Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di Usd Zoom Lens For Sony, Mount A Mount, Full Frame ES Telephoto Focus Autofocus, Constant

I rented the Nikon 70-200 2.8E FL before pre-ordering the Tamron. Body and handling In this latest generation of 70-200 workhorses, both brands flipped the position of the focus and zoom rings, with the focus ring closer to the body. This means my grip is indeed a bit farther out to stay in reach of the more often used zoom ring, placing the heel of my palm partially on the focus ring. Even in A/M mode on the Nikon (which is supposed to reduce focus ring sensitivity to avoid accidentally nudging the focus), I did experience some slight shifting of focus from my palm.While it was pretty rare, the slight movement in the ring gave me just enough doubt, that I'd overuse my focus just to be safe (when back-button focusing). I have not experienced this with the Tamron at ... MoreI rented the Nikon 70-200 2.8E FL before pre-ordering the Tamron. Body and handling In this latest generation of 70-200 workhorses, both brands flipped the position of the focus and zoom rings, with the focus ring closer to the body. This means my grip is indeed a bit farther out to stay in reach of the more often used zoom ring, placing the heel of my palm partially on the focus ring. Even in A/M mode on the Nikon (which is supposed to reduce focus ring sensitivity to avoid accidentally nudging the focus), I did experience some slight shifting of focus from my palm.While it was pretty rare, the slight movement in the ring gave me just enough doubt, that I'd overuse my focus just to be safe (when back-button focusing). I have not experienced this with the Tamron at all. I believe this is partially due to the focus ring being significantly narrower than the Nikon's, and a bit stiffer, though not quite as smooth.It's a small thing, but the confidence is crucial to keeping my mind on the shoot and not the lens. The Nikon has AF buttons that are pretty useful in certain situations, and also help prevent accidentally nudging focus by keeping your hand farther out. Otherwise, the Nikon body is familiar and sturdy. It looks and feels the same as other high quality Nikkor glass. The Tamron body has a significantly higher end feel than other Tamron lenses, including other SP line lenses like the 24-70 and 90mm Macro. The Tamron metal seems to show scuffs easier. Just hanging on my side, the frequent rubbing against my clothes seems to have left some light superficial marks on the surface. Nothing damaging, not scratches, more like polishing lines which are only visible under certain light. It's not a big deal considering this is a workhorse of a lens, and it is certainly sturdy enough for professional use, but it's a bit discouraging to see my new lens marked up after one weekend. Speaking of hanging to my side, the Tamron switches protrude a bit more than the Nikons and were constantly being flipped while I walked. If running around, each time I raised the lens, the AF or VC would be off again and I'd have to double check. This caused me to miss a couple shots in quick draw scenarios at a sporting event when AF was flipped to MF accidentally. The Arca Swiss foot on the Tamron is great! However, since I prefer to mount my strap to the foot to relieve strain on the lens mount, I still have to add a plate. So while I greatly appreciate the thought (all my tripods and mounts are Arca-Swiss compatible), it unfortunately probably won't get much use in the field. Small thing, but the Nikon hood clicks on with a switch to release and feels very secure. The Tamron uses the standard friction point. In case you were wondering, the G2 will not mount to the Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x teleconverter, not even a modified one to fit older lenses. So if you're looking to get a little extra range, expect to dish out another $400 for the Tamron teleconverter. Performance I didn't experience any noticeable difference in autofocus speed or accuracy. The Tamron is very fast and accurate and does not hunt, even in low light. It even handles backlit situations with light coming into the lens very well and is still able to grab focus very quickly and with confidence. The Tamron VC seems to work better than the Nikon's VR. I have no trouble getting crisp shots at 1/20 at 200mm, handheld. The Tamron focuses about 6 closer which is too close for headshots, but it does throw the background out nicely for close-ups. Image quality The Nikon produces images with a little more contrast, particularly in the details. Though the Tamron images are a bit flatter, the colors feel more natural and a bit more saturated. With two perfectly in focus samples side-by-side, the Nikon may be very slightly sharper wide open, but this could be only the extra microcontrast on the Nikon. Overall, this is a fantastic lens and a bargain. (Attached photo is a SOOC RAW processed with no adjustments, and an example of light coming directly into the lens, which had no trouble grabbing focus)

It is an amazing optical instrument - its sharpness rivals even the Canon's latest L series lens - check out independent lab results. But what is most interesting for Sony cameras, is that it functions perfectly on either native A-mount or on E-mount using either of the Sony adopters. It works particularly well with the AE3 on the latest e-mount cameras, taking advantage of the advanced focusing system. I've tried it on A7Rii - and it works great, but I suspect that the lens will work even quicker on the iii generation of cameras. There is no focus limiter nor focus hold button, but the lens' focusing is so quick and the manual - always on assist work so well that neither of those buttons are necessary. The only thing that is missing thus far, is the eye focus ... MoreIt is an amazing optical instrument - its sharpness rivals even the Canon's latest L series lens - check out independent lab results. But what is most interesting for Sony cameras, is that it functions perfectly on either native A-mount or on E-mount using either of the Sony adopters. It works particularly well with the AE3 on the latest e-mount cameras, taking advantage of the advanced focusing system. I've tried it on A7Rii - and it works great, but I suspect that the lens will work even quicker on the iii generation of cameras. There is no focus limiter nor focus hold button, but the lens' focusing is so quick and the manual - always on assist work so well that neither of those buttons are necessary. The only thing that is missing thus far, is the eye focus tracking, which is only available with the Sony's G2 lenses - costing 3 to 4x the Tamron. Very highly recommended.

This lens is the companion to the 70-200 f/2.8 lens I have from Tamron. The quality of the lenses is sound, but not perfect as there is some "slop" in the fitment; which I believe might be the reason for some playback issues if held a certain way which may be resulting in loose contacts with my Canon 7D. As far as the resulting photos - they're crisp; especially when shooting action in moderately lit arenas. While this lens may not be quite the same level as the equivalent Canon, it more than suits my needs - and my abilities. For the price, this purchase was a great buy. I would recommend this lens for the advanced beginner, and maybe even beyond.