Tamron SP 28-105mm F2.8 with A900
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:16 pm
Hello,
What about starting the new year with a new lens to test
. Well, in fact this is my third 28-105mm 2.8 I tried. First was with my 7D long time ago, after that another one with the A700, and now by curiosity, I got this new one on Ebay last week to test on my A900.
First the Tamron SP 28-105mm 2.8 is a unique lens covering useful range of day to day photography with a constant aperture of 2.8. My two first experience with the lens was not very good, the main point was the very not good result at wide open aperture over the all range of view of the lens. Other negative aspect of the lens was the huge 82mm filter for the lens, but at this time I was use to with the Sigma EX DG 20mm 1.8 and the Sigma EX DG 24-75mm 2.8 (both sold since long time now ..., but I can recommend the 24-70mm for the used price vs performance).
The size of the lens is big compare to the Minolta 28-75mm D but this is the compromise to reach a +30mm of zoom. The weight for this kind of lens is impressively low ... , the weight feel not bigger than the Minolta 28-75 D.
My surprise, is that I had to wait for the third lens to discover that there is a blocking system in the Zoom barrel to give more of less friction to the lens to limit it to expend when your camera is on your shoulder strap. On new model there is a standard switch on the back of the lens, but I never saw a new model in real.
As usual, I'm not going in very full detail review of my lens, I'm only expressing my feeling and let you check the picture to get the information you want.
The Tamron SP 28-105mm 2.8 on the Sony A900 Full frame:
The wide open 2.8 is again soft compare to other standard 3x zoom lens, but this time I can tell you that it is better than with 7D and A700 because most of the softness was result of back focus (that I realized after shooting with the lens outside, you will see that on the tree's pictures). If you are adding a little bit of contrast in your picture, you are able to get acceptable picture at 2.8 (6MP~10MP size). There is also some flare effect that seams to be removed up to F/4.0.
There is strong lost of detail on the right side of my picture, but having same problem with other lens... I'm starting to think that I probably have a shifting sensor problem with my A900.
After 4.0 the lens can give good result and at 5.6 enough detail for my taste. Vignetting is strongly present wide open at 105mm and reduce a little bit going down to 28mm, reducing to 4.0 it is mostly solved. The out of focus effect has the same signature of the Minolta 28-75mm D (also Tamron design) creating kind of weird false detail in the blur region : (but common on other 3x zoom...)
105mm at 2.8 ISO 200 Sony A900:
Here is the series of picture:
http://www.pbase.com/nadeauf/28_105mmtamronsp_a900
Hope this can help some people choosing in budget lens. On used market you can find this lens easy for affordable price for those searching for a versatile low light zoom lens. The lens is not perfect ... but you have what you paid for. And searching for perfection always eat your $$$ more than giving you chance to get good picture...
Regards,
Frank
What about starting the new year with a new lens to test
. Well, in fact this is my third 28-105mm 2.8 I tried. First was with my 7D long time ago, after that another one with the A700, and now by curiosity, I got this new one on Ebay last week to test on my A900.First the Tamron SP 28-105mm 2.8 is a unique lens covering useful range of day to day photography with a constant aperture of 2.8. My two first experience with the lens was not very good, the main point was the very not good result at wide open aperture over the all range of view of the lens. Other negative aspect of the lens was the huge 82mm filter for the lens, but at this time I was use to with the Sigma EX DG 20mm 1.8 and the Sigma EX DG 24-75mm 2.8 (both sold since long time now ..., but I can recommend the 24-70mm for the used price vs performance).
The size of the lens is big compare to the Minolta 28-75mm D but this is the compromise to reach a +30mm of zoom
. The weight for this kind of lens is impressively low ... , the weight feel not bigger than the Minolta 28-75 D.My surprise, is that I had to wait for the third lens to discover that there is a blocking system in the Zoom barrel to give more of less friction to the lens to limit it to expend when your camera is on your shoulder strap. On new model there is a standard switch on the back of the lens, but I never saw a new model in real.
As usual, I'm not going in very full detail review of my lens, I'm only expressing my feeling and let you check the picture to get the information you want.
The Tamron SP 28-105mm 2.8 on the Sony A900 Full frame:
The wide open 2.8 is again soft compare to other standard 3x zoom lens, but this time I can tell you that it is better than with 7D and A700 because most of the softness was result of back focus (that I realized after shooting with the lens outside, you will see that on the tree's pictures). If you are adding a little bit of contrast in your picture, you are able to get acceptable picture at 2.8 (6MP~10MP size). There is also some flare effect that seams to be removed up to F/4.0.
There is strong lost of detail on the right side of my picture, but having same problem with other lens... I'm starting to think that I probably have a shifting sensor problem with my A900.
After 4.0 the lens can give good result and at 5.6 enough detail for my taste. Vignetting is strongly present wide open at 105mm and reduce a little bit going down to 28mm, reducing to 4.0 it is mostly solved. The out of focus effect has the same signature of the Minolta 28-75mm D (also Tamron design) creating kind of weird false detail in the blur region : (but common on other 3x zoom...)
105mm at 2.8 ISO 200 Sony A900:
Here is the series of picture:
http://www.pbase.com/nadeauf/28_105mmtamronsp_a900
Hope this can help some people choosing in budget lens. On used market you can find this lens easy for affordable price for those searching for a versatile low light zoom lens. The lens is not perfect ... but you have what you paid for
. And searching for perfection always eat your $$$ more than giving you chance to get good picture...Regards,
Frank