Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (non-VC)

Another update: I did more tests, using other ways to focus (fast, slow, and manual in Live View), and they all produce significantly sharper photos at f/2.8 for 17mm and 50mm than the default auto-focusing method I used for my original test. This demonstrates that my issues with Tamron being not sharp must be solely due to my camera (Canon XS) deficiency. So my copy of the lens seems to be very good after all, and I'll probably have to upgrade to a better body some time soon...

 

I just got my brand new Tamron 17-50mm lens for Canon (non VC version), model A16E, made in Japan. (Bought online here in Canada, from Camera Canada.) I was appalled how blurred the test photos were. Here is my semi-scientific test: a side-by side comparison of shots made with my cheappo kit lens (Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II, no IS) and the new Tamron, with identical focal length and aperture combinations. I shot a test chart from my LCD monitor maintaining a constant angular scale, with AF engaged. I did two shots for each case, and chose the best one. Here I present center of frame crops from RAW images, no rescaling or post-processing applied. Kit lens is on the left, Tamron is on the right.

 

You can easily tell that Tamron makes much softer images than my cheap kit lens, especially at 17-24mm range. If you wide open the Tamron (up to f/2.8), the images get even blurrier. But according to trusted online sources (e.g. here), it should be exactly the opposite - Tamron should produce significantly better shots than the Canon kit lens.

 

The Tamron came with a 6-year warranty. I have just sent the lens to a repair centre (Amplis, Ontario). I hope they will calibrate the lens under the warranty. If they do, I''ll add a third column to this image, with the calibrated Tamron. Hopefully, it will look much better.

 

So buyers - beware! It looks like a very good lens with a bargain price, but be ready to do some extra work to get the best out of the lens.

 

UPDATE: According to Tamron technician, my lens copy is "within the specs", and will not be calibrated. So I have to live with it.

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Uploaded on July 21, 2010
Taken on July 20, 2010