Tamron SP AF 70-300mm 4-5.6 Di USD A-mount lens review by icemantx
 icemantx#10229 date: May-21-2012 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 100-300 APO D Sigma 50-150 f2.8 Tamron 70-210 f3.5-4.5 Sony 70-300G |
| price paid: | 449 USD (new) |
| positive: | Quick and silent focus Focuses well in low light Good build |
| negative: | Soft wide open Not as sharp as Minolta 100-300 APO D Bulky |
| comment: | I bought this lens as a replacement for the Sony 70-300G I sold a year and a half ago. I sold the Sony in anticipation of this Tamron and hopes that it would be just as good as the Sony 70-300G and expected it to outclass the Minolta APO 100-300 APO D I acquired at the same time. Maybe I got a bad copy or something, but in most cases, the Tamron USD was not as sharp as the Sony 70-300G or the Minolta 100-300 APO D. I took several hundred photos with each of these lenses and in the end, I had far more keepers with the Sony 70-300G and Minolta 100-300 APO D. I was surprised to say the least after reading the glowing reviews of this lens on Dyxum. The focusing was fairly quick, but I do miss the focus limiter of the Sony 70-300G when shooting birds in flight or fast moving objects. The biggest surprise for me was how well the Minolta 100-300 APO D did against the Tamron. I was fully expecting to end up putting the Minolta back on eBay after comparing the two lenses. However, it is the Tamron that is heading back to B&H for a refund. Based on the very positive reviews of the Tamron, I will chalk my Tamron up as a bad copy and maybe somewhere down the road I will try it out again. For now, I will use the Minolta 100-300 APO D and enjoy the Minolta colors and the diminutive size of this little gem. |
; 20MPrating summary
- total reviews: 55
- sharpness: 4.50
- color: 4.38
- build: 4.35
- distortion: 4.62
- flare control: 4.53
- overall: 4.47