Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsL-Series Quality At An EF-S series Price!
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2013
Let me begin by saying that I would rate myself as a pro-sumer/ simipro, but I know good and excellent equipment when I rent or sample it. Please believe me, when I tell you that Tamron pulled out all the stops when they offer this lens at this price point... Period! I own only two camera bodies, a Canon 5d Classic and a 6d... Oh, almost forgot, Amazon's Camera Checker states that this lens will not work with an EOS 6d, but this is false. It works very well with the 6d, as well as the 5d Classic ( both full frame, or EF lens cameras). I mostly use primes, I own the Sigma 50mm f1.4, Canon EF 85mm f1.8 and the Canon 200mm L, all fantastic lenses, if you get good copies. Kind of tired of switching out primes for portraites, although any one of these lenses, given the right amount of light and space to zoom-with-feet is very capable of shooting a full set of portraiture. So, my thoughts were, I would purchase this lens, along with the Tamron AF 28-75mm to tied me over till I'm able to afford the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS L II and The Tamron 24-70 VC for my zoom needs.
Sharpness, Contrast, Colors, Build Quality, AF Speed, Image Stabilization are all excellent with this lens. I kid you not, If this lens were white with a red ring ( L-Series Zoom) and sold for 4x's the price I paid for it ( $260 ), it still would get favorable ratings and reviews! For an FF Camera, this is pretty much your "Go-To" focal range/ Lens, that is why you see so many photos of at least one long white lens amongst a group of black ones in, "What's In My Camera Bag," pictures on Fl**r, at least for Pro Canon users. So began my quest. I sampled: The Canon 70-300mm DO. Amazing lens, beyond L quality build and looks. It suffered from softness and purple fringing and had to be stopped down, and ISO'ed up a bit to achieve Pro level photos, though... but when it hit right, it was breath taking. The problem was, I just could not see paying close to an L lens price, and carrying around close to L lens weight and not be happy with it further down the road. Next, I tried both the Sigma DG 70-300mm APO and The Canon EF 70-300mm IS USM lenses. I really liked the performance and IQ of both of those lenses, but my issue with the Canon was that the front element rotated when focusing, bad news for filters, but it had great image stabilization and was very sharp and contrasty, with vivid colors and bokeh, fast and near silent AF ( came close to keeping this one). Lastly, the Sigma 70-300mm was a very good lens for its price point, but issues with user friendliness steared me away from it. Images were fairly good at most focal lengths and f-stops & ISOs, but No stabilization, buzzy AF, having to toggle between AF/Man to use macro or to remove lens hood and/or filters ( made me feel like I was fiddling with a Rubik's Cube). It also stated in Owner's manual: "Don't use focus ring in this mode, or don't use zoom ring in that mode... or you may damage AF motor." Way too many things to think about when shooting, IMHO.
The Tamron AF 70-300mm VC: I can honestly say, this lens is miles ahead of those lenses I mentioned and infact, is equal to the Canon 70-200mm f4 L Non IS... Maybe superior, because the IQ is nearly the same plus it has image stabilization (VC). I compared the two along with the Canon 70-200mm (f 2.8) Non IS. At $1,500 of course the f2.8L was the clear winner... So sharp, so clean ( no fringing, no CA, etc.), blazing fast AF, superior in low light. The thing that might surprise you though, is THIS: To my eyes, this Tamron's image quality is on par with the Can f.4L and f.4L with IS, and only behind the Can f2.8L and f2.8L IS II ever so slightly when stopped down to an f6 Aperature! My friends, This is a steal... click Add To Shopping Cart.