Tamron Lens

[zeiny]

I just bought a canon XTi and it came with 3 lenses: Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 autofocus, 75-300 f/4.5-5.6 LD macro autofocus and a wide angle conver lens. Being a virgin on lenses and dsr, are these good lenses or did i get a bad deal?

[herc182]

too late now so dont worry about it. Go out and start shooting.

Would help to know how much you paid to know if it was a good deal or not.

Forget what could have been and live for what you have now :)

in addition if you are a "virgin" to DSLR and lenses, then they will be fine for you to grow into the subject and find out at your own pace what the limitations of the lenses are.

i would assume the wide angle converter would not yeild very good results compared to a dedicated wide angle lens. However, maybe good results can be achieved.

I used to have a wide angle converter on my panasonic FZ20 and it had serious vignetting and pretty poor sharpness....

[DonSchap]

I just bought a canon XTi and it came with 3 lenses: Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 autofocus, 75-300 f/4.5-5.6 LD macro autofocus and a wide angle conver lens. Being a virgin on lenses and dsr, are these good lenses or did i get a bad deal?


Unfortunately, you've been given lenses designed for use on film SLRs, not digital. You may have focusing issues with all of them, causing you to have "hit or miss" shots and not very reliable.

Personally, I'd find someone still shooting 35mm-film with a Canon EOS-3 or Film-XT... and either sell or give them away, for their use. At least in that way, they will be one the "right kind" of camera. Your work with these on your camera will always be less than perfect and possibly rather frustrating. You were "fronted" with them because the dealer, obviously knowing this, was unable to sell them to anyone "in the know." It is a typical "newbie-move" on their part and if they are a local retailer, I'd reconsider doing future business from someone who didn't explain this to you.

Here's TAMRON's website link for the 28-80mm (http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/2880mm.asp) (which is not recommended for use on digital). Click on it and review the other lenses you have, if you have not done so. The 75-300mm (non-digital) is too old to be in their current inventory. It has been redesigned in the form of the 70-300mm Di LD ... which is designed for digital.

On a brighter note, there is a good, one lens replacement for all these other lenses and that would be the much newer TAMRON AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) (http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/18250_diII.asp) (<- click here) lens. It will provide for nearly all your needs in a nice and lightweight package. And don't fret the cost, as its photograph return will far exceed what you will get if you continue to use those three "film" lenses you were given. It will also allow you to within 1.5 feet of your subject. I suspect these other lenses will not allow anything that close, especially that 75-300mm telephoto. It's usually a 5-foot minimum or more!

As a "virgin" shooter, having this will be about all you will need until you get serious, indoors. And, if you are going indoors for shots, also pick up an external flash (preferably the Canon 430EX Speedlight) for use with the lens, as it will cover its range rather nicely. The pop-up flash is rather "worthless" with just about any f/4 or greater maximum aperture lens, after 7-feet away from something.

If you have to start off with something, this is pretty much made to order. I have this lens on my backup camera, 24-7, and it's basically "all-in-one." You probably won't need to change it at all. That keeps the dust out of your sensor.

31031

Ah, now there's a lens ...

[coldrain]

Bad deal? That depends on the money you payed. If the lenses were virtually for free, a good deal. If they cost you a couple of hundred dollars, a bad deal.

The 28-80 is a cheap "standard zoom kit" lens from the film SLR era, which they unloaded on you (pretty typical of such "deals").
The 75-300 is very disappointing in the long end.. also nota good choice.Also an older lens they unload in such "deals".

Then the wide angle adapter lens... what can I say. Do not expect anything of it, and you can't be disappointed.

If you want to get a bit better lenses for your nice XTi, you could get the Canon EF-S 18-55 f3.5-4.5 IS, which includes image stabilization, is very sharp, and will offer you wide angle, for about $200. The Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro will be the cheapest sort of good 300mm tele range lens, which will set you back a very modest $220.

These two lenses will allow you to get much better results already than the lenses in your "deal".

There are other options of course too, but they will cost a lot more too.

[zeiny]

I just bought a canon XTi and it came with 3 lenses: Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 autofocus, 75-300 f/4.5-5.6 LD macro autofocus and a wide angle conver lens. Being a virgin on lenses and dsr, are these good lenses or did i get a bad deal?


I paid $727 - which includes 4GB flash card, 1 standard and 1 mini tripods, cleaning kit, bag, flash from Barclays photo via eBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-Rebel-XTi-Digital-SLR-Camera-4GB-3-PRO-Lens-PKG_W0QQitemZ290185052317QQihZ019QQcategoryZ147173 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

[DonSchap]

Well, Zeiny, regardless of what you paid for the package, the fact is that your images with suffer if you elect to try and make due with the glass you received. Your best bet is to retire this antiquated "free" glass to an appropriate photographer, hopefully using a 35mm-film SLR camera and then to buy a "digital" lens that will give you images you can be certain are:

In focus
sharp and clear
won't reflect unwanted glare and ghosting to your sensor from the untreated rear-element inside of the old lens
focus consistently, each time you press the shutter release (this is the most important aspect in all of this discussion).

There is no point in really discussing it any further, as this is the only REAL option you need to consider. There is nothing you can really do with the existing out-dated glass other than buy a 35mm-film camera and use it on that. Believe me, they dumped this on you. There is no value in the amount of trouble you will most likely experience or what it will occasionally produce (more by accident than by design). I know it bites to hear it ... but any other options are just being unreal and unfair to your photography.

Consider it just like starting out with a big old smudge on your lens ... and only having an oily rag to clean it with. You're in trouble before you even start. :(

I suggest you improve your effort, right from the start, and pop for a proper lens ("digital" qualified) to place on your new XTi. You will not be disappointed with this decision. You will be disappointed ... using that old "shelf-quality" glass you now have. This is your art ... so why waste your time, using inferior optics? You know you want clear and consistantly decent looking images. There are "margins of acceptance" that you can probably live with ... but these particular lenses do not fit within them.

You responded to an "empty-the-warehouse" special on ebay. There are hundreds of these sales going on daily ... BUT ... it does not make any one of those lenses any better. They just have glass they simply have to dump (because inventory-filled shelf space costs money, too) and they are taking a (possible) loss to do it. More than likely, some distributor/liquidator got all those lenses for pennies on the dollar. The original manufacturters certainly do not want it back. Both parties just want to get rid of it ... and you and many other unsuspecting novices are the people allowing that to take place. This forum will warn you of such nefarious deals, if you simply ask. You asked ... a little too late and were answered.

My next question to you would be ... will they take it back? Are you kidding? Try it ... and you will probably have to go to your credit card company to twist their arm to refund your money. Beleive me, the credit card companies know of these clowns, very well. Oh, that company may eventually refund ... but only after two months of hassle and when they've already made their money just having yours in their account, for those two months. Make no mistake, this is big business, not just one important sale by the local "brick & mortar" camera shop, in town. That small business guy wants you back, very soon ... these other "great sale price" guys ... simply do not care ... it's only your money $$$. There are plenty more gullible "great sale" jumpers just waiting to take your place. Once they have the money ... you're gone like yesterday's news. When there is no more money to be gained, they will be gone, likewise.

Just some advice from those who have been there ... and those who are coming back.

Good luck! :D

[JTL]

I just bought a canon XTi and it came with 3 lenses: Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 autofocus, 75-300 f/4.5-5.6 LD macro autofocus and a wide angle conver lens. Being a virgin on lenses and dsr, are these good lenses or did i get a bad deal?I hate to sound like an a$$...but...the time to ask these questions is BEFORE you buy...:)

Maybe someone else will see this thread and avoid the same mistake.

[DonSchap]

One other thing, Zeiny ... don't feel too picked on. It happens to many people, in the beginning. They get their digits burned ... they learn and don't make the same mistake, again. Or, at least, try not to.

It's true, some people never learn.

It's all part of the game that's being played. It's been going on for the past three decades and only get worse, as more and more gear gets retired with the advent of technology and progress.

Personally, I have several very high quality cameras that now collect dust, but they had their day and did well. Does someone want them? Who cares? I'm not going to con someone to buy them just to clean out the small amount of space they take up. Perhaps, someday, they will mean quite a bit to some collector, but unlike the ebay bunch doing the "great sale" ... it stays here. Retired. Not useless, but not currently being used.

The wrong glass on a digital camera will lead only to the "dark side."

Anger it brings. Careful, you should be, in the future ... and victims not.

Sorry ... there definitely is a darker side to all this .. and I lament that you have inadvertantly been caught up in it. The lenses aren't useless, but in this case, just misapplied.

May the farce be with you ... not. :cool:

[zeiny]

thanks for all the info. i think i got de-virginized this morning.... and it wasn't very pleasant. Guess the old saying goes...too good to be true.

[Mark_48]

For any future purchases you may want to also check out the reputation of the vendor at http://www.resellerratings.com/ .

And besides getting opinions on gear from this forum, look for online reviews of what you want to purchase. One of the first places I go to when looking for a lens is http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/ . The lenses you got are rated there, so you can get an idea of what others opinions are of them.

Look at what you have now as starter lenses, something to begin with and learn what you may want to step up to next. You may even find the lenses satifactory for the pictures you take for a while.

I did price out the xTi and the Tamron lenses at B&H Photo ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ ) and just those items came up to $788. B&H isn't necessary the cheapest, but I've done most my purchases there and have had no complaints.

Enjoy your purchase, learn with what you've got, and take your time researching and deciding your next purchase.

Mark........

[Spookonthe8ball]

Could any recommend what camera I should choose from? I just bought the XT from Best Buy (Package deal with bag, extra lense, etc) for $700. But I read it is 3 year old technology vs the XTi. Is there truely any difference? I will mainly use it to photograph the kids and at their sporting events. I don't plan on printing poster sized pictures... 8 x 11 max. This is my first digital camera.

Zeiny, what the heck happened since yesterday? You should have at least got the kit lens that comes standard with that from Best Buy.
Spook

[fractalgfx]

The camera in the picture on the ebay page is an older XT model and not an XTi. If you are really getting an XTi, you probably paid $150-200 more than you would have for just the body, but most of those accessories look like junk.

Enough has been said about the lenses, so here are a few other tips.

1. Make sure that the camera is not grey market, and comes with a warranty valid where you live.

2. Throw out the flash. It will probably light up if you stick it on your camera and pull the trigger, but the camera's computer won't be able to control the output. I wouldn't even experiment with the flash, because it could potentially fry your camera's inner circuitry.

3. 90-95% of all of the flash memory sold on ebay is counterfeit. It can be difficult to identify counterfeit memory, until it goes bad. Even if the card seems to work, buy a second card, and use the ebay card only as a last resort.

[zeiny]

is it safe to osay i should have gone this route?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7989901&st=canon+rebel+xti&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1155069748336

[Gintaras]

May be this sounds pathetic but as the saying goes "a free cheese is only in a mouse trap"... buying a bundled package you need to check if they offer you a good deal. From my experience bundled kits never good, because they give you something they want get rid off and low quality. Even for memory cards they would give you the cheapest. Personally I would not take anything less than Sandisk either Ultra III or Ultra IV. As for lenses, if a good lens comes in a bundle then most certainly its price tag will be very close to the same without a bundle. Otherwise they offer you a bundle with lenses that few photographers would like. I had a similar story in a shop where a sales tried to sell me Canon XTi in a bundle with battery grip (not original canon), some meager quality CF, two cheapest lenses one of them kit lens and the other 55-200 plus some other funny stuff. I, after a second of hesitation politely declined his offer. Funnily this sales looked so disappointed that I did not buy his BS. So I went for normal kit (XTi + kit lens) and could not be happier.

PS: where have you seen an honest sales? only in your dreams.

[GaryS]

I would have suggested shopping at BH Photo Video for an XTi (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457541-REG/Canon_1236B001_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XTi.html) as they have good prices and great selection. Nothing wrong with Best buy though...

[herc182]

3. 90-95% of all of the flash memory sold on ebay is counterfeit. It can be difficult to identify counterfeit memory, until it goes bad. Even if the card seems to work, buy a second card, and use the ebay card only as a last resort.

Is that fact? I have always bought memory cards from ebay and have never (TOUCH WOOD) had any problems with them.

[DonSchap]

If this really is an XT, instead of an XTi ... then I would fight like heck to send it back to the seller. THat Best Buy add is right where you need to be. It is quite true that the XT (350D) is three years old. The XTi (400D) was introduced in 2006 ... was an impressive leap over the earlier model. Starting there would be amuch better choice, for sure. The lens is also "meant" to be on this camera ... not those older TAMRON 35mm-film ones.

The industry has moved well beyond the XT ... and you will only get further behind, by keeping it. If you feel that it is all you could want ... then you are probably fine using it as best you can. But, if you really planned on taking "keepers" (images that will remain in your family for years to come) and growing with your photography ... this is like taking one step back to go forward.

At the bottom of all this lies all the "stuff" you got with the out-of-date camera, also. Many have pointed out the problem with using non-qualified accessories (the flash & memory) and this could be a serious problem, with continual use. It may very well wreck your "new" camera and I certainly would not contemplate using it on anything else ... like an upgrade you will buy in the future.

The scarier part of all this is that these unscrupulous practices are allowed to continue, without anyone stepping in and impeding them for the "uninformed" consumer. Just because it fits on the camera ... does NOT mean you should put it there.

If it were me ... and it is still possible, I'd start over, based on this new appreciation of how to do it correctly. Call it a "lesson learned" and be more careful in the future, before getting the "Deal of the Century!" Whatever your intent was is basically unimportant, because it is much like erecting a new building with old wood. You know what should be done with old wood ... and it's not building stuff. :cool: Do it correctly (by the rules) ... and save yourself and others, down the road, needless worry or failure.

Like a "get rich quick" scheme, in the end, it's never quick ... and who got rich? :rolleyes:

[fractalgfx]

Is that fact? I have always bought memory cards from ebay and have never (TOUCH WOOD) had any problems with them.

I don't remember where the 90% figure, I've seen it several places, but its entirely possible it was made up by some blogger, although I vaguely remember seeing it cited by what I considered a reliable source.

Even if the figure is made up, there are several reasons why I think that a huge percentage of memory is fake.

1. With any low margin product, it is virtually impossible for small vendors to compete with big retailers. Big retailers purchase in such high volumes, that they can sell products at a profit, for less money that a small vendor can purchase them wholesale.

2. Just because it works, doesn't mean it is authentic. There are several brands of high quality cards, but Sandisk and Lexmark are twice as expensive. I am very happy with my Transcend cards, but I wouldn't be happy if someone sold them to me with a Sandisk label.

3. Selling fake cards is easy and low risk. Sellers can be impossible to track down, and Law enforcement won't get involved unless there is a lot of money involved. Some stammers will even give refunds to pesky customers, because they can still profit from customers who get frustrated and give up.
Most scammers will claim

[TenD]

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
Don, Don, Don,
First of all, Zeiny, if it truly is an XT, you didn't get a good deal, but you did get a good camera contrary to what Don may say. The XT is an 8 megapixel autofocus digital camera, and to set the record straight it was introduced in March of 2005 so it's closer to 2 1/2 years old. It's also a good camera, a darn good camera and is fully capable of taking very fine images in most cases images as good as any of the 2008 models out there.

I get "keepers" with my "ancient" cameras(and lenses)all of the time, and will continue to get them. New gear offers some incremental improvements, but basic camera gear is the same, maybe a few more frames in a burst, maybe a faster burst, maybe more resolution, etc etc. But the basics of function, metering, shutter, aperture, all these remain basically the same.

Second of all I have 2 digital bodies and seven lenses. One body is a 2003 model and one is a 2005 model, both were capable of taking fine images and still are capable of taking fine images. I have exactly one(1) "made for digital" lens. One of my sharpest and most capable lenses is an old "film" lens that is 18 years old. Made for digital...marketing, mostly, makes you feel as if your old lenses aren't good enough any more. The resolving power of my old film lenses is as good as and surpasses many made for digital lenses. The "made for digital" lenses won't even fit Canon's best digital cameras the professional 1 series. What I am saying is, contrary to what Don says is, a "made for digital" lens isn't really necessary.

Unfortunately the lenses you received with your camera "deal" aren't very good lenses. They have a reputation for being rather poor. I am not versed on what Tamron lenses work properly with Canon digital cameras so there may be some trouble with proper communication with the body. I do know, however, that ANY Canon EF or EF-s lens will fit your body.

I will agree with one thing Don said, if you can get your money back and start over, you will be ahead. With help from the people here you'll be able to choose lenses that have better image quality than those you received in your "deal". If you can't get your money back, lesson learned, forget the WA adapter, and use the remaining lenses that you have until you can't stand it any more. Then with the help of this forum buy some lenses you will be more happy with. Don't rule out the XT, it's a bargain right now, a brand new XT in the box goes for under $500, and contrary to what Don said, is still a very viable option.

[DonSchap]

The fact that the advice should be to improve photography, not set it back five years with old bodies, old lenses and old thinking.

Criticize my advice if you need to ... but don't go after the intent. Let's all strive to improve our skills and not suggest people fall back into the same hole we all just crawled out of. We have learned valuable skills and information. Forcing people to recreate this nonsense by convincing them it's "okay" to do so is just plain ... (fill in the blank).

Get a modern digital SLR and go on from there. Not some three to five year old technology, heading for the dust bin. It's not a 10D ... which is a little too dated to be a reasonable move forward, but the XT is heading for history.

If you only knew the power of the "bright side" ... ISO 6400, 1/8000th of a secoond shutter speed, 5 fps speed, and 30 shot burst speed ... the ragged edge of photography. In-camera anti-shake technology ... which some manufacturer's still will not embrace. I see that truly as a loss for those folks with the standard variety lens (non-IS equipped). That's a lot of folks, folks.

Look, you can muddle through with a simple P&S or a cheap or entry level DSLR ... but if your are heading into the realm of dedicated DSLR photography ... having all the tricks right up front doesn't hurt your experience. :eek: It keeps it fun and it has never been cheaper for all this power, either.

A little history from yours truly ... I bought my EOS 20D Kit for 1150 back in 2005 ... and the SONY A700 (a quantum leap forward) for $1250. That's a lot more punch for an extra $100.

Take the opportunity to do it right from the very start. Man, I would have ... given these options.

Good luck!

[chardog]

The lens you have are not good IN COMPARISON with top notch lenses, but make no mistake, you can produce good pictures with them. Learn how to use your camera, it's not the end of the world.

test these lens out until you find their weaknesses. Find ways to overcome these weaknesses. FYI, the local del amo mall uses these cheapo tamrons to take santa clause pictures. They are good enough to make large prints and sell for profit! Any experienced photog would scoff at the gear, but heck, people make money off of it, and it produces acceptable images! I am personally teaching a younger photog the basics, and he is using this same lens.