Tamron 70-200 F/2.8: My Very Own!

[Visual Reality]

Let us know what you think of the AF - speed and accuracy, particularly with moving subjects.

[seanhoxx]

Dr4gon should be able to provide a good report with his lens. I just haven't had the time to get out and use mine in different conditions and shooting styles yet. All of my use with it has been at high school football and soccer games. The AF seems to be pretty fast to me but I have not used any "top end" 2.8's before. I do get a bit of fuzz out and hunting with it but I am under less then ideal lighting conditions with moving objects. uniforms in say black or dark blues moving against dark background well what can you say accuracy suffers. Overall I am very pleased with the glass.

[dr4gon]

Let us know what you think of the AF - speed and accuracy, particularly with moving subjects.

Dr4gon should be able to provide a good report with his lens. I just haven't had the time to get out and use mine in different conditions and shooting styles yet. All of my use with it has been at high school football and soccer games. The AF seems to be pretty fast to me but I have not used any "top end" 2.8's before. I do get a bit of fuzz out and hunting with it but I am under less then ideal lighting conditions with moving objects. uniforms in say black or dark blues moving against dark background well what can you say accuracy suffers. Overall I am very pleased with the glass.

Well from taking pictures inside the house of inanimate objects, it's alright. Flash assist would probably help tremendously (although not always effective outdoors). The AF speed on 70mm is decently fast. On 200mm it's like the 70-300mm on the upper end (200-300mm) ie... it's pretty slow. But if lighting is OK, it usually nails the focus. If lighting isn't so great, it'll hunt back and forth until you find better contrast for it to grab on to. I'm really not sure what I'll be using it for. Probably the occasional sports game and mainly just outdoors, zoo, wildlife, etc.... The AF though is VERY accurate as widely stated. It's a very sharp lens! The bokeh is wonderful too!

[DonSchap]

Well, from some experience, the 70-200 f/2.8 is designed for shots indoors and over twenty feet away, with human subjects.

Obviously, there are dozens of other uses, but that is its primary STRENGTH. It can operate in low light and you don't have to be right in the middle of the action. Coupled with the high end flashes, it is truly quite effective and you can freeze more movement because of the faster shutter-speed.

Practice with it and find its limitations, just realize there are no zooms that can offer better light than this one does.

[dr4gon]

Well, from some experience, the 70-200 f/2.8 is designed for shots indoors and over twenty feet away, with human subjects.

Obviously, there are dozens of other uses, but that is its primary STRENGTH. It can operate in low light and you don't have to be right in the middle of the action. Coupled with the high end flashes, it is truly quite effective and you can freeze more movement because of the faster shutter-speed.

Practice with it and find its limitations, just realize there are no zooms that can offer better light than this one does.

It makes me want to try out the Sony G SSM for it's SS motor but not buy it. Just curious . Since it's $1100 more, that's another 2 lenses, a nice prime, or an A700 .... The G also has a much larger MFD as Don pointed out . The white might be a nice change though.

[seanhoxx]

the 70-200 f/2.8 is designed for shots indoors and over twenty feet away, with human subjects.
HMMM now if I could only figure out how to have the camera and lens with me inside the barricades when I work concerts, could put up some killer shots LOL it's fun to dream!

[dr4gon]

Here's a few:

[sparkie1263]

Nice series of images.
Frank

[DonSchap]

I am delighted you guys are out there getting a chance to exercise this lens. It is an amazing BARGAIN for the 70-200mm f/2.8 despite what the racey elitests might say. If you can only pony up $700 ... it works out.