Tamron 17-35 F/2.8-4

[Fortkentdad]

Picked up one of these older (not yet vintage?) lenses this summer (Aug 2015).

I was on holidays in Toronto and a stop at Henry's was on my 'must do' list of things for my visit to that city. I had wanted to add a wider lens to my collection and the new Tammy 15-30 mm 2.8 had really caught my eye and was (is?) on my wishlist. But that lens is currently running around $1400 Canadian and that would have put too big a dent into the budget. I also want to add a 70-200mm lens to my collection, and a longer telephoto to 600mm, each of these also come in around that $1400 range. But a sharp sales clerk showed me the 17-35 Tamron. He said it is one of his go-to lenses for is own photography business which specializes in baby portraits. He showed me some samples on his website of images taken with this lens. He also came down a lot on their asking price - in the end we paid about $300 CDN for the lens. (Which is close to what Fred and Miranda say is average at $336 US$ - which in CDN$ now would be at least $400). So $300 vs $1,400. My frugality won out over my covetousness of the latest and greatest.

Reviews:
FM Reviews - Tamron 17-35MM F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical (IF)
A few with D800 and Tamron 17-35 2.8-4: Nikon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Tamron SP AF 17-35 mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical (IF) review - Summary - LensTip.com

Unlike most of my purchases which are reviewed carefully before purchase this one was not. (My wife says way over researched).

I have not regretted the purchase.

I'm curious, are there any Nikonites' members shooting wide with this lens?


Shot at the 'long' end at 35 mm



This one is at the wide end at 17 mm

For the curious these images were taken at a campsite in Kenora Ontario on Lake of the Woods.

 

[Mark F]

I just sold mine a week ago. Took me over a year to sell because people didn't know anything about this lens. Mine was sharp as razors in the center, a little soft in the edges at 17 and at 35.
I replaced mine with a Nikkor 20mm afs 1.8
I finally let mine go for 200.00 US dollars and it was in mint condition.

 

[Fortkentdad]

You were robbed Mark - someone got a steel of a deal.

I did consider the 20mm prime as well - a great lens to have in any kit, the flexibility of the zoom got me - and the price of course as that prime is more than twice the price I paid - almost three times the price. But 1.8 is great. Did play with the Sigma Artsy 1.4 20mm - but then it was well over a grand. Seems the lenses I want most are all over a grand now. Somehow that number just makes me pause.



And as for the soft corners on the Tamron 17-35, maybe a little especially at the widest end. But nothing I cannot live with.

 

[rocketman122]

yes I have this lens

-better performer than the nikon 17-35 by a minute amount. not even noticeable. not sharp at all open. needs to be stopped down to f/5 to be good images. better to overexpose by a third and bring it down in PP. micro contrast isnt so great so with high iso and bad lighting there will be bad clarity. but if you light the scene well its fine.

extremely fast AF. LOVE THE EASY ZOOMING! WOW! one finger flick zoom from one side to the other. no zoom creep. hood is always on, even in the bag. 17mm has saved my ass many times

nothing wider than 24mm should be used for any group shot or people in the edges. it stretches and warps people.