Which Tamron version?

rick.osgood

Senior Member
I need to replace my cheap Nikon 70-300mm lens. The focus at or around 300mm is so bad it makes it unusable. I am looking at two versions of the Tamron 70-300mm zoom.

1st) Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC Ultra Silent Drive (USD) Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon


2nd) Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD

https://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-30...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HG6Z5XPYX0MF7YXBN0C6

I am not sure if the XLD is worth the difference. I am not a pro but want the best quality I can get. Am I missing something that would push one over the other?

Thanks
 

robbins.photo

Senior Member
I need to replace my cheap Nikon 70-300mm lens. The focus at or around 300mm is so bad it makes it unusable. I am looking at two versions of the Tamron 70-300mm zoom.

1st) Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC Ultra Silent Drive (USD) Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon


2nd) Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD

https://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-30...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HG6Z5XPYX0MF7YXBN0C6

I am not sure if the XLD is worth the difference. I am not a pro but want the best quality I can get. Am I missing something that would push one over the other?

Thanks

It's the same lens - the difference in price is that one is used, the other is new. For what it's worth I owned one, overall it's a pretty good lens. Very sharp, great color contrast - light and easy to carry. I bought mine used, only gripe I had with it really was that the lens would creep quite a bit when I walked. A cheap lensband solved that problem.

Ended up selling mine, it didn't see really any use at all after I got a 70-200mm 2.8, just sat in the bag. But all in all it's a pretty decent lens for the money, particularly used.
 

robbins.photo

Senior Member
I have a 70 - 200mm but for birds or other wildlife I need the reach. Is the 300mm end sharp?

I always found it sharp enough for my needs, even at 300mm the sharpness was very good. Just curious though, what model of 70-200mm do you have?

Reason I ask, 300 mm really isn't a big jump from 200mm - with most modern sensors you can crop that much without losing a great amount of detail. Also for birds in particular 300mm is usually a little short, so might be better depending on your lens to get a TC for a little extra reach now and then save up and go with something more like a 150-600 later on, the prices on those have come down quite a bit since Tamron introduced the new G2.
 

rick.osgood

Senior Member
I always found it sharp enough for my needs, even at 300mm the sharpness was very good. Just curious though, what model of 70-200mm do you have?

Reason I ask, 300 mm really isn't a big jump from 200mm - with most modern sensors you can crop that much without losing a great amount of detail. Also for birds in particular 300mm is usually a little short, so might be better depending on your lens to get a TC for a little extra reach now and then save up and go with something more like a 150-600 later on, the prices on those have come down quite a bit since Tamron introduced the new G2.

Thanks for the feedback. I have the Nikkor 55-200 f4-5.6 ED VR.
I would love the Tamron 150 - 600mm but its not in the budget. Which TC would you recommend?
 
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robbins.photo

Senior Member
For your lens I wouldn't recommend a teleconverter. When you mentioned a 70-200 mm I thought you meant a faster lens, either an f2.8 or f4.

Thing about teleconverter is that do lessen the amount of light coming in. A 1.4x tc will cost you 1 stop.

So if your zoomed out to 200 mm, your lens starts at a 5.6, add in the tc and your shooting at f8. Unless you have a body with a good af system and good lighting your af system gets iffy quick.


Thanks for the feedback. I have the Nikkor 55-200 f4-5.6 ED VR.
I would love the Tamron 150 - 600mm but its not in the budget. Which TC would you recommend?


Sent from my N9518 using Tapatalk
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I need to replace my cheap Nikon 70-300mm lens. The focus at or around 300mm is so bad it makes it unusable. I am looking at two versions of the Tamron 70-300mm zoom.

1st) Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC Ultra Silent Drive (USD) Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon


2nd) Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD

https://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-30...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HG6Z5XPYX0MF7YXBN0C6

I am not sure if the XLD is worth the difference. I am not a pro but want the best quality I can get. Am I missing something that would push one over the other?

Thanks

You say the focus at 300mm is no good,have you checked the front or back focus with this lens.
 
I need to replace my cheap Nikon 70-300mm lens. The focus at or around 300mm is so bad it makes it unusable. I am looking at two versions of the Tamron 70-300mm zoom.

1st) Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC Ultra Silent Drive (USD) Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon


2nd) Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD

https://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-30...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HG6Z5XPYX0MF7YXBN0C6

I am not sure if the XLD is worth the difference. I am not a pro but want the best quality I can get. Am I missing something that would push one over the other?

Thanks

Have you find tuned the 50-300 on the D7100? If not that is what you need to do before spending any money on a new lens.
 
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