Quentin_Bargate
Well-known member
I have just received a new Tamron 18-200mm which, if up to scratch, would make an ideal all-purpose and travel lens, roughly 27mm-300mm equivalant on full frame 35mm format.
However when I cam to research the lens online, I could not find much info and no thorough reviews, just some random comments. There is some publicity about the lens here. Tamron publish MTF graphs for the lens that look reasonable.
This lens seems particularly significant because it is Tamron's first E mount offering - I assume the first of many. The focal length range duplicates that of the Sony 18-200mm but it is an entirely different optical design.
It is a fair bit smaller and lighter than the Sony equivalent and very well made, much better than the usual superzoom plastic fantastic. For example, it has a metal body and mount and no "play" when zoomed out. It is also a tad cheaper ( the cheapest I have now found in the UK is just under £500 at Jessops)
Here is the lens mounted on the Nex-7 (taken with a Nex-5)
and in hand
And a few random shots with it today
The cappuccino shot was taken on a tripod using the 10 sec self timer, with VC turned off. It was low light so longinsh exposure needed.
What it is or has:
- Convenient
- well made
- Quiet AF
- Good image quality. There is some CA of the more benign kind which is easily corrected in Camera raw or lightroom, etc. By "Good" I mean generally very good, much better than I had anticipated. There is some loss of contrast and edge performance at the long end but it stays sharp if properly focused in the centre. Good enough to be used with confidence in most situations.
- Great Vibration reduction
- relatively small and modest weight
What it is not:
- a replacement for the Zeiss 24mm F1.8, first because it is not quite that good, and of course, somewhat slower, nor (I assume) a replacement for those super sharp Leica goodies some have stashed around.
However when I cam to research the lens online, I could not find much info and no thorough reviews, just some random comments. There is some publicity about the lens here. Tamron publish MTF graphs for the lens that look reasonable.
This lens seems particularly significant because it is Tamron's first E mount offering - I assume the first of many. The focal length range duplicates that of the Sony 18-200mm but it is an entirely different optical design.
It is a fair bit smaller and lighter than the Sony equivalent and very well made, much better than the usual superzoom plastic fantastic. For example, it has a metal body and mount and no "play" when zoomed out. It is also a tad cheaper ( the cheapest I have now found in the UK is just under £500 at Jessops)
Here is the lens mounted on the Nex-7 (taken with a Nex-5)
and in hand
And a few random shots with it today
The cappuccino shot was taken on a tripod using the 10 sec self timer, with VC turned off. It was low light so longinsh exposure needed.
What it is or has:
- Convenient
- well made
- Quiet AF
- Good image quality. There is some CA of the more benign kind which is easily corrected in Camera raw or lightroom, etc. By "Good" I mean generally very good, much better than I had anticipated. There is some loss of contrast and edge performance at the long end but it stays sharp if properly focused in the centre. Good enough to be used with confidence in most situations.
- Great Vibration reduction
- relatively small and modest weight
What it is not:
- a replacement for the Zeiss 24mm F1.8, first because it is not quite that good, and of course, somewhat slower, nor (I assume) a replacement for those super sharp Leica goodies some have stashed around.
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