topic Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens in EF & RF Lenses

Tamron 150-600mm lens

Tintype_18 — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 23:29:24 GMT

Looking for a telephoto lens for a T7. Found a 150-600mm Tamron lens. Several on eBay selling for about one grand. Anyone familiar with this brand? Reviews on a couple of websites are five stars.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

kvbarkley — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 01:57:59 GMT

I have one, and it works very well. Others here prefer the sigma sport. Here are a few images I took with it:

I got mine used from Lens Rentals

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

Tintype_18 — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 13:26:58 GMT

Thanks. Will check with Lens Rentals and some other places.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

shadowsports — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 14:25:28 GMT

Sigma 150~600C is a great lens.

I have one as well, with the TC-1401 1.4x teleconverter. You can buy the lens new from Sigma under 1K. They also have great sales in their outlet store (refurbs) from time to time (just like Canon). ... why chance eBay, thats like gambling.

Canon does have a "system" and its always best to use Canon glass, but several of my lenses are Sigma and I have never regretted this decision.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

ebiggs1 — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 14:58:58 GMT

Having owned, at one time or other, all the 150-600mm super zooms, here is how I rate them.

Best ... Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens <---- this is my keeper 150-600mm

2. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 <---- note this is the G2 not the one you looked at on eBay.

3. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens <---- normally called the C lens.

4. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens <---- definitely not as good as the Sigma C.

Now you may have to get to the pixel peeping level to really see a difference worth mentioning as real world use is pretty good with any of these but if you are going this route you may as well get the best. At this time for the average shooter it is the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. I don't recommend the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens for the amateur or even enthusiast photographer unless you are well aware of its weight and extreme build quality.

The top three are user upgradeable. There is another offering that I have not personally owned or used but from what I am told it is very good too. It is the Sigma 60-600mm f4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports lens. Perhaps it is the best super zoom there is but at my point in life I doubt I buy one. Ya never know though. Warning it is a very heavy lens, too. All the others are plastic and reasonably light, comparatively speaking.

For the beginning photographer all these lenses will require a learning curve to get the best results. Probably not a lens you are going to slap on and run with it. Do your do diligence and anybody can learn to use them with outstanding results.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

ebiggs1 — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:03:43 GMT

IMHO, the reason Tamron came out with the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 is, it was very much inferior to the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens. The Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens is not user upgradable.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

ebiggs1 — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:08:05 GMT

If I were given the choice of either the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Lens for $350-$400 or the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens (not G2) at $800 or a grand, I would take the Siggy al day long. Now that my two cents and worth every penny.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

Tintype_18 — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 20:08:58 GMT

Lots of great information. I'm appreciative of the group taking time to share their experience and opinions. Good news is that I found some $$$ that I forgot I had. Is that possible? Senior moment? Will look into the prices on the new lenses or refurbished lenses. Thanks!!!!

Edit- I'm looking at using the lense for birds and wildlife. Somewhere I read that an auto focus is best. By the time you get focused, the photo opportunity is gone. Are these lenses listed auto focus?

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

kvbarkley — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 20:17:09 GMT

They are all Autofocus.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

ebiggs1 — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:56:48 GMT

"Are these lenses listed auto focus?"

Not trying to be rude but I get the impression you need to bone up on photography stuff before you buy a lens like this. These lenses are big and while not prohibitively heavy they have some weight to deal with. They require fast SS and some thought on how to shoot with them. Perhaps a local camera store or a friend will let you try one.

I guess there isn't any better way than just jumping in the deep end and learning! Lot's of people do it, some are successful.

Good luck and go for it.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

Tintype_18 — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 14:39:44 GMT

ebiggs1, closest camera store is 160 miles away. For wildlife photography, it is mentioned to have autofocus as critters tend to move a lot. Learning to use the autofocus to keep an object focused such as birds in flight.

Don't know of anyone who would be beyond the basics. Like to find a class at a local community college but the virus has put a lot of things on hold for now.

Part of the fun of learning is "playing" with different settings in different lighting, cloudy, shade, etc. I spent about three hours at a local wildlife area scouting for turkeys plus taking about 80 photos to study. Tried one RAW photo on DPP and it came out great.

Thanks for your reply.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

ebiggs1 — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:13:03 GMT

My goal for you or anybody that asks for suggestions or opinions is their continued success. Some questions asked by new people to photography triggers alerts in some of us old veterans. I never discourage folks from doing what they think is best or what they want to do but on the other hand a few warnings may help them become more successful.

When I tell you the super zooms are big and heavy and take some learning that is just a hint that it isn't a pick it up and run with it lens. You know what is coming right up front. You can find a lot of these lenses that are nearly new for sale on the used market from folks that didn't realize what they were getting into. The Siggy I suggested to you on eBay was one of those. The guy bought it found out he either didn't use it enough or it wasn't easy enough to use and it sit.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

Tintype_18 — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 21:10:54 GMT

EB, again thanks for your comments. Too old to run with a lens. Might walk slow a bit, though. I realize there is still a lot to learn. That is the reason I joined the community. Got some of the basics but want to keep going beyond the basics. I'm reading DSLR for Dummies for the third time. Plowing through the 318 pages of the T7 manual.

FWIW, when I was taking photos of sandhill cranes at a local wildlife area, I saw a couple of guys who had lenses the size of a 16 lb. Napoleon cannon. I was watching a baseball game last night. One fellow sitting behind home plate had a huge lens. I guess if you are a pro, the cost is more of an investment.

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

ebiggs1 — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:19:05 GMT

"I guess if you are a pro, the cost is more of an investment."

A lot, perhaps most, of those guys do not own the big white Canon lenses. They can easily cost more than $10,000 bucks. I have one a 600mm f4 that I bought way back but rarely to never use it. The Sigma S 150-600mm lens I have now is just too much easier to use and handle. And for the last 20 years or so I have not had any professional need for such a lens. My big Siggy is just for my own pleasure use.

This is where the money is...............

Senior photos.................................

not here! ....................................

Re: Tamron 150-600mm lens

Tintype_18 — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 21:18:20 GMT

Photos are to accompany magazine or media articles. Outdoor writing gets me out in the bushes and woods and on the water. Not really interested in portraits. BTW, been looking at a new Sigma lens 150-600 for $799. Found two used lenses- one had no return and other had 6 month warranty for "Good" condition and a 30 day return. Both under $500.