Tamron 18-250 Which SLR should I team it with

[joka]

Hello there,

I have after much thought decided to drop the idea of a bridge camera. Despite the portability there seems to be an issue on every one, usually noise.

I do not have an unlimited budget and definitely do not want to return to the days when I carried a bag, filters and numerous lens, not to mention film!
This seems to mean so far as I can see a zoom lens of reasonable quality at a reasonable price. The Tamron 18-250 seemed to me to foot the bill.

Having bought the cart ( or at least decided on which one) I now need the horse and had settled on a Sony 100 only to read in a very detailed review that the combination had a very low focussing speed - wouldn't even catch a toddler let alone sports action. As the frequent loss of wild life action - empty sky or empty sea shots - is driving the change, clearly this raised a big question mark over the Sony.

I realise focussing is a collaboration between camera body and lens and am looking for the very best collaboration without paying £750 +.

Has anybody any recommendations. The lens is not sacrosanct but a 28 or less to 300mm lens range is (old 35m equivalent)?

Thanks in anticipation.

[coldrain]

My 10mp DSLR of choice would be the Canon XTi/EOS 400D.
No idea how the lens AF performance will be in the XTi, I guess the only way to find out is to go to a store that carries both, and see how fast it will AF.
The Canon XTi is generally very fast with AF.

[joka]

Thanks Coldrain,
The only trouble with your suggestion is cost. Th camera body alone exceeds my budget! I would have to go for a less highly specified Canon or something else.

[DonSchap]

Joka,

If you are looking for performance with a budget, I'm here to tell you it's not going to happen. You have to pay for performance ... and when it comes to sheer focusing speed ... that's not cheap.

For a good, all-around combination, the SONY A100 w/ the TAMRON AF18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DiII LD Aspherical (IF) is a true winner. But, if you are going to zero in on focus speed as your back-breaker ... then, I don't know what to focus on (pun intended).

I also use the TAMRON AF18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR DiII LD Aspherical (IF) on the Canon EOS 20D ... and when it comes to focus speed, they are reasonably close. What I look for is what shows up on my sensor and on the display of my computer.

Canon makes a serious 28-300mm ranged lens, which just might provide you the rocket focus speed you desire ... of course it is priced accordingly and weighs almost 4lbs, to boot.

These lenses do a reasonable job of being a one-lens solution, when you are "on the go." If you need rocket-speed for focus, you will usually find in HSM or USM powered lensing. If you'll notice, there is no USM or HSM stamped on the TAMRON utility lens.

For sheer weight and utility aspects, the 18-200 or 18-250 are not a bad choice. Besides, the SONY A100 "pre-focuses" every shot, so while you have your eye upto the viewfinder and are training-around ... getting your subject properly framed, the camera has been focusing all the while for you. Speed of focus seems rather moot, when you consider that aspect of the operation. Just push the shutter release.

Here's another quick explanation from dpreview (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra100/):
25803
Eye Start AF
Eye Start AF isn't anything new to previous Minolta SLR owners but Sony are obviously keen to continue its use. On the A100 Eye Start AF does exactly what it says, when the sensor detects the proximity of your eye to the eyepiece it begins to auto focus and remains in 'continuous' auto focus until the shutter release is half-pressed or you put the camera down. In reality this means that the camera is likely to have an approximate focus on the subject before shutter release.

SO, I have to ask ... what more could you ask for with these type of fixes in place for this price?

[joka]

Thanks Don,
I know I have to cut my cloth and something has to give. I am not really asking for rocket speed but better than the compact I have and at least as good as a bridge.

I had the fortune to be in Hawaii earlier this year but when I was trying to snap the whales all I got was the open sea! The same frequently happens with birds and other wild life. I just want to be able catch some of these shots and here continuous shooting will come in useful without resorting to enormous expenditure or great weight.

[DonSchap]

Well, I can't really imagine a better solution for the price, than the SONY A100 and TAMRON 18-250mm. It weighs all of 2-1/4 lbs.

I invite others to try though ... maybe someone has something.


P&S cameras are notorious for missing the "action shot." I don't feel that will be the case with the SONY A100.

Personally, I use the above combination quite routinely and you can find all sorts of references to it in the SONY DSLR forum of the DCRP web site. It's light and quick for most stuff. I'm also anxious to try out the SONY A100 with the upcoming Fall-release of the TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 XR Di LD lens.

I also sport the Canon EOS 20D w/ the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ... which was a rather healthy ticket ($2700), for rocket focus, low-light capability and some decent telephoto with stabilization. It weighs in at 4.5 lbs. No lightweight to be sure.

Good luck in your hunt. :D

[divetex]

I have one mounted on my Canon Rebel XT, and it focuses plenty fast in moderate to bright light. Under low-light conditions, virtually no lens will autofocus very fast. I'm happy with my rig. The lens will probably work fine on the "basic" Rebel (300D), but I can't verify that. I know you can now get a new 300D for a fairly reasonable price. Don is absolutely correct, though. You get what you pay for, and if what you want is fast, be prepared to cough up some $$$. Good luck.