Author Topic: Slow VC on Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 VC (Read 4225 times)

tridgers · « **on:** March 01, 2014, 11:55 »

Hi,

I recently went on a trip along the garden route of South Africa with my new Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 VC lens. I didn't have a laptop out there with me so i couldn't see the photos at 100% after i'd taken them. I was happy with them.... on the trip.

When i got home a large % were slightly out of focus. Since i have been home i have found this review of the lens (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tamron/17-50mm-f28-vc.htm), where he said this:

"This Tamron's VR/IS/VC system works only if you have the time to wait a moment before you snap each and every photo. There is a huge flaw if you make a photo before waiting a second for it to settle down. If you snap a photo without waiting for the VC/VR/IS system to settle, it will blur your image worse than if you had no VC, VR or IS! This is because this Tamron's VC system jumps as it locks and unlocks, so if you don't wait a moment with your finger half on the shutter for it to settle, it will blur your photo in the process of settling! Nikon's VR and Canon's IS systems don't have this problem. This blurred a lot of shots for me before I figured this out. Therefore, this is a horrible lens for news, sport, action and people shots unless you turn off the VR/IS/VC system. If you don't, and if you shoot at a moment's notice, the VC system will blur many of your shots!"

I'm guessing the only thing i can do really is turn off the VC as i didn't specifically think i was rushing the shots.

Has anyone else got this lens? Any work arounds?

Cheers,

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2014, 12:11 »

I've said this about ALL IS and got slapped up side the head. Some are slower than others. Some it's the camera processors that slow it down. It depends on the subject and lighting.

But one thing is constant. With IS or VC or whatever they call it, your focusing will always be slower. It takes time to recognize the situation, then to sense jitters or wiggles or shakes or whatever and then stabilize and take the photo.

It's no good for anything that's moving. That's not what IS does. (yes I understand the setting for panning)

Work around? Yup, I turn off the IS. Rest on something. Carry a monopod. Adjust your exposures or ISO. Don't depend on technology to fix things for us with magic claims and electronics. Without making a guess, I am NOT a fan of IS and I avoid it. But it can be useful sometimes.

Or with stabilization on, take a breath, breath out, hold, wait, wait, shoot.

But for some people those are unacceptable answers.

Hobostocker · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2014, 12:32 »

i played with 3 different Tamrons with VC and by far they have the WORST VR/IS i ever tried, not to mention quite slow and noisy focus, there's a good reason these lenses are so cheap.

as for quality they're VERY good but a good focus is well worth the additional price, i would stick with Sigma nowadays, they're the best value for money.

OM · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2014, 20:18 »

Tamrons must be generally slow on AF. Got a 90mm Di macro recently (non-VC) and whilst that's supposed to be AF-S-type focussing on Nikon, first it focusses nearly and a split second later, focusses properly. Lucky that I use only MF for macro but as a general purpose lens for people, it's AF is too slow to be really useful.
So maybe it's not only in the VC.

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Author Topic: Slow VC on Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 VC (Read 4225 times)

tridgers

Uncle Pete

Hobostocker

OM

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