View Full Version : Anyone used the Tamron 17-50mm


Peter Rush
October 8th, 2013, 11:27 AM
I'm intersted in this Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR VC Di II LD as I'm looking for a short fast zoom with Stabilization - I'd buy a canon but they don't do one!

Also as I use the metabones it needs to be a lens for full rame - not APS-C

Cheers

Pete

Andrew Maclaurin
October 16th, 2013, 03:18 AM
I use it but on a canon dslr. It's maybe not the sharpest or best lens out there but it's the one i use the most as it's the most practical. it has a nice range from wide to 50. the image stabilizer works well. the weirdest thing is the focus ring turns the opposite way from most lenses.

Mike Lorushe
October 16th, 2013, 05:13 PM
I'm intersted in this Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR VC Di II LD as I'm looking for a short fast zoom with Stabilization - I'd buy a canon but they don't do one!

Also as I use the metabones it needs to be a lens for full rame - not APS-C

Cheers

Pete

I have this lens, the Canon mounted version. Excellent for the price. Pretty damn sharp though out the aperture and zoom range. Some barrel distortion at 17mm but not too bad.

Zoom is rather stiff, especially between 17mm and 28mm ish so if you're planning on zooming whilst recording, you'll need to be extra delicate.

VC works well, although it is a bit noisy and takes a couple of seconds to kick in.

A lot of folk online have said the non-VC is a bit sharper, I wouldn't know personally.

This is an APS-C lens so it won't be suitable for a full frame camera like a 5D3; it'll vignette heavily.

Peter Rush
October 18th, 2013, 08:48 AM
Mike - I'm almost convinced to purchase - APS-C though? On the Tamron site it says this lens is ideal for full frame and APS-C

Tamron Europe: Overview (http://www.tamron.eu/uk/lenses/)

Also inputting details for the 5D came up with no known issues

Strange :/

Mike Lorushe
October 26th, 2013, 06:09 AM
Peter, unless I'm mistaken, I'm quite sure this lens is designed to cover the APS-C size sensors or smaller only. I've tried mine on a 5D2 and 5D3 and although it fits, it vignettes heavily so it's no good.

Chris Harding
October 26th, 2013, 06:32 AM
Hi Pete

My Tammy 17-50 F2.8 with a Nikon mount definitely says APSC sensors and nothing about full frame ..that's in the blurb anyway if it helps. Maybe they do make a full frame 17-50???

Mine is a delight on the EA-50 but I'm running just with a Novoflex adapter so it's dumb!!

Chris

Peter Rush
October 30th, 2013, 08:38 AM
Chris I ended up getting the Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 VC USD Lens for Canon and it's great. It's the shortest zoom I can find at f2.8 with stabilisation. It's a lens for a full frame camera but through my speedbooster I get the focal reducation plus an extra stop - awesome!

Chris Harding
October 30th, 2013, 05:11 PM
Hi Pete

Brilliant!! I actually used to have a Sigma 24-70 Constant F2.8 but it was a real brute and heavy too, plus the zoom kept sticking at 24mm ....Because I'm upfront at ceremonies I often need a wide 17 or 18 mm plus I don't have the adapter like yours so I don't get the stop advantage nor the wide angle either ...What does the Metabones drop it to?? If it's 0.7 then you effectively have a 17-50 if it's on the adapter at maybe F2 or even F1.8

So all my Nikon lenses that are designed for the APSC sensor will vignette on the EA-50 if I use a Metabones adapter? Correct??

Chris

Peter Rush
November 1st, 2013, 05:17 AM
Yes this lens is heavy - and expensive (£800) but worth it for the extra stop - the display says f2.0 but I've read on this forum that it stops at 2.0, having said that I've a sony E-mount 50mm 1.8 and the display says 1.8 so maybe that's not correct.

Anyway it's a great lens and the fastest short zoom I could find with OS - I'm trying to get to a stage where I can do without my on camera light at dark receptions as it p****ses people off!

I've used the Tammy at just one wedding so far and apart from the rings operating in the opposite direction to the canon it's a fine lens. I used the Sony 50mm 1.8 and that was really nice (and has OS which is rare for such a fast lens) but I found I couldn't react quickly enough to the changing events - great for talking heads but as soon as something happened with a group of people I had to quickly back away to get them all in - not ideal.