Tamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2

New glass!

Advantages: No zoom creep, inexpensive and available for many models of DSLR.
Disadvantages: Slightly slow auto focus and it is a bit fussy in bright light.

zoom when you do not want it to. This is particularly common in cheaper zoom lenses but I can confirm it does not happen with this Tamron lens even if you shake the camera the lens stays exactly at the focal length you set it to. Another thing that can be annoying is when cheaper lenses sound like they are breaking down when all they are doing is auto focusing; this lens is far from silent when focusing but it sounds very smooth and not nearly as noisy as some other lower end lenses. This lens also offers a very smooth zoom action and also a very smooth focus action when used manually. The Tamron 55-200 lens has a maximum aperture of 4-5.6 depending on focal length which is usually more than enough for your average photographer although pro`s would like to be able to use at least 2.8, it has a minimum focus distance of 37.4"/0.95m ...

thebigc1690 15.12.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Tamron AF 55-200mm F4-5.6 Di II LD

Sigma AF 70-300mm f4-f5.6 APO DG Macro

Advantages: Decent quality on a budget but only for APS-C digital SLR's.
Disadvantages: Really quite poor when used with full-frame digital SLR's.

of good quality. I don't know if it is simply a variation between samples but my own APO version appeared to have somewhat 'smoother' zooming than my friend's non APO one. As usual for Sigma, a decent lens hood (barrel type) and a soft case are included in the package. The lens sports a 58mm filter thread, so filters are relatively inexpensive to purchase. Being of more 'ordinary' status in the Sigma hierarchy, this AF 70-300mm f/4-f/5.6 DG APO Macro, has none of the more elaborate 'bells and whistles' evident on the more expensive EX range. What does this mean? Well, you don't get Sigma's superb HSM (Hypersonic Motor) AF (auto-focusing) for near silent and very fast AF, resulting in a somewhat more unsophisticated, noisy (although not overly so) and slightly 'harsh' action. It still works well however! Also, you get no FTM (full time manual ...

davecham 29.12.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Sigma telephoto zoom lens - 70 mm - 300 mm F/4.0-5.6

Tamron is best for tight budget

Advantages: Versatile, good range and great if you're constantly on the move.
Disadvantages: A bit too slow, not as sharp but will improve when you know its habits.

I bought my Tamron 28-300mm lens from Jessops, it was on offer at the time, I think I only paid £199. I've used it for a number of different shooting scenarios because of its flexibility regarding wide angle and zoom. Pros: I really like the range. It gives me most of what I need in one lens so I can take it with me on holiday and not have to worry about packing three different lenses. It doubles as a macro as well due to the zoom length and the aperture is reasonably fast for general requirements. I use this lens with my Canon 400D SLR which I had bought about a year earlier and I've used it predominantly for wildlife. It's been with me to Mull, Scotland, Prague, Venice and its been very handy for switching quickly from street shots to long shots. Cons: Well, given the Canon 400D is heavy (for me anyway - I'm only 5ft 3 ...

HBForth 14.06.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Tamron AF 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di LD (IF)