Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Ultra Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Tamron zoom lens * effective focal length: * 28-300mm with 35mm film or full-frame digital cameras * 44-465mm with APS-C sensor cameras * compatible with Nikon digital and film SLR cameras with F mount * manual focus only with Nikon D40, D40x, and D60 SLR models * Extra Refractive Index glass for a compact, lightweight design * low-dispersion glass and hybrid aspherical glass elements for superior image quality * internal focusing * minimum focus distance: 19.3 in. *
Customer Review: Great all-in-one lens for full frame DSLR's
To clear up some of the confusion regarding how this lens will perform, there are two classes of Nikon DSLR's. The first use a sensor smaller than 35mm, about the size of the old APS film cameras, hence the term "APS class." These include the D50,70,80,90,200, etc. The smaller sensors mean every lens has a built in zoom (or crop factor) of about 1.5. This is why wide angles for these DSLR's have been 18mm while for film it used to be 24-28mm. Lenses built for the smaller sensors also have a circle (inner lens opening) that is smaller than the older film lenses. On these type cameras this lens would perform like a 43-450mm or thereabouts. Newer Nikons like the D3,D3X, and D700 are "full frame" and have sensors the same size as 35mm. There is no crop factor, and they can work correctly with film lenses. This Tamron is essentially a film lens, and works best on a full frame camera. I've heard to be wary of superzooms such as this, as they tend to have distortion at the wide and tele ends and have a small maximum aperture at the tele end. At 300MM it is f6.3 max, and that's not very good, but my D700 has such good high ISO performance I just crank it up and don't worry about. The focus is an old screw drive so it's a little slow and noisy, and it is plastic. (The focus also won't work on the D40, it needs lenses with a built in motor.) I also would prefer it have been 24mm rather than 28mm, but you can't have everything. However, I've been very happy with the pictures it takes. They have good color rendition, the distortion isn't readily noticeable, and they're nice and sharp across the screen. If I blew the photos up I'd probably see a lot of differences compared to a high end "pro" lens, but that misses the point. This is a "walk around" lens intended for situations where you can/want only to take one lens with you. In that role the Tamron works very well.
Customer Review: Non-VC Tamron 28-300 is way better than VC version
To put what you are about to read in context, I am an accredited photojournalist and have won several awards for my photography. I originally bought this non-VC Tamron 28-300 mm lens when I bought my Nikon D-100. I was on a tight budget and the camera store recommended it, so I took their advice. I have since upgraded my cameras several times, now shooting primarily with a Nikon D3, with a D300 as a second camera body. I also have several Nikon lenses, for limited-use applications. The problem is a lack of a broad range, Nikon brand zoom lens for their full frame FX sensor Nikon cameras (as opposed to DX lenses for the smaller chip). Even though I never use my D100 anymore, most of my shots taken with the D3 are taken in combination with my trusty Tamrom 28-300mm lens. It consistently takes good photos. I made a huge mistake a few months ago by buying Tamron's new VC version of this lens. That lens is a disaster. After missing several easy shots at my daughter's graduation due to the lens not focusing (instead, it hunted back and forth), I took the lens back to the store -- only to learn that other shooters had returned their Tamron VC 28-300mm lenses too. Another of my fellow journalists returned his for the same reason. He is still peeved that he blew an opportunity to get a $300 Nikon rebate on a combination D300 camera and lens purchase, because he chose to buy just the camera body and the Tamron VC lens instead. This non-VC Tamron 28-300mm Nikon-mount lens is great if you want or need to travel light by bringing only your camera with a single, attached lens. It has a great zoom range and auto-focuses well. Note that there are some Nikon models that this lens will not auto-focus with, so be sure to verify your application before ordering one. Granted this lens is not great in low light with older cameras, but the newer Nikons (including the D3, D300, D700 and others) have terrific low light sensitivity so the lens' low light capabilities do not matter that much. Simply set these camera bodies in their Auto-ISO mode, attach this Tamron lens and you'll be good to go for most situations. Using a relatively high shutter speed, my Nikon D3 and my aging Tamron lens, I was able to shoot sharp shots of a motorcycle stunt-jumping exhibition outside of the Palms hotel (in Las Vegas) at night, during the recent SEMA Show. The motorcycles, as they jumped high in the air, were lit only by a couple of spotlights. The results were amazing. I have repeatedly asked Nikon reps for such a lens from Nikon for use with their new, full frame cameras (D3 and D700). They tell me they cannot make one that would sell for a low enough price that people would be willing to pay. Go figure. Perhaps someday Nikon will listen and make such a lens available. In the meantime, especially considering there is now a $50 rebate on this Tamron lens, I am tempted to buy another of these for when (or if) mine finally wears out.


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