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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
It’s my first upgrade to a superzoom so I can’t say how this differs from the old non-pzd 18-270 of Tammy but my initial test shots were very good.
The image quality differs in some sets below as I’ve used three different Canon bodies:
1000d (first few)
7d (the ‘L’ test)
60d (The cosplay and supermoon phenomenon)
Also take note that I am still learning here so the image quality progresses as I post more.
Update: These shots are mostly in jpeg so there is some loss in detail.
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Here is the gallery of shots:
So far I am very impressed with the results, the focusing is fast (moderate at low light) and silent, I could hardly hear it. It’s a bit heavier than my old kit lens of course, it includes a Tamron hood that is marked ‘Made in Philippines’, that was surprising, but I don’t see any official Tamron service centers here in Ph. At the bottom of the lens it’s marked ‘Made in China’, I guess most products are…
The zooming btw is smooth, some claim that the older version is stiff in the middle but I see no issue with the PZD version. The focusing at mid shutter while VC is on is amazing, it’s like the viewfinder is in slow motion, it makes for better shots. I like that there is a focus lock in there as well.
I can’t make any ‘pro’ observations on this review since I am still new to photography, considering the cost – it is a bit pricey (31,900php) but on the same level as Canon’s 18-200(30k range as well), seeing Canon’s test shots I think Tamron is on the lead here now that the price is near Canon’s range and it has far better features (like the Piezo drive)
Just click on the gallery above to see all the settings for each photo. All images can be clicked too to visit the Picasa gallery where all exif settings are stored.
18mm, indoors, zooming up to the green lysol spray…
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
270mm, indoors
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Let’s try a darker area, 18mm
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
270mm
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Focused on the middle bullet
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
18mm, let’s see how far it can go:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
270mm, very impressive range
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
18mm, Let’s try it out on the jeepneys below:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
270mm, I can see some labels and signs but the plates are not that sharp anymore, this is as far as I can take it anyway:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Focusing at center building, 18mm:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
70mm… zooming… :
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
270mm zoomed to the greenfield logo:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Cars parked below, 18mm:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
And finally 270mm at the cars:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Night shot, still hand-held:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
It gets more challenging:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Not bad at all:
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
18mm needs more detail at dark shots, I definitely need a tripod now (shot handheld, 1000d):
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| From Tamrom 18-270 PZD tests |
Indoors? Well, this is where it gets challenging for my 1000d which isn’t that capable of reducing enough noise, low light at 270mm (iso 1600!!, that’s about as far as my cam body can take me):
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| From Feb test shots |
I found a brazilian jiu jitzu (sp?) competition at the mall, I could use a flash from here, 270mm:
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| From Feb test shots |
But despite the noise, it’s still some decent shots, I think if I have stuck to a darker scene I could increase my shutter speed a bit. But then superzooms like this aren’t really that adviceable for indoor sports.
A few days later I ran into a ballet event, I followed some advice from fellow photogs to use the Tv mode and increase the exposure compensation, the results were more favorable than the last martial arts event:
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| From Ballet test shots |
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| From Ballet test shots |
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| From Ballet test shots |
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| From Ballet test shots |
270mm:
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| From Ballet test shots |
I am very pleased with my new found experience, for more of the ballet set: https://picasaweb.google.com/elijah.alcantara/BalletTestShots#
I found a photographer interested in setting up some quick test shots to compare with his 70-200 ‘L’ lens, here is the L shot at 200mm:
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| From Tamrom 18-270mm pzd vs Canon 70-200 USM IS II L at 200mm |
Here is the Tamron shot at 200mm:
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| From Tamrom 18-270mm pzd vs Canon 70-200 USM IS II L at 200mm |
Crop comparison:
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Tests are done without any tripods. I can see that the L is always the best here but the small difference in IQ makes me think that the Tammy is well worth the 1/3rd price of an L telephoto considering that it’s also ultra light and portable like a kit lens. Without the crop it’s just not noticeable, with the crop you will have to look twice to see the difference.
Here are some more from a Cosplay event using my new 60d:
Focal lengths at the bottom of each pic:
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| 18mm From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 155mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 35mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 76mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 142mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
Crop!
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| From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 270mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 270mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| 270mm, From March Cosplay 2011 |
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| ??mm sorry, From March Cosplay 2011 |
The benefits of a zoom for landscape photography: (Mt. Pulag, Philippines, 65mm)
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| From Mount Pulag climb fav shots |
To make this shot one has to learn how to fly: (92mm)
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| From Mount Pulag climb fav shots |
The sun is already big here, zooming up made it even bigger:
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| From Coron favs |
From a workshop I attended a few days ago: (a bit of noise cause we’re not allowed to use flash)
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| From Portrait and strobist workshop |
Finally, here’s a shot of the supermoon (a bit filtered by clouds) last March 2011:
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| 270mm, From Supermoon |
Try my album to see further, please note that I am not using any tripod to some of these shots. The supermoon used a tripod of course. The cosplay set used an external flash.
There are lots more pictures in my Picasa account https://picasaweb.google.com/elijah.alcantara/ , to find out if it’s taken by my Tamron lens just check the focal length to the right panel – if it’s 18mm to 270mm, then it’s my tammy. If it’s set at 50mm, it’s either my nifty fifty or my Tammy. If it’s 10 to 22mm, it’s either my Canon 10-22mm usm or my Tammy @ 18 to 22mm. There are times that I am not sure which is which, but usually my primes are sharper.
It’s useful to note that my copy is sharper at f11 or so (sweet spot). This lens is fantastic outdoors where there is enough light (I always set it to f11). Indoors, we’ll have to make a few compromises (iso, aperture, etc) or use flash. Zooming up also lowers the f-number, at 18mm we get the minimum of f3.5 and increases each time we zoom further… at 50mm it’s now at f5.0, 100m it’s f5.6, around 150-270mm it’s f6.3. I can live with the compromises.
Update: There has been plenty of comments on the softness issue of the lens and I can verify that. It is noticeable but only when pixel peeping, if you are no pixel peeper then you won’t have an issue with this lens, this isn’t an ‘L’ and most superzooms like these will always have drawbacks. If it’s premium quality sharpness that you are after then an L lens should be in the to-buy list.
Overall it’s a fantastic lens, VC is awesome and no complaints from the past version issues, it seems to be fixed now. It comes with a hood so that’s handy, even without the red lining of an ‘L’ I still get compliments when I sport this lens. this lens hardly leaves my 60d. I only switch when I needed my prime for indoor portraits or my wide angle 10-22mm for landscapes.
Hi,
How’s this compared to the non-pzd version?
Was the focusing in low-light fixed in this version?
Is the IQ better than the first version?
How about comparing this with the sigma 18-250 (IQ, focusing, etc)?
I’m really interested with this lens and will be using this mostly in low light and indoors. Glad to find you site with a review of the pzd version :)
Hi,
As mentioned in the post, I do not have the non-pzd so I can’t make any comparison, same with the sigma.
Focusing in low light is surprisingly fast, though not too fast. I’ve heard of focusing problems in the non-pzd, I do not see that issue with the new version.
But of course, like most superzooms, these kinds of lenses generally get too dark at max 270mm or so, you will have to play with iso settings and exposure compensation to get brighter shots. I was expecting not so pleasing shots indoors or at darker areas but after doing some tests it left me very surprised and pleased. Have a look at my ballet gallery, those are indoor shots.
Can you make a comparison between the Tam18-270 PZD and Sig18-250? Tnx!
Sorry but I don’t have a Sigma 18-250
where did you buy this lens at ~32k php? does it have international warranty or just local?
At Pixel Pro Megamall, cash price has this discount. It should have a store warranty for a year. There is also the VET specialist here who are the distributors of Tamron lenses that can repair it.
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Another point to consider, Tamron has 5-6 years warranty on its new lenses, while Canon has only 1 year.
Hello,
Please, can you tell me wich photos have been taken with the 7D…?
The ballet shots are really very nice … please wich canon ?
@7d: The L comparison shots https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iLPNrM_hafdPGmzgeas2LQ?feat=embedwebsite
@ballet shots: Those are taken with my old 1000d
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Thanks for posting the images. It is really helpful.
Thanks for the review and the pictures. It is really helpful. Down to the non-pros like me :)
hi Elijah
right now i’m considering buy tammy 18-270 pzd. so far, the only problem that i read from the review is the distorsion. but do you found any disadvantages of this lense?
thanks
As a casual non-pro user, I do not see or notice any distortion at all. If it was that severe I would’ve noticed it by now.
Great review!!!
one of the best 18-270 pzd review i have read. good job!!
Hi, thanks for the great review. You mentioned about the switching into “Tv” mode in the ballet photos. What shutter speed did you use and stops to the compensation? Those were great shots!
Hi,
You may notice that each pic is linked to my picasa account, so you may click the picture to view the picasa page then view the right panel for the photo information. Most of the shots there are in 1/60 to 1/100
Great shots and great review my frind!
I will have to look at that store and possibly get it too! I have a co-worker here who have this and it’s fun to play with it. He’s using 400D. Thanks for posting!
Hi, great review. I´m a possible Buyer for the tamrom ( I have a Canon 60D). Your photos and text helped me a lot. Finally a good, honest review from a «real» user. I don´t like to have to change lenses all the time so I´m looking for a good one that will cover most situations. Great job!
Osvaldo from Lisbon, Portugal
Hi
Many thanks for the review and the great pictures. Your findings seem very much at odds with many of the professional reviews but your pictures prove that professional reviews are not always that relevent to novices like myself.
Based on your review esspecially as I have recently purchased a Canon 60D I will most definately give serious consideration to the Tamron as it seems to offer a picture quality that I would consider perfectly acceptable for my purposes at a reasonable price.
Hi.
i really need this lens… great review..
thanks
one word for your review.. WOW..
Do u have any such reviews for Tamron 18 – 200..
I have recently got a Canon 1000D.
Planning to get a lens..
Here in India -
Tamron AF 18-200mm Di II XR LD f/3.8-6.3 — Rs 14,500.00
And
Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD LD Aspherical Macro—Rs 33,990.00
My purpose is mainly weddings and sometimes Product and construction site photography. Rest I also do travelling photography.
Please suggest.
Regards.
@Tamron 18-200: Not really since I don’t own one
For weddings I would highly suggest a fast prime lens. The Tamron should work but you may need a flash …
Is this compatible and good in nikon d5100?
I don’t own a Nikon but based on a quick google search, it should. But double-check anyway.
Excellent review.
Good photos.
Thank you.
Hi Elijah,
Have to say one of the most comprehensive and the best review on the this Tammy lens I have read so far. Definitely will help a lot of non-pro users just like me. It’s very enlightening. Great job.
I am currently deciding over Canon’s 70-300mmL IS USM and this lens. I would appreciate your thoughts on this? I love to take potraits and landscapes as well.
Nes
Hi,
Thank you, I didn’t expect to see this much response for my post :)
@Canon 70-300: well, sorry but I don’t own that lens so I can’t say much about it. If you are using a non-full frame camera that 70mm will be too close to the subject and might be a problem if you are indoors.
Hi Elijah,
I think you have a great point there. Again thanks so much for your advises.
Regards,
Nes
Thanks for sharing.. thinking on buying that lens this year ^_^ and upgrade camera too.. ;)
I own this lens and use it with my Nikon D5100. All I can tell you is that it is capable of astonishingly good pictures, especially when used at around f 8 to F 9. Colour rendition, contrast and saturation are SUPERB ! It is expensive, but worth every penny. Besides, its lightness, compact size, close focus ability and 15X zoom are invaluable assets in the field. I have found it makes an excellent portrait lens, too, with creamy bokeh. If there is such a thing as an all-purpose lens, this one has got to be it !