Testing the Tamron 50-400mm

Happy New Year everyone! I finally had a chance to go out to Huntley Meadows to test the Tamron 50-400mm lens on my A6600. Some pictures.

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Thanks for looking.

The fourth and six images are heavily cropped and they were underexposed when I took the pictures. I wanted to test the lens not only when the exposure was correct but also when the exposure was way off (and the focusing was off on 4 and 6). A lot of compensation and processing was applied to those two pictures. I think the lens is fine. I just need to learn how to use it better. It's not the 200-600, which focuses faster and seems to be more accurate in focusing. On the other hand, you can't focus closely on the 200-600 and I just don't want to carry a heavier lens in most instances. I really like the 50-400, but there is a learning curve on figuring out how to use it well.

The point of 4 and 6 is to see how much detail was kept (or lost) when the image is underexposed heavily and a heavy crop is applied. This was actually the first time I've had time to take some pictures in months. A lot of people with Sony cameras and lenses walking about.

addy landzaat wrote: I expected this to be by Heikki because I know he recently also picked up one. Nice series, #7 is the stand out for me.

Weather hasn't been cooperative lately, so I haven't had much chance to use this lens yet.

addy landzaat wrote: I was a bit confused when you wrote "I don't want to carry a heavier lens" when talking about an 1155gr lens, but then I remembered you not only have the A6600 but also an A7m4 that fits this lens as well. Enjoy it!

I believe Winston has also Sony FE 200-600 G like I do and the about half lighter weight (and smaller size) makes this Tamron lens vastly more portable. Of course, the downside is that the focal length in the telephoto end is shorter, but 400 mm should be sufficient for many uses. Especially if using APS-C crop (sensor).

One thing the 50-400mm shares wtih the 70-350G lens from Sony is the smaller minimum focusing distance. I used to have the Sony lens (which is great), but I sold it since I couldn't use it with my full frame body. The Tamron is slightly larger, heavier, but at 50mm it almost works as a macro lens. Which means I don't have to carry the 90mm macro all the time.

It's not as fast focusing or as accurate in focusing as the Sony though, but it is very good. Now, I can bring the A6600, the Tamron, and go for quick walks without the extra weight. And the pictures of leaves and frozen bubbles in the water would not have been as easy to get with the 200-600mm.

My lightweight kit is the 50-400, the 11mm 1.8 and the Sigma 18-50. Really useful stuff. Now, top find the time and opportunity to use them....

Thanks for the comments.

It seems an interesting option, certainly after the update.
I saw a review of that firmware update on youtube, it brought the succes rate of
a dog running towards the photographer from 17 to 75% or so.