Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Image Sensors’

Tamron AF 18 200mm f 3 5 6 3 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Designed for exclusive use on Canon digital SLR cameras with smaller-size imagers, this Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II aspherical macro zoom lens is ideal for a host of situations. The high-power zoom lens–which offers an equivalent focal length of 28-300mm in 35mm format–adds versatility to your lens menu, zooming from a true wide perspective to an ultra tele zoom, all in an amazingly easy-to-use design. As a result, the lens is ideal for everything from landscape shots to sports and wildlife photography. The lens also incorporates several of Tamron’s proprietary core technologies, including aspherical elements that minimize chromatic aberration, a multiple cam mechanism, and an integrated focus cam design. The technologies combine to create the world’s lightest, most compact 11.1x digital zoom lens. Other features include an angle of view of 75 to 7 degrees, a minimum focusing distance of 17.7 inches, and a 62mm filter diameter. All Tamron lenses carry a six-year warranty.

Note: The Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II zoom lens is not designed for conventional cameras or digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm.

Specifications

• Focal length: 18-200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/3.5-6.3
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 13 groups
• Angle of view: 75 to 7 degrees
• Type of zooming: Rotation
• Diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Minimum focusing distance: 17.7 inches
• Macro magnification ratio: 1:3.7 (at f=200mm)
• Filter size: 62mm
• Corresponding mounts: Canon
• Lens hood: Yes, flower shaped
• Dimensions: 2.9 inches in diameter and 3.3 inches long
• Weight: 14 ounces
• Warranty: 6 years

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Love the range!
I really like the flexibility of this lens. I also have the 18-55 that came with the camera, and a 70-300, but I found myself changing lenses about every 2-3 shots sometimes, because I take a lot of wide-angle shots, as well as full zoom. I can’t afford the L-series 18-300, and this lens is a good compromise until I can. It is not quite as reliable with my Kenko 1.4 teleconverter, especially on the auto-focus function. However, overall, I’m very satisfied.

1 Star fuzzy photos
I am really unhappy with this lens… unless I am in bright sum it seems all my photo’s are extremely fuzzy.

5 Stars All in one.
I bought this lens to shoot a wedding of a friend of mine. It was the only lens I needed. I used the zoom from the loft down to the alter and the same lens at the alter close up. Worked great!

5 Stars a dream lens
I am an old film-photo enthusiast who remembers the days when high quality long lenses cost an arm and a leg. I also spent a few years in the wilderness of point-and-shoot digital cameras and have recently returned to SLR land via a K200D plus this lens.

For the price this is an mazing piece of work. Just remember, all tools have some limitations and lenses are no exception. Telephoto lenses are generally for bright daylight, unless you have $3000 to spend and are willing to carry a 10lb bazooka.

I use this lens in daylight, and the solidity, versatility and the sharpness are awesome. I have pictures of lions shot at the Bronx zoo at about 40ft MANUALLY FOCUSED; I can count the whiskers!

Some tips:

-use a high ISO number to shoot at highspeeds. I use shutter-priority setting on the K200D,and aim for 1/350sec or faster.

-use manual focus if you are confident about it, your batteries will last forever

-a lens is a piece of precision manufacturing; protect it from dust and bangs!

-don’t pay attention to pixel-peepers; a little fringing never spoiled a really good picture (those of us who wear thick glasses live with fringing full-time!)

-shoot hundreds of pictures, do not be afraid to experiment

-for Pentax users, set the noise reduction and shake-reduction; they are not default settings.

-a tripod or beanbag is worth its weight in gold

5 Stars BEST VALUE FOR THE MONEY
I recently purchased this lens for my Canon EOS Rebel XS and I love it. I use it to take pictures of the birds in my Georgia backyard. The quality of the photos is terrific and the detail is awesome! Amazon was so easy to deal with, I trust them implicitly. If you purchase this lens you will not be disappointed.

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Tamron AF 17 50mm F 2 8 XR Di II LD SP ZL Aspherical IF Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers and inherit all of the benefits of our Di products. These lenses are not designed for 35mm film cameras and digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm. The SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 is a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras, expanding the product concept of the popular SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 zoom lens. In addition, portrait shots are made beautiful with the natural out-of-focus effect characteristic provided by the fast F/2.8 aperture. A broader photographic expression through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture offers enhanced photographic pleasure. The lens boasts one of the best close-up shooting performances in the class of fast standard zoom lenses designed exclusively for digital cameras and featuring an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, to ensure stress-free photographic shots at all focal lengths and distances. Diameter x Length – 2.9 x 3.2 inch (74.0 x 81.7mm) Accessory Flower shaped lens hood

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Lens great!, But no lens hood
Product page says that an accessory lens hood was included with purchase. Shipment came in a timely manner but I found no lens hood in the box. I’m too lazy to return so I said f**&k it.

4 Stars My first wide lens
Just got my 17-50 Tamron lens. I cannot beleive how much you can fit on a picture with this lens. I used to own a 28-138 lens and when I took a picture of a tree- I could only get about 1/3 of the tree. With this lens I can get the whole tree and more! Comes with a lens hood which stays on my lens. It does not come with a lens case. The only con of this lens is that the AF motor is a little louder than most. It sounds like a dentist drill.I would definatel recommend this lens over the canon models. Canons costs about $600 more. I have been buying third party lenses lately and have gotten equal results compared to Canon models.

This lens also has an f stop of f/2.8 throughout which makes this a fast lens.

5 Stars BEWARE AMAZON PACKING
I gave the lens a 5 as it meets or exceeds expectation, but I had to add to the numerous complaints on this and other lenses at Amazon about the completely inadequate packaging of lenses.

In looking at lens reviews I saw many complaints about the way these delicate pieces of glass and electronics are packaged by Amazon. I was absolutely amazed when I opened my package to find NO PROTECTIVE PACKING WHATSOEVER IN THE BOX. The lens was left to bounce around inside the amazon box during the shipping. Having paid $20 for shipping, I would expect at least some bubble wrap between the manufacturers box and the outer container. This will be the last piece of camera equipment I buy from Amazon.

There is no excuse for a vendor of this magnitude to be selling fragile electronics and yet not package it correctly. This is not a book. I have entered a packaging complaint and will also be letting Tamron know about this flaw in their supply chain.

5 Stars Very Sharp at 17mm. Vivid, saturated colors
After much wrangling over the 17-55 EF-S and the 17-40 EF L, I pulled the trigger on this lens. Somehow I didn’t like the saturated colors of the 17-40 and I couldn’t justify 1K on an EF-S but otherwise seemingly , much respected 17-55mm.

Out of the box, I got vivid, but cool colors on my 40D when taken in bright sunlight. I fixed it by using higher Kelvin values.

At 17mm, the lens is extremely sharp. When I get the pictures down to my PC monitor, I am like ‘whoa’! The colors are very vivid, bright and saturated (using a slight step up in saturation levels in the 40D).

In low light, I have not missed IS. The 2.8 aperture coupled with the 40D’s noise-free to very low noise ISO capabilities, has let me capture blur-free shots (for eg. in the Smithsonian).

The lens gets progressively softer and at 50mm, is very soft. If you are using it as a walk-around, vacation lens, it is satisfactory but definitely nowhere close to ,say, the 50mm f/4.

The build quality seems adequate- solid but not too heavy. The zoom and focus feel right.

The AF does hunt a bit in low light to semi-darkness kind of situation. But again, this can be partially resolved by specifying the focal points in the 40D. But in all fairness, if the light is very low, I’d rather let it hunt to let me know it is unable to focus, than focus on something I didn’t want. Again, the 40D has a limiter on how much the AF hunts.

I strongly recommend this as an above-average general purpose lens. Upgrade to specific primes as the need arises.

5 Stars BEST bang for buck lens EVER
Simply put the image clarity you get with this lens is amazing. When you factor in that this glass is 50% of the cost of what you need to spend for a similar canon lens (which is NOT an L lens). The Canon 17-55mm sells for over $1k. The L glass 16-35mm sells for $1500. This glass compares to the L glass I own – I own the 24-70mm L and the 70-200mm f2.8 IS L (which is the BEST glass I have ever seen).

The brightness – the ability to shoot in low light and this is a tiny lens compared to my L glass and light. Not light as in cheap – but light as in not heavy like the 24-70mm L. it shoots very sharp – not as sharp as my 70-200 – NOTHING is as good as that. The range is very useful – great for shooting people – works super indoors. I bought and returned a 50mm f1.4 canon prime because I felt this lens performed better than the 50mm prime with the zoom set to 50mm.

IF you wish to buy a first upgraded lens for your camera and you can not afford a 70-200mm f2.8 IS L then buy this lens.

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Sigma 18 50mm f 3 5 5 6 DC HSM Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Nikon D90 D80 D70 D60 D50 D40 D40X D5000 D3000 D700 D300 D200 and D3 Digital SLRs

Exclusively designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras. The image circle was designed to match the size of the image sensors of most digitalSLR cameras and this has resulted in a compact lightweight lens. Sigma has incorporated an HSM Hyper Sonic Motor into the 18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC HSM, that now allows quite and high-speed autofocusing with all Nikon DSLR cameras. Aspherical lens and Super Multi Layer Coating are used for excellent lens performance. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range.

Compact-Lightweight zoom lens has a maximum diameter of 60mm (2.4in.), overall length of 69.6mm (2.4in.) and weight of only 250gr (8.8 ounces) and filter size of 58mm. Compact dimensions offers superb handling and mobility. The use of aspherical lenses provides correction for various aberrations throughout the entire zoom range and produce high level of optical performance.

Sigma took digital characteristics into consideration when designing the lens power layout and created the most suitable lens that makes high quality images a reality throughout the entire zoom range. We used the most appropriate coating for digital products to cut down flare and ghost caused by digital SLR cameras and to produce the best color balance. It can be used with the supplied lens hood to block out extraneous light.

18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC HSM zoom lens has a minimum focusing distance of 25cm (9.8in.) at all focal lengths and is capable of macro photography with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.5. The focus ring provides easy operation in manual mode. A distance scale on the focus ring is an easy to use and convenient addition.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Food photographer
I like to take close ups of food and from my use of it so far, it is a great macro lens!

4 Stars Affordable good performance
Right out of the box instructions were easy to follow. Lense quality is fairly good. I thought that for the price I would get something “cheap”; wrong. Very sturdy. Take the time to read the setting instructions and you will get very good/excellent results.

5 Stars Absolutely Fantastic!
This Sigma lens works spectacular with the Nikon D40X. It’s a great deal for a great price. With the Nikon D40X you have to have a lens that has AF because there is no motor for it in the Nikon. This is why I purchased this lens in particular. I’ve been able to take some amazing close ups. I took a photo of a rose and the detail in the rose was amazing! You could see the veins in the petals with vivid detail. I would recommend this lens to anyone with a digital camera for which it fits, especially those cameras without AF motors, owned by people who would like to have (AF) auto focus and fantastic photos.

4 Stars Unbeatable lens for the price.
Considering the price this thing is awesome. For wide angle scenic pictures this thing does a better job than my 700$ dollar Nikor 18-200 VR lens. I would suggest getting this for close up pictures of family/friends and also for the good wide angle scenic stuff. For close-ups/zooming and high end stuff you will want something with more zoom but I dont necessarily thing a better brand will do much more than lighten your wallet. I use a Nikon D90 camera with this as well.

5 Stars great lens for Nikon D5000 starter
IT’s one of the better lens that doesnt get much prop., it works great with my D5000.

- take great picture, (little under expose indoor but D-lighting always adjust, outdoor create smooth and very soft bokeh)

- decent focus and great close up and good wide-angle shot.

- cant beat the price for this value comparing to the kit lense, save that money for the Nikon-55-200m or the Nikon 35mm 1.8 AF-S.

- Made from Japan!

Cant go wrong with this lens, oh make sure to add the Hoya HMC 58mm UV protection with the extra $ saved. only about 22$!

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