamron does not work in LV on D500. So I guess I have to send it for FW upgrade.

Okay, I know you are probably bored of this question by now and maybe me as well... but how does the Tamron compare to the Sigma OS in terms of AF accuracy and IQ on Nikon please? I have used the OS at a couple of events before, and I don't remember anything special about the IQ and I thought the VR1 was a bit sharper on crop. I know there is little chance of getting the Tamron to work with a teleconverter, but this is not a deal breaker to me.

(Grey market Tamrons are about the same price as the Sigma now.)

I have been considering moving over to Nikon FX for everything and the only possibility that gives me a moment's hesitation is keeping an old 70-200 on Canon and adding a Sigma 50-100/1.8 for some events on APS-H (65-130 effective) where it just about covers the sensor but I don't rate the old Canon tracking so highly.

fishy wishy said:

Okay, I know you are probably bored of this question by now and maybe me as well... but how does the Tamron compare to the Sigma OS in terms of AF accuracy and IQ on Nikon please? I have used the OS at a couple of events before, and I don't remember anything special about the IQ and I thought the VR1 was a bit sharper on crop. I know there is little chance of getting the Tamron to work with a teleconverter, but this is not a deal breaker to me.

(Grey market Tamrons are about the same price as the Sigma now.)

I have been considering moving over to Nikon FX for everything and the only possibility that gives me a moment's hesitation is keeping an old 70-200 on Canon and adding a Sigma 50-100/1.8 for some events on APS-H (65-130 effective) where it just about covers the sensor but I don't rate the old Canon tracking so highly.

Click to expand...

In good light Sigma is about the same in focus accuracy as Tamron. But remember Sigma designed in 2010 and Tamron is in 2013 so I think Tamron has slightly better components. Some people say that Tamron is sharper but I don't find it to be particularly true. What attracted me to Tamron is the focusing speed.