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Tamron SP 70-200 F/2.8 Di - time to upgrade
- Thread starter mrmjs
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Calico Jack
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Ahoy!
Well, if you've checked the specs and prices, you'll answer your own question. You've left out the Sigma AF 70-200/2.8 OS EX DG APO HSM. The standard Tamron 70-200/2.8 Di has great sharpness and colours but is physically slower and can hunt to acquire focus lock in less than decent light so many opted for the standard Sigma 70-200/2.8 back in the day. Then you have the Minolta AF 80-200/2.8 APO G/APO HS G which are both superb though the Sony/Minolta 70-200/2.8 G's are way overpriced for the extra 10mm.
I don't see the need to waste money just for the sake of a simple replacement unless there's something you absolutely must have, though depending on budget if you must get one, I would go with the Minolta AF 80-200/2.8 APO G/APO HS G, Sigma AF 70-200/2.8 OS EX DG APO and also look at the Tokina AF 80-200/2.8 AT-X PRO.
I'm mainly interested in faster focusing. IQ wise I'm happy with my current Tamron.
Calico Jack
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Ahoy!
It would be fair to say that all would be physically faster (the exception is the new version Tamron as I've never owned/used it so cannot offer any insight about it, though unless you've already checked, see the reviews and image samples over at Dyxum), though it's very marginal in terms of colour, sharpness and IQ, but the benchmark lens is the Minolta AF 80-200/2.8 APO G/APO HS G. The older non-OS Sigma's tend to be more contrasty to either the Tamron or Minolta, though that doesn't apply to the later OS Sigma version and was the best alternative to your Tamron at the time, though your Tamron is as close to the Minolta version as you'll likely get apart from it's physical AF speed and it tends to hunt to focus lock which can be a big deal if tracking fast moving subjects.
The Tokina is about the cheapest of the bunch but it's price isn't reflected in it's performance, so is the best bang for buck lens. If your budget could stretch to buying either the black or white Minolta 80-200/2.8 then that would be arguably the best choice overall, though the Sigma OS version is a quality lens in it's own right and the in-lens OS is IMO better than in-body SSS, though you MUST turn it OFF when tripod mounted and you cannot use both OS and SSS together (it's either one or the other or none at all).
My personal opinion about the focal range is basically that it's limited. After all, the F4 Beercan has a longer reach albeit it's highly regarded but over-rated. I find 200mm as a limit is too short as you tend to need additional range which is why the 100-300/4 is so handy apart from being a brilliant lens in it's own right and you're not a million miles off from G lens IQ. If you add a 1.4x TC to the 70/80-200/2.8 then you'll have F4 anyway plus you'll pay more for a lens and TC combo compared to the 100-300/4 price, though if you did try and look for one, the Sigma EX DG (IF) APO are harder to find as owners/users now know what I did 8 years ago and have come to the same conclusions as I did, thus they're not as common on the used market as the once were, and the Tokina AT-X PRO version is nigh-on impossible to find in A-Mount.
Anyway, that's my 2 doubloons worth.
tbcass
Forum Pro
I own the newer Tamron and use it for indoor basketball. It works very well and focuses extremely fast on my A77ii. The fast focus is the reason I spent the extra money for the newer model rather than the older one. The lens is weather sealed and focuses and zooms internally. The build quality is excellent but it is very heavy so I use it on a monopod.
Calico Jack
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If you think it's 'heavy' then try carting a 300/2.8 around. That's a heavy lens and I would think the Tamron is about half the weight or less so easily hand-holdable in comparison.
Fotohouse
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yakkosmurf
Senior Member
I've been very happy with the new Tamron. It's my first 70-200. I looked at the Sony, but the price wasn't as big a deal to me as the weight. I wanted my 70-200 to not only be sharp at f2.8 and fast focussing, but also be light and small enough to fit in my travel bag. The Sony 70-200 is the same size and weight as my 70-400, but the Tamron is significantly lighter.
While the lens is not as sharp as my Zeiss lenses, it's very good at f2.8 with a pleasing background. No regrets. I was just out yesterday shooting pics of my daughter riding her bike. I use it on my a850, so your a77 will likely focus even faster.
While the lens is not as sharp as my Zeiss lenses, it's very good at f2.8 with a pleasing background. No regrets. I was just out yesterday shooting pics of my daughter riding her bike. I use it on my a850, so your a77 will likely focus even faster.
tbcass
Forum Pro
Not quite. 5.1 lbs vs 3.2 lbs. I'm not saying it's not hand hold-able but when shooting basketball with my A77ii I have to keep the camera to my eye for long periods at a time so using a monopod certainly is helpful.
BTW, I lift weights to stay in shape so it isn't like I'm not strong enough.
tbcass
Forum Pro
The Tamron 70-200 f2.8 USD weighs 3.1 lbs while the Sony 70-200 f2.8 G weighs 2.87 lbs. The Sony 70-400 Gii weighs 3.31 lbs. I got these weights from the B&H website. The older Tamron 70-200 f2.8 Di weighs 2.53 lbs so is that the lens you are talking about?
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Tom
Look at the picture, not the pixels
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Misuse of the ability to do 100% pixel peeping is the bane of digital photography because it causes people to fret over inconsequential issues.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63683676@N07/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25301400@N00/
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yakkosmurf
Senior Member
Shows what I remember after 6 months. I did get the newer one with the built in focus motor. The key for me was size more than weight. That was the limiting feature in my bag. A 70-200, is also not something I use a lot, so the money was better to put toward something I'd use more. I find the lens every easy to handhold all day if needed. I've permanently removed the tripod mount, as I found it in the way.
yakkosmurf
Senior Member
Here's a pic I took this weekend with the Tamron. She was moving at the time.
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yakkosmurf
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yakkosmurf
I talked to my local camera store yesterday, they told me the new tamron is very close to the sony 70-200 v1.
I could get a used sony in the $1500 range or the tamron which comes with a six year warranty. KEH does have a minolta 80-200 but it's in EX condition (80-89%).
I could get a used sony in the $1500 range or the tamron which comes with a six year warranty. KEH does have a minolta 80-200 but it's in EX condition (80-89%).
Fotohouse
Forum Enthusiast
Depending on your needs the 80-200 HS that KEH has is an excellent lens and mates up with the A77 very nicely. It has reasonably fast AF and does not seem to hunt very much. I will be testing my copy with the A99 tonight once the A99 arrives. The only drawbacks I have with the 80-200 are: No weather sealing, Loudish AF (screw drive), no focus limiter, & front element rotates with AF (effects CPL).
Now if these are not a problem for you this, as I stated, is an excellent lens and the drawbacks will depend on your type of photography. For me they have not been an issue other than the AF sound during weddings, but then with focus peeking I can MF very quickly so I have been able to negate that drawback somewhat.
I have not owned the 2nd generation of the Tamron but I can say that my experience with the 70-200 2.8 (1st gen) was a very positive one, only reason I sold it was I fell into a good deal on the Minolta 80-200 and 28-70 both G lenses for less than $1500 from an original private owner and both lenses would have fallen into the LN- catagory. He was a Minolta user that switched to Canon after his 7D started getting the Black frame issues.
VirtualMirage
Senior Member
I never owned the older Tamron, but I can say I am pretty happy with the accuracy and speed of the new Tamron. Image quality is great too!
Calico Jack
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Ahoy!
What about the Sigma AF 70-200/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM? I hear it's an excellent performer and having in-lens OS would likely make it a very user friendly bit of kit too. Personally, I always make Onestop-Digital my first port of call for pricing (this lens is USD $1081.87) but they also offer the globally accepted MACK warranty which is USD $23.62 for 3 years. They will also beat any competitors price if they can, though you would have to send a price-match request via the item page and if they can do so, they will confirm by email with the adjusted price with details how you buy it at the lower price, and it's valid for 7 days from the time of issue. I've used them twice before, and their service is top draw. Delivery is usually within 7 days, so no cheap over-land 6 week snail-main job.
Whilst they don't generally stock a lot for Sony/Minolta, it's also worth checking for any other lenses of interest in order to price-match as their prices are generally the cheapest around, but don't let that fool you into thinking that's reflected in the level of service.
IF the OP does buy any lens with optical stabilisation, the camera batteries will be chewed up and spat out pretty darned quickly, so either turn of the camera or the lens OS to save battery life, or better still, add a VG and a few extra batteries. That aside, when using a lens of around 2kg +, the VG will balance the set-up very well and allow for ease of use plus if you have the type of VG's I have which are identical to the OEM VG, it makes portrait image captures simple as the control set is duplicated and you don't have to dislocate your wrist in order to frame, focus, zoom, track and shoot.
Apologies for going off on a tangent when no doubt a single short paragraph would've sufficed
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