Tamron 150-600 - Not too heavy to walk around with.

[Geoffc]

I've previously posted about people complaining that relatively light setups are too heavy to use and while I accept that some people may have medical reasons for finding this a problem, others are probably just wimps.

Yesterday we went to the zoo to try the 150-600s on some captive subjects. The wife and I both had them on a D7100 and Blackrapid straps. We walked around for about 4 hours and took lots of shots, all handheld.

From what I've seen of the results so far I'm very pleased with the performance, although I seem to have got the AF fine tune better adjusted on my wife's setup than mine. Mine was good, hers was excellent. I'm hoping it's that rather than her technique just being better than mine

To my point. My wife is about 5' 4" and slim. Neither the weight nor hand holding caused her a problem and she loves the lens. Maybe the training on the 70-200 2.8 on holiday helped, although that's 300g lighter.

I must admit I steered her away from the Sigma 150-500 for a couple of years because I thought the weight would be a struggle, but I guess I was wrong.

We took monopods with us but didn't use them as it was mainly a test of how practical the lens is to handhold. All I can say is that the VC is superb. Next time we go we will just choose a couple of exhibits and use a monopod as well.




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[hark]

How did you adjust the AF? On the wide end or the tele? Will adjusting one end of the zoom adversely affect the other end? I haven't used the feature on a zoom lens because I keep wondering what I will sacrifice.

Sounds like you and your wife now have a fun activity to do together. I doubt I would get this lens because I have chronic tendonitis in both forearms (elbow surgery on my right arm), but I do have a 70-200mm lens. When I use this lens, it is on a tripod. Glad you and your wife can handle the weight of the Tamron because the images it takes are incredible!

 

[mikew_RIP]

How did you adjust the AF? On the wide end or the tele? Will adjusting one end of the zoom adversely affect the other end? I haven't used the feature on a zoom lens because I keep wondering what I will sacrifice.

Sounds like you and your wife now have a fun activity to do together. I doubt I would get this lens because I have chronic tendonitis in both forearms (elbow surgery on my right arm), but I do have a 70-200mm lens. When I use this lens, it is on a tripod. Glad you and your wife can handle the weight of the Tamron because the images it takes are incredible!

Pleased you ask that i was wondering

 

[BackdoorArts]

Interesting that you thought the Sigma's weight would be a problem since it's actually a touch lighter.

I suspect that Geoff would have tuned at the 600mm end (or close to it) given that minimum aperture at the long end provides a much narrower DOF than at the short. Which begs the question, were you shooting wide open with the lens? I know with the Sigma I need to shoot at f/8 or f/9 if I want things really sharp.

 

[Geoffc]

Interesting that you thought the Sigma's weight would be a problem since it's actually a touch lighter.

I suspect that Geoff would have tuned at the 600mm end (or close to it) given that minimum aperture at the long end provides a much narrower DOF than at the short. Which begs the question, were you shooting wide open with the lens? I know with the Sigma I need to shoot at f/8 or f/9 if I want things really sharp.

Jake is correct I actually tuned at about 550mm for the reason mentioned and also you don't buy a 150-600 lens because you're after a good 150 lens.

Jake you're spot on about the different weights, it was just that I thought anything in that range would be an issue until she started using the 70-200 2.8.

F8 is definitely better, but I need to see the photos when I get home to confirm what 6.3 looks like. I think it looks ok but the better screen will confirm.


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