Is the Tamron 14-150mm really a no-go for Panasonic users?

I've already got lenses that cover the range of the Tamron, but I've been looking at it non-the-less as a travel lens for holidays. The Panasonic 14-140mm is out of my reach price-wise.

I've searched the forum and most references to the Tamron seem to be from Oly body owners, with a few mentions to the fact than unless you have a GX7, Panasonic owners can forget about it. I have a G3.

I know its not a great comparison, but I have a 21x zoom Nikon bridge camera, so as an experiment I turned the IS off, cranked the zoom up and took a few photos, and they came out fine.

So, does the lack of IS really rule this lens out for me? Do any other non-GX7 Panasonic-owners own/have experience with this lens, and if so how have you found it in hand-held use?

May thanks,

Rob

In daylight, providing you have a steady hand or brace the camera according with a suitable high shutter speed, you can use the Tamron 14-150 on non-IBIS Panasonic bodies.

My copy was an impulse purchase in LA last year before heading to Vegas and the Grand Canyon to give my GM1 more range than the kit 12-32mm.

Forget using it at low shutter speed or in low light without a tripod. All my night shots from the top of The Stratosphere are blurry as...

Why would you bother when Panasonic have the Fantastic 14-140-II which is not only the best superzoom optically (for any camera system) but also has OIS and perfectly suited to your G7 ? ....

The Tamron was for Olympus owners who wanted a better lens when the Oly 14-150 Mk1 was out but didn`t want to deal with potential CA removal issues when using a Panny lens .

With the Supposedly better Oly 14-150-II , there`s little reason for the Tamron's existence as both OEM makers now have a better lens ......

tamron ought to do for M43 what they do for APS-C and make absurd focal range superzooms which are better than they ought to be - I await the announcement of the Tamron 12-300-VC-USD

Hi Adam,

Well like I say, the Panasonic 14-140mm is just way out of my reach price-wise. Its not like I've just got £312 laying around for the Tamron, but at £160 more again I just can't stretch to the Panasonic, as much as I'd like to.

Well like I say, the Panasonic 14-140mm is just way out of my reach price-wise. Its not like I've just got £312 laying around for the Tamron, but at £160 more again I just can't stretch to the Panasonic, as much as I'd like to.

I`d check the shops for a used Panasonic - I did and how I got mine .. check the Various branches of LCE on their website, WEX, , Ffordes photopgraphic, MPB Photographic, Park Cameras etc and make sure you`re looking at the F3.5-5.6 one and not the old F4-5.8 one (which is really a Video optimized lens and not as good at the long end) .

if you can`t find one I`d not bother at all and use the 40-150 + 14-42 combo which is what I`d do on a Panasonic body rather than buy the OIS-Less Tamron

Well I've currently got the 14-45 kit kens and 45-150. I guess sticking with them is no bad thing, i was just hoping the Tamron might be the all-in-one solution I was looking for without the Panasonic price tag.

Like you suggest I'll keep an eye out for a second-hand one, and otherwise stick with what I've got.

robsta wrote:

Hi Adam,

Well like I say, the Panasonic 14-140mm is just way out of my reach price-wise. Its not like I've just got £312 laying around for the Tamron, but at £160 more again I just can't stretch to the Panasonic, as much as I'd like to.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=panasonic+14-140+3.5&_sop=15

The first four f/3.5 versions range from £324 to £355. The (apperently not adviced) f/4.0 version can be had for less.

Well at that price I'll definitely get the Panasonic. I must admit I don't tend to look on ebay these days, so didn't realise they could be had for that price.

Well, that's that sorted then! Thanks for all your help guys, its very much appreciated.

robsta wrote:

Well at that price I'll definitely get the Panasonic. I must admit I don't tend to look on ebay these days, so didn't realise they could be had for that price.

Well, that's that sorted then! Thanks for all your help guys, its very much appreciated.

you don`t need to resort to Fleabay - Britain is LOADED with camera shops stuffed with used kit

AdamT wrote:

robsta wrote:

Well at that price I'll definitely get the Panasonic. I must admit I don't tend to look on ebay these days, so didn't realise they could be had for that price.

Well, that's that sorted then! Thanks for all your help guys, its very much appreciated.

you don`t need to resort to Fleabay - Britain is LOADED with camera shops stuffed with used kit

London Camera Exchange Strand branch had an immaculate second hand 14-140 MK2 in 5 weeks ago as I traded mine in against a 100-300mm.

The "cheap" ones are used (and at least one from Germany), but for £351 you get a new (British) one. Take the offer you like best.

I got a lot of my lenses from ebayshops, often at prices I can only imagine possible if your "shop" is a barn in the middle of nowhere and you only trade online. But as long as returns are accepted and paypal or creditcard buyerprotection applies that's o.k. with me. And I buy within the EU (free transport of goods, no hassle with customs, additional taxes etc.)

Poland has some interesting shops as well, but they didn't show up at ebay.co.uk they usually do at ebay.de

robsta wrote:

Well I've currently got the 14-45 kit kens and 45-150. I guess sticking with them is no bad thing, i was just hoping the Tamron might be the all-in-one solution I was looking for without the Panasonic price tag.

If you have 45-150 you can turn of OIS and check by yourself how it going. If you can get Panasonic cheaper on ebay, you still can get Tamron for 100 less...

I have Tamron and really like it, and while I have GX7 I try to keep IBIS turned off if possible. At day it is OK. Also, I use it as macro lens more than as telezoom

AdamT wrote:

...

tamron ought to do for M43 what they do for APS-C and make absurd focal range superzooms which are better than they ought to be - I await the announcement of the Tamron 12-300-VC-USD

You and me both! I drool over the thought of a ludicrous superzoom for u4/3!

Primes are for IQ, Zooms are kings of convenience!

evadim wrote:

If you have 45-150 you can turn of OIS and check by yourself how it going. If you can get Panasonic cheaper on ebay, you still can get Tamron for 100 less...

You know, sometimes I need people to think for me! That's a great idea, I'll give it a go tomorrow. Cheers evadim.

Primes are for IQ, Zooms are kings of convenience!

with the 14-140-II you get convenience and IQ -

Tamron definitely ought to make a really silly lens for M43 - make that TWO - 12-300 F3.5-6.3 and a 45-600 F4-5.6 (It ought to be no bigger than a Canon`s oversized 100-400L )

robsta wrote:

Well at that price I'll definitely get the Panasonic. I must admit I don't tend to look on ebay these days, so didn't realise they could be had for that price.

Well, that's that sorted then! Thanks for all your help guys, its very much appreciated.

http://www.camerajungle.co.uk/product/101249/panasonic-14-140mm-f-35-56-asph-power-ois-lumix-g-vario-micro-four-thirds-zoom-lens.html

Good warranty, excellent returns policy - no quibble, no mess. £390 plays £350 ebay price. Think about it very hard, it's a lot of dosh!!!

robsta wrote:

Well I've currently got the 14-45 kit kens and 45-150. I guess sticking with them is no bad thing, i was just hoping the Tamron might be the all-in-one solution I was looking for without the Panasonic price tag.

Like you suggest I'll keep an eye out for a second-hand one, and otherwise stick with what I've got.

Why not sell the 45-150mm and put that toward a 14-140mm II. I have both and the 14-140mm is a good optically as the 45-150mm. I'm not sure how it stacks up against the 14-45mm, but that is as good as the 14-42mm II, which is also damn close to the 14-140mm, optically.

I have all three… 14-42mm II, 45-150mm and 14-140mm II… and to my eye there's little or no difference between them optically. The 14-140mm is a bit chubbier than the 45-150mm… 58mm vs. 52mm filters… and that's about it.

Its worth exploring.