Tamron 28-105/2.8 users?

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Any of you EOS users had experience with the Tamron pro-level 28-105/f2.8 lens? I'm considering upgrading from a 24-85 EF zoom as a basic lens for wedding and similar work, because the 24-85 lacks an adequate max aperture, stout construction, and adequate performance wide open. Too bad, because for me, the focal length range is about ideal. Oh, for a pro-level fixed 2.8 zoom with the same range! I suppose it would be even more of a monster than the 28-70.

The long end of the Tamron's range would be welcome enough. Since I do need good wide open performance, I'm interested in that character that until recently I didn't know any vocabulary for: out-of-focus performance, or what the Japanese call "Bokeh." With shallow depth of field, out-of-focus areas may occupy more image space than the sharply rendered objects. Canon has recognized the value of smooth transitions from the plane of sharp focus to soft backgrounds, and many of my lenses do well in that area: the 35/f2, the 100/f2.8 Macro, the 70-200/f2.8 in particular. My personal standard here has been set by 20 plus years of Leica-M 35/f2 and 90/2.8 use, so it's fair to call me fussy.

So, if any of you have used the Tamron, and even better, the EF 28-70/2.8 also, what are your thoughts? From what I've read here, the Canon lens would provide adequate sharpness and construction quality, and I may end up with one. But the range doesn't appeal to me---28 is too long and 70 is too short, in my eyes. The Tamron improves on this at one end, at least.

-- Jonathan Barber (jbarber@squonk.net), January 06, 2000

Answers

I bought the 28-105mm Tamron for my A2. I shot a few rolls of film with it & was very disappointed with the results. The images appeared to lack contrast although I shot the test rolls with Kodak Royal Gold 100, something I have used a lot in the past. Under magnification I found the images to be unsharp at f2.8 thru about 5.6. I returned the lens to the mail order company & replaced it with fixed focal length Canon lenses. The camera store salesman sent me an article that had just come out where the poor performance of the lens was mentioned. I believe the author was Scully in Modern or Popular Photography.

Good Luck!

-- gary przyborski (garyprzy@crosswinds.net), January 26, 2000.


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