Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Angle Of View’

Sigma 70 200mm f 2 8 DG HSM II Macro Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Enjoy improved optical performance while retaining close-up ability with the large aperture Sigma 70-200mm macro zoom lens. The lens–which offers a minimum focusing distance of 39.4 inches and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.5–is suitable for a variety of subjects, including portraits, landscape shots, and macro photos. The lens offers two special low-dispersion (SLD) and three extraordinary low-dispersion (ELD) glass elements, providing excellent correction for all types of aberrations and creating high-quality images throughout the entire zoom range. The super multi-layer coating, meanwhile, reduces flare and ghosting. Finally, the lens incorporates a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), which ensures a quiet and high-speed autofocus (AF) as well as full-time manual focusing ability. Other features include inner focusing and inner zooming systems, a removable tripod collar, and a 77mm filter size.

Specifications

• Focal length: 70-200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Lens construction: 18 elements in 15 groups
• Angle of view: 34.3 to 12.3 degrees
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Minimum focusing distance: 39.4 inches
• Filter size: 77mm
• Hood: Petal type
• Corresponding AF mounts: Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Sony/Minolta, Pentax, Four Thirds
• Dimensions: 3.4 inches in diameter and 7.3 inches long
• Weight: 48.3 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Better than Sony on Sony
I have owned this lens for a year now, wanted to wait to give it a review until I got through all the sport seasons. This lens has really delivered. I didn’t like it on my Sony a200 because, quite frankly, the lens was too good for the 200. I use it on my a700 and wow….. the extra megapixels coupled with the abilities of this lens is remarkable. I had purchased the Sony 70-200mm at a significantly higher price and was less impressed. I didn’t do all my homework before purchaseing that lens and found that the Sony version did not have the seals (for dust, weather, moisture) that the Sigma has. It was a no-brainer…. the sigma is far better for the money. If you have an a200, it still is a great lens but I feel that camera can not take full advantage of the features of this lens, otherwise, get this lens, it will be the last telephoto you purchase at this range.

1 Star Back focus is an issue!
I purchased this lens after having owned the Tamron. This is a great lens except that I received mine with a significant back focus issue. I’ve read others complaining about this as well on the Nikon mount. I just don’t believe this is acceptable in a lens at this price point.

1 Star Nice while it still worked …
I have had the lens for slightly over one year – just long enough for the warranty to have expired – and the auto-focus no longer functions. When I took the lens to the local camera shop, I was told that I was the second person that day with this lens who experienced the failure of the auto focus function. When the auto focus did function, the lense was great for action (sports, etc.) shots. I’m going to use the lens with the manual focus for now – and consider buying Canon in the future. I really had not used the lens that much – and had always taken care when handling the lens (e.g. removal, storage, etc. were “by the book”). Very disappointing.

5 Stars One amazinf lens
Amazing performance, I am using this lens with Nikon D300 and love everything about it – boken, fast AF, solid feel, etc.

You have to hold this lens steady or use a tripod, but the results are very sharp and contrasty, colors are very natural.

Did I say I just love the boken

Quite impressive lens!

4 Stars Used for first wedding…very happy with it!
Overall I was very happy with this lens for my first wedding shoot. The focal length worked fine…did not need any extra zoom that I thought I might need. The wedding hall was very dark and I was a little worried but on the aperature setting with the lens wide open I got some great shots. The lens had a little bit of a problem during the dancing…especially if they were moving fast…but for slow dances worked fine. I would say about 80% of my images came out very sharp, which I thought was pretty good given such low lighting. Any outside photos I took were fantastic.

Buy/More Info

Nikon 85mm f 1 4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

85mm focal length is considered the optimal choice for portrait work using a 35mm SLR camera. It can be used with D-Series for Nikon mount cameras. Focus type is Autofocus. Maximum focal length: 85 millimeters. Minimum focal length: 85 millimeters. Maximum aperture range: F/1.4. Camera Magnify Power: 0.11. Real Angle Of View: 28.5.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Rarely taking it off!
I have been shooting with this lens for 5 months now and find this is my new favorite lens to shoot with. The 85mm is a little bit too long for me at one point or another when trying to frame my kid in tight area. I have been doing a lot of foot works since I got this lens. Just be prepare to do some exercises when you decided to purchase one if not shooting in a portrait studio.

One small detail that I had noticed though is that the len is “Made In Japan” but the lens’ cap is “Made In Thailand.” Could this be right? Nikon uses lens’ cap from Thailand instead of manufacturing their own in order to save money?

4 Stars Great for portraits but quite old.
Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 has been hailed as legendary lens for Nikon DSLR or film camera. I think it is because of its unique characteristic but also its age. This lens has been around for thirteen years.

Image Quality and characteristic

Mounted in Nikon full frame camera D700, the lens is sharp at maximum aperture of f/1.4D, which is excellent. Stopped down to f/2.8, the lens become very sharp. But extreme sharpness is not what this lens is made for. It is primarily made for its ability in low light condition, and its ability to create a beautiful out of focus effect in background or foreground.

Because of those characteristic and its fixed focal length, this lens is ideal for portrait. It is also good for candid portraiture such as in wedding. For Nikon pro wedding shooters, this lens is one of must have lens.

Unfortunately, this lens suffers a bit from purple fringing in high contrast area (see sample pic below), it is also susceptible to flare, but not as bad as other lenses.

Auto Focus operation

Because Nikon 85mm f/1.4D does not have built-in motor focus like modern lenses (AF-S) lens, it relies on camera body to focus. It speed will also depend on the camera body. The more higher-end model such as Nikon D700, D3 or D3X will focus faster than the entry-level camera.

When mounted in Nikon D700, the lens focus very fast. Unfortunately entry level user such as Nikon D40, D40X and D60 only can use manual focus because the camera body doesn’t have the capability to focus AF lenses. This lens also create some noise when focusing because lack of Silent Wave Motor.

In sport games such as basketball, the lens has difficulty in continuous tracking. It fails to lock on the object properly resulting in many blur image. I don’t recommend it for sports.

Build Quality

Built quality of this lens is awesome, it is average in size and weight and very nice to handle. The focus ring is smooth. Closest focusing is 85cm, make it not very ideal for macro / close-up photography.

It will come with “metal” lens hood. Unfortunately the lens hood it screw in type and you can’t reverse it for more compact storage. In spite of that, the lens hood is fully metal, so it is better than regular plastic type and a lot more durable.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D vso 85mm f/1.8D

Compare to f/1.8D version, This lens is 2.5 times more expensive, the cheaper lens is not as sharp as f/1.4D in its maximum aperture of f/1.8. At f/2.8, the sharpness is almost equal. The build quality is also a lot worse than the f/1.4D. But the 85mm f/1.8 is more compact and portable.

In Conclusion

You might want to get this lens because of several reasons:

* You frequently shoot at extremely low light condition which f/1.4D is often needed

* You are concern about artistic, especially smooth background blur.

* You are looking for the sharpest lens from edge to edge of the image. (The lens is designed to be sharp in the center “focus” and soft in the corner).

Don’t buy this lens for indoor sports, it is better to get either f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens or lighting equipment.

check out www.radiantlite.com for other reviews

5 Stars Expensive, but worth it since it’s versatile
I’ve had my eye on this lens for some time, but was very hesitant to spend the money on it. I bought it a couple of months ago and have used it almost exclusively on my D90 since then. This is a great lens, and I know it was the right lens for me to add to my photo gear right now.

I agree with previous reviewers, there are 2 main reasons to buy this lens. First, if you shoot in low light conditions this lens performs incredibly well. The other day I was at my kids’ school taking some musical photos for the yearbook. The auditorium manager was out for the day, so we couldn’t turn on the stage lights. We only used the house lights and a very small amount of background stage lights, so it was very dark and I wasn’t feeling optimistic about getting some decent shots. But wide open, the lens was capable of producing sharp, clear, decently exposed images.

The other main reason to buy this lens is the bokeh, of course. It is very smooth and beautiful. However, this lens does take some practice and skill when shooting wide open. It is a very sharp lens even at 1.4, but there is no room for error with focus since the depth of field is so narrow.

One other thing that I really like about this lens is it’s size and weight. It’s hefty and well-built, but isn’t too heavy or cumbersome on my D90. I feel perfectly comfortable walking around with this lens. Sometimes people suggest getting a 70-200mm before or instead of the 85mm, but for me this lens is a much better fit and more versatile. Yes, the 70-200mm also has great bokeh, has a more versatile range, and can be better for indoor sports. But it’s size and weight are a major negative me. I wouldn’t use a 70-200mm for casual portraits, or as a walk around lens, or everyday casual shots. In my opinion, the 85mm is great in all of those situations.

There are some negatives to this lens – it is a little too long on a DX body at times and there are some chromatic aberration and flare issues when shooting wide open.

If you are thinking about getting this lens, do your homework and figure out of this is a right fit for you. For me, it is a very versatile lens and a great performer and I am completely satisfied with it.

5 Stars mfarwell
Ok, I just did it! Ive listed my nikon 80-200 2.8 on ebay. I ordered this lens with alot of anticipation!!!! Ive drooled over the idea way to long.

I feel like a 52 year old kid at christmas getting his first bike. Portraits are my number one addiction, my 2.8 was great in low-light doing stage work{live musicians}. If the 2.8 was what I thought was great I can only imagine what I’ll be able to pull off at 1.4-2.0!

5 Stars More Than Expected
I’ve bought this lens a month ago, and I’ve taken unforgettable photos …

This lens is a Bokeh factory … The portraits are amazing, so dreamy, so isolated.

The built quality is great, metallic. Many complain about the screw hood, I love it, plus it’s metallic too.

The focus is so fast.

I’ve bought a 77mm NC filter mainly to protect the lens …

I know some finds the 85mm in digital = 127.5mm is not easy to handle, specially shooting indoor and in small rooms, but this lens will make you overcome this issue … and if you cannot, then go for 50mm or less.

Buy/More Info

Canon EF 24 70mm f 2 8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

The Canon EF 24-70mm standard zoom lens does what many pros thought couldn’t be done–it replaces the L-series 28-70mm f/2.8 lens with something even better. The lens offers extended coverage to an ultra-wide-angle 24mm, making it ideal for digital as well as film shooters. The new processing unit, meanwhile, makes the autofocus (AF) faster than ever. And thanks to the two aspherical elements and a totally new UD glass element, the optics are far superior to the earlier lens. Sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture, the EF 24-70mm lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 24-70mm
• Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 74 to 29 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Front-focusing method
• Closest focusing distance: 1.25 feet
• Zoom system: Rotating type
• Filter size: 77mm
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.9 inches long
• Weight: 2.1 pounds

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Wonderful Lens
Pros:

- Solid construction

- Outstanding optics (sharpness, contrast, saturation)

- Complementary zoom range if you carry a telephoto lens like the 70-200.

- 2.8 aperture

- Focus is as expected on a USM 2.8, quick

- Lens hood & soft carrying case included*

Cons:

- Heavy, nicknamed “The Brick” (2-3 pounds) for a short lens

- Lack of IS

- Awkward lens hood*

I would like to first say that I recommend this lens – it is outstanding. I fancy this as a good walk-around lens. It is an excellent complement to a telephoto lens (such as a 70-200) which covers the my field needs – except macro and longer zoom.

Just understand what you are purchasing when you buy it. Quality is not a question in this lens and I will not discuss it. The decision is between the 27-70 F/2.8 and the 24-105 f/4 IS as they are very comparable (but not precisely identical in use) quality lenses.

Compare the 24-70 F2.8 and 24-105 F4.0 IS:

- The aperture difference means the 24-70 is superior in motion freezing and to an extent in lower light.

- Camera movement during longer exposures is less of a concern between the 24-70 and 24-105 as the IS and 2.8 tend to offset (remember that IS does NOT resolve subject movement)

- The 24-105 is more versatile by having 50% more zoom.

- I understand the 24-105 is significantly lighter. The 24-70 was disturbingly heavy for such a short lens having never held a 24-105.

- No comment between the 24-70 and 24-105 optics due to not personally encountering a 105. Ratings on the 105 are good, however.

Pay close attention to the fact that the 24-70 2.8 lacks IS and the 24-105 does have IS but at a cost of F/4 – a precarious trade-off situation. That trade-off decision likely determines what lens you should purchase unless low-weight is a major factor.

I chose the 24-70 because I preferred F/2.8 over the 105’s IS – I’ll suffer through my camera jitters as I have done in the past. The weight of the 24-70 was more of a surprise to me than an annoyance.

*: The lens hood functions adequately but attaches to the fixed portion of the barrel. The hood extends 70% of the total lens length when the lens is retracted. You can reverse the hood but it prevents use of the lens controls. This is why I call it “awkward”.

Now to save up for that 70-200 2.8…

4 Stars Great lens, but is it worth the premium?
I wanted this lens for a long time and finally bought it. Its a great lens and the other reviewers point out all the great attributes.

But to be honest, I also have a Sigma DC 17-85 F2.8 for my crop sensor 20D. That lens is nearly as sharp at all apertures. Sigma also makes a DG version for full frame cameras and is about $300 to $400 cheaper.

In the end, I’m not sure the Canon L’s price premium justified it because its performance in my experience isn’t that much better than the Sigma DG. Read up on the Amazon reviews on the DG and you will see that the Sigma is also a great lens but 30%+ cheaper.

No regrets, but my next lens may be a Sigma instead. Canon seems to keep increasing their prices with little improvement in product quality to justify those repeated increases.

5 Stars A must have lens for those who…
This is a must-have lens for those who appreciate great quality photos and the fixed f2.8. It could also be useful for photographers working on their biceps considering how heavy it is.

5 Stars A superb lens
I bought this lens to replace an old Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 that I had been using since about 2001. The Tokina was a very good lens, but on digital cameras it had serious problems with ghosting whenever something like a light bulb or a flourescent tube was in the frame. It also had a very annoying mechanism for switching between auto-focus and manual focus that had to be worked just right or it wouldn’t let you switch.

The Canon EF 24-70mm L USM is even more of an improvement on that lens that I had expected. Not only does it extend down to 24mm, focus faster, control flare and ghosting much better, and implement manual-focus sensibly (including, like all ring-USM Canon lenses, the ability to adjust focus manually even in auto-focus mode), but it’s much sharper. I had no idea how sharp a zoom lens could be until I bought this lens! It is just a bit soft wide open at the long end of its range, but from 24-50mm or so it’s quite sharp even at f/2.8, improving to stunningly sharp by f/5.6. Softness creeps in again at about f/11 due to diffraction limiting, but that’s a natural optical restriction, not a flaw in the lens.

Ergonomically, the lens is excellent. The zoom and focus rings are well-placed and move easily, with a comfortable level of resistance. It is a fairly large, heavy lens, but typically so for Canon L-series lenses, and not much more so than the Tokina that it replaced in my setup. I don’t find it uncomfortable to hold, but I do tend to keep my left hand under it for extra support when in use.

Aside from the minor softness at the long end that I mentioned above, the only significant negative of this lens is the lack of image stabilization (IS), which would come in handy in low light situations.

One interesting property of the EF 24-70mm is that it reverse-extends when zooming — that is, the inner barrel is extended more at the shorter focal lengths, and fully retracted at 70mm. This seems counter-intuitive until you notice how this interacts with the lens hood, which is mounted on the outer barrel and so does not move with the inner barrel. The EF 24-70mm has a much deeper hood than I have seen on other standard-range zooms, and the extension of the barrel at shorter focal lengths means that the hood optimally covers the lens at all focal lengths. At 70mm, the lens is fully retracted, so the hood provides an appropriately narrow field of view; at 24mm, the lens is maximally extended, and the hood provides correspondingly less coverage.

To sum up, the EF 24-70mm L USM is an excellent lens, fully worthy of the L-series designation. The only improvements I would hope for in a future update would be IS and a little more sharpness at wide apertures near 70mm. Until that lens comes into being, I’ll happily continue using this one.

5 Stars Love this lens!
I had been looking for a fast lens in which to

use for photojournalism. I wanted a lens that

could handle low light situations. I rented

different lenses to see which would produce the

clarity, the color, etc. I was torn between

the Canon EF 24mm f 1.4L USM and the 24-70mm f2.8L.

I decided I could get better use of the 24-70mm

since it was zoom and it worked well in low lights.

Buy/More Info

Canon EF 28 135mm f 3 5 5 6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Equipped with an Image Stabilizer and high zoom ratio, the Canon EF 28-135mm standard zoom lens delivers sharp, natural-looking pictures virtually ever time. The lens is particularly handy for places where flashes are prohibited, as it excels in dim lighting without requiring a flash or a tripod. Other features include a ring-type USM for swift, silent autofocusing and full-time manual focusing; a close focusing distance of 20 inches; and a maximum aperture of f/3.5 to 5.6. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 28-135mm
• Maximum aperture: 1:3.5-5.6
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 75 to 18 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Rear focusing system with USM
• Closest focusing distance: 1.6 feet
• Zoom system: Rotating type
• Filter size: 72mm
• Dimensions: 3.1 inches in diameter, 3.8 inches long
• Weight: 18.9 ounces

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A good value walkaround lens
The Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens with Image Stabilization is a very capable, and more importantly, affordable lens,and is perfect for times when you just want to have one lens on the camera but you also want to have a lot of options with your focal range. While you get the benefits of a slight wide to telephoto range in one handy package, you do lose in light stops as you move through the focal range (the maximum aperture stops down as you move toward the telephoto end of the range). This is where the image stabilization comes in very handy, and allows you to keep hand shake at bay even when you have to compromise on shutter speed to get the correct exposure.

I’ve had no complaints about the optical quality, I think you’ll be pleased with the shots you get from it – the lens may be cheap but don’t confuse that with what the quality of image this lens can provide. Keep in mind on a camera with a cropped sensor (any Canon DSLR model other than the 5D and 1D models) the focal range is equivalent to @45-215mm – you lose a bit of the wide angle advantage, but you get more telephoto, so it depends which end of the focal range you value the most as to whether that is a disadvantage or not.

1 Star Defective, no manual, all images blurred – incapable of focusing correctly
Either it was damaged in shipping, or I got a defective lens. For whatever reason, the picture quality on any photo taken on this lens (with every setting, stop, is on/off, tested) came out blurry, particularly on the left side. Photos taken with my old stock 18-55 lens were dramatically clearer. The zoom range was decent, but I’m disappointed. Sending this lens back. It didn’t even come with a manual. I was really looking forward to a lens upgrade.

—

Update -

I reordered the same lens from the same folks and, surprise, this one came in a real Canon lens box with manual and everything. Clearly the one I sent originally was not brand new. Be advised, if you don’t get a manual and a canon box, you’re getting sent something that someone else returned. That said, the new lens is beautiful. The shots are crisp and even using it for a few pictures, it’s pretty awesome and the best lens I have.

If I could, I’d change my rating from 1 star to 4. For the hassle I went through returning the bad lens, I have to take away a star.

4 Stars Great Walk Around Lens
This is a great general purpose walk around lens, and the Image Stabilization is great when hand holding your camera for shooting. Sharp and Fast outdoors, but unfortunately the lens is not fast enough for most indoors photography (unless very well lit). I’ve usually got this lens on my camera when I’m outdoors and I need an all purpose walk around lens.

Pros:

Fast and Sharp

Image Stabilized

Great range of wide and telephoto lengths

Cons:

Poor low light performance

Gets soft in the outer ranges

4 Stars Canon 28-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 great all around lens!
This lens is an excellent general use lens for either a digital crop (Rebel, 40D, 50D etc) or full frame camera (5D, 5D MKII) although its slightly less appealing on a crop camera as the zoom range isn’t quite as wide as on the full frame but still very respectable. In fact for a complete review of my thoughts on this great little performer check out the complete article [...]

4 Stars great lens – good all rounder
I actually got this lens to upgrade my original lens from the XTi set (which I was able to sell on Craigslist). It was a good upgrade, the zoom was better up to 135mm and the IS is good for picture taking. It is a versatile lens to use on a daily basis. Sometimes when I need to I use my 50mm prime for portraits but most of the time I have this on.

Plasticity body but does feel solid, would have liked it to have more metal on it for $400. There is zoom creep when pointing extemely up or down especially when filters and hood are on. (does not come with a hood – again for $400 really should be part of the package).

Main objective is the picture quality which is very good. Sharp and well saturated with good contrast. I also like the fine focus adjustment ring – nice.

I think this was a good upgrade for the XTi, I do like using it and think it is a fair price when considering other options. For an extra 1 star should come with a hood and have no zoom creep and perhaps a bit more metal in the outer construction. One of the better non L lens.

Buy/More Info

Tamron AF 28 75mm f 2 8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical IF with Built In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

The smallest and lightest zoom lens in the history of fast zoom lenses, the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is designed to meet the performance characteristics of Nikon digital SLR cameras. The lens incorporates the same revolutionary downsizing XR technology employed by Tamron in the development of high-power zoom lenses such as the 28-200mm and 28-300mm. As a result, the lens is extremely compact, making it look and feel like an ordinary standard zoom lens, yet with the versatility of a fast constant maximum aperture that will reshape your photographic horizons. Other details include a minimum focusing distance of 13 inches, a 75-to-32-degree angle of view, and a 67mm filter diameter. All Tamron lenses carry a six-year warranty.

Specifications

• Focal length: 28-75mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 14 groups
• Angle of view: 75 to 32 degrees
• Type of zooming: Rotation
• Number of diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: f/32
• Minimum focusing distance: 13 inches
• Maximum magnification: 1:3.9
• Filter size: 67mm
• Corresponding mount: Nikon
• Accessory: Lens hood
• Dimensions: 2.9 inches in diameter and 3.6 inches long
• Weight: 18 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Fantastic lens, incredible price
So far, so good. This lens its fantastic, even more if you consider the price.

Wide open is sharp, but it shines if you stop down a little.

I read some users complains about focus speed and acuracy, well, in my d90 the focus its just as fast as my 35 1.8 and i didn’t notice hunting, yet.

Also, i was really surprised by the size y weight, not too big, not too heavy

Update

Now, after take hundred of pictures, i notice that from 60mm to 75mm 2.8 is a little bit soft, but still usable, at f5 is sharper than my 18-105 at the same focal length and aperture.

Also i confirm the focus is as fast as nikkor 35 1.8

4 Stars Excellent Light-Weight f2.8 Alternative for Nikon Users
I purchased this lens several months ago for my Nikon D700 and after comprehensive testing took it on several photo-trips. To date I’ve shot almost 2000 images with this lens. The review below is based on the sample of the lens I currently own. Due to possible sample variations other samples may be better or worse than mine.

The pros:

1) This is a very sharp lens at all apertures. Specifically, it is UNIFORMLY sharp across the entire frame at any aperture (with one minor exception noted below and that may be a sample variation). Distortion is controlled rather well at all zoom settings. The lens reaches its peak optical performance by f11 at all zoom settings.

2) Although the lens is not designated as “macro”, the close-focusing capability of this lens makes it a good choice for some macro applications.

3) The lens is very well built, light-weight and compact.

4) Considering its current price and outstanding optical quality this lens is an exceptional value.

The cons:

1) At apertures wider than f11 there is a ~ 1mm area of the unsharp focus on the extreme right side of the frame (camera in horizontal position). This is completely gone by f11. I do not consider this an issue, since the area in question is very easy to crop out. I am noting it here for the sake of completeness.

2) At 28mm to 35mm zoom range I encounter frequent AF errors, but since the focus is constant over the entire zoom range, I focus at 75mm, turn off the autofocus and zoom to compose and shot. Otherwise, the autofocus performance is average and unremarkable.

I have taken one star off to account for the two “cons” above.

Summary:

This lens is at least as good as or better than comparable Nikkors at a fraction of price, size and weight. I highly recommend this lens for all general photographic applications.

5 Stars Good Price/Performance Value
Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

I bought this lens for my Nikon D700. This is a full frame lens. The max aperture 2.8 is available on all focal lengths. Tested this at various focal length/aperture/shutter combos under different light conditions.

Here are my observations:

Pros:

1. Awesome value (price/performance). Nikon and Sigma equivalent costs more (nikon way too much).

2. Decent walk-around lens covering key focal lengths of mid range zoom

3. 2.8 aperture available at all focal lengths

4. Relatively fast and quick to focus

5. Great DOF (min aperture 32)

6. Pleasing blokeh effect (shallow DOF)

7. Usable sharp picture at 2.8. Stop down to 4.0 and you can get realy sharp pictures

8. Surprisingly decent close-up performance at various focal lengths (including 28mm). I was able to shoot a 2″ x 2″ object at 28mm at a distance of about 6-8″. This was taken under room light conditions with flash from nikon d700. The pictures were sharp, and usable. (Will post pics later)

9. Less weight compared to other lenses in this class

10. Price, Price, Price !!

Cons

1. Sometimes hunts for focus. This could be my camera setting (I have set focus priority for shutter release. I have to change this setting and try it out)

2. Nikon and Sigma will be better built lenses compared to this (obviously you pay a premium for that built)

3. AF can be perceived as noisy by professional and hard core photographers. I am an average joe. It did not bother me as I was paying more attention to the picture quality. May not be suitable to take pics in a quite setting without drawing some attention to yourself.

I would highly recommend this lens for anyone who is looking for decent zoom with excellent picture quality and on a budget.

I returned Nikon 50m 1.8D lens Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras because I was not satisfied with picture sharpness at wide aperture. I needed to stop down to 2.8 or 4.0 in that lens to get reasonably sharp pics. This lens gives me good sharp pictures at f/2.8 50mm. So I traded that lens for this, so that I can also get some basic zoom for about 250$ more. I am not a professional photographer and do not want to start a religious war between prime lens and zoom lens. Obviously prime lenses are better. For an average customer who wants to take pictures around house, kids birthdays, soccer games etc. this lens is a good bargain.

Also, I bought this elsewhere for about 120$ cheaper than here. You may want to shop around to save some $$$.

Good Luck !

2 Stars built-in motor = terrible autofocus performance!
I bought this lens as a lightweight alternative to my nikkors, to use basically as a walkaround lens. The lens, being mostly plastic construction, is very light, compared to other f/2.8 lenses of the same range. The optics are fine and it is fairly sharp wide open at f/2.8. So, it’s a nice lens, especially for the price, but the autofocus just too slow!

I have 2 other Tamron lenses, the 17-50 f/2.8 and the 90 macro. Both of those are AF-D screwdriver lenses that use the AF motor in the body and both are much faster to focus than this lens with the built-in motor, especially in lower lighting conditions. I was really disappointed with the AF performance of this lens and returned it immediately. I usually like Tamron lenses, which are usually a good value, so I sincerely hope that Tamron fixes this lens so that the internal motor operates more in line with the speed of other lenses with internal motors. As it is, I think I could focus manually faster than with using the motor in this lens.

4 Stars Autofocus failure with D5000 live view @ 47mm
Great lens. Contrary to other reviews, auto-focus is very quick on normal mode, but take note that auto-focus will fail when doing live view auto-focus on D5000 when the lens is zoomed to 47mm and above.

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