Tamron Lenses

[robgooch]

Are Tamron lenses any good?

I got myself a Nikon D3100 a couple of months ago and I want to get into Motorsport photography. I am also going to watch NASCAR next year so need a longish lens. I only have the stock Nikon lens 18-55mm.

I have looked into a Nikon 70-300mm lens but can't justify the £290 price tag. Jessops advertise a similar lens for £90.

Ive not really used my camera much as yet so I would just like to know if the tamron lens would be any good for me or whether it would be a waste of time and get the Nikon one.

Any advise would be good, alsoim not down with the lingo yet so treat me nice please.

 

[...]

There will be a huge amount of replys to this however i will try and keep it simple.
A decent zoom needs a decent f stop number where good is low .... its how much light and how fast the lens is
A 300mm lens in bright light at say f5.6 is ok ..... an f2.8 is where you would want to be however add a zero to your £290 well not quite that .

The lens is almost more important than the camera so go for the best you can afford ...... tamron and sigma make decent 3rd party lens but again a £90 lens will not be good.

Look secondhand ......

Also ,being honest at a nascar oval a 300mm lens wont get you that close

 

[Reev]

The lens is almost more important than the camera so go for the best you can afford ...... tamron and sigma make decent 3rd party lens but again a £90 lens will not be good.

I'd have to agree for the most part. Unfortunately, photography is definitely a case of 'you get what you pay for', although the lens you're looking at (assuming it's this one) seems to get pretty good reviews considering the price.

 

[robgooch]

I appreciate your comments. I fully understand that you get what you pay for and that 300mm isn't going to get that close to NASCAR however I have to be realistic with thd cost and carrying it etc. The one on the link is the one I was thinking of and as you said has some good reviews, I'm sure it will be fine for me but like everyone I want the best I can afford.

I hadn't thought of a 2nd lens to be honest, does anyone know of some good 2nd hand outlets?

 

[JJ!]

My Sister in law has the tamron. It's bad. Try the Sigma 70-300.

 

[Niall]

Most Tamrons aren’t great really.

But the new VC range is a vast improvement and well worth a look. Basically the ones with VC are the good ones.

 

[Matt_90]

I have one the latest 70-200mm f2.8 Tamron lenses and its fantastic, I rate it over the 70-200mm Sigma I owned. Some of the older lenses weren't great but the new ones I can't fault.

 

[Brazo]

Most Tamrons aren’t great really.

But the new VC range is a vast improvement and well worth a look. Basically the ones with VC are the good ones.

??? Most offer excellent value performance, ignoring the dirt cheap ones. The new Tamron 35 f1.4 is a good chunk better than the best Canon/Nikon/Sony versions.

 

[Habitual]

I have a Tamron 10-24mm. I was hesitant to buy Tamron, but now it's my favourite lens.

However, it does have the tendancy to go a little soft at the edges sometimes, but perhaps that's just me and my lack of skills.

I wrote about it a little here: http://www.tomcash.co.uk/warwick-castle/

 

[2Damnsly Andy]

London Camera Exchange is a good site for second hand gear. Its a shame Jessop's don't still do second hand gear used to buy alot of stuff from them.

 

[Deany]

I use http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/ for my secondhand gear. picked up a 10.5mm fisheye for £300, going on for £500 new. In fact i got my D90 body and 50mm 1.8 from them too.

 

[robgooch]

I will have a look at both them sites thank you. I'm not going to rush into anything. Just need it for the end of march for the touring cars at brands.