IQ and lens cost - Tamron 55-200mm macro
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:25 pm
A while ago I bought a cheap f4-f5.6 Tamron 55-200mm macro zoom following Eccles' examples on this forum. Given that I usually use a Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro and Kenco 3000 Pro 1.4xTC it has mostly stayed in the bag. However, following a few days chasing Frits in Devon, I switched for one afternoon, when they were quite active and also quite high on the brambles, thistles and bracken. etc, to give myself some extra reach. Luckily the conditions were quite good, mostly sunny and diffused light through cloud, so the f4-f5.6 rating was not a problem. What was difficult was the movement of the Frits nectaring, especially the HBFs - spending 5-10 seconds max on each thistle flower head before moving on - and SWFs on the brambles. I took the opportunity for some shots using my trusty mono-pod and Nikon D300.
Since it is a low-end consumer lens I had few real expectations of IQ at 200mm but took a few for reference; I tended to go for something around 150mm to see what IQ it could deliver. I was also looking at shooting around f8 for maximum sharpness, with low ISO's for detail and also to compensate for the movement I also needed to shoot at high speeds if possible. Following the Photo workshop this year (and earlier lessons) I also routinely underexpose by up to 1-step and compensate later. Some results follow:
The first is at 200mm, ISO 160, f8 @1/640th second, -0.7ve: A surprisingly good image , but a little soft with low IQ close-up.
The next is at 135mm, ISO 160, f9@1/250th second, -0.7ve: A noticeable improvement in IQ; quite sharp and surprising for a cheap lens
For comparison I include one using my 90mm+TC taken earlier in the day during a more cloudy period:
ISO 200, f5.6 @1/200th second, -0.3ve: Given that the first lens is generally less than £80 now (tho' by some fluke I managed to find a special offer for around £32 last year
) and the second, plus TC, around £430, the Tamron 55-200mm is surprisingly good value; given good lighting conditions and used at less than fullest extent at 200mm, for better IQ, I am quite pleased with the results.
Since it is a low-end consumer lens I had few real expectations of IQ at 200mm but took a few for reference; I tended to go for something around 150mm to see what IQ it could deliver. I was also looking at shooting around f8 for maximum sharpness, with low ISO's for detail and also to compensate for the movement I also needed to shoot at high speeds if possible. Following the Photo workshop this year (and earlier lessons) I also routinely underexpose by up to 1-step and compensate later. Some results follow:
The first is at 200mm, ISO 160, f8 @1/640th second, -0.7ve: A surprisingly good image , but a little soft with low IQ close-up.
The next is at 135mm, ISO 160, f9@1/250th second, -0.7ve: A noticeable improvement in IQ; quite sharp and surprising for a cheap lens
For comparison I include one using my 90mm+TC taken earlier in the day during a more cloudy period:
ISO 200, f5.6 @1/200th second, -0.3ve: Given that the first lens is generally less than £80 now (tho' by some fluke I managed to find a special offer for around £32 last year
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