Model Citizen

Just a heads up.
If anyone has a Nikon, is thinking of upgrading there OS to Windows 7 and uses Capture NX for there RAW NEF files (or other files), and doesn't already have version 2, then you might want to download the file V1.3 here asap for your back up while it's still available here:

LINK

It is no longer supported by Nikon, they will only recommend Version 2 which you pay for (I just found out). Version 1.3 is free and if like me, you had a free serial with your camera and don't want to fork out extra cash, this is the file you want.

Grab it while you can.

I bought this recently after getting a bit fed up lugging my various lenses around and always seemingly having the wrong one on for any shot I wanted to take. I looked for a good universal lens that would pretty much cover everything.

The proper spec is here:

Tamron's Vibration Compensation—Blur-Stopping Power With No Annoying Motion Delay In Your Viewfinder!

With the advent of the latest 15X zoom lens from Tamron, the pioneer of high power zoom lenses, the high power zoom lens has steadily evolved from a 7.1X to a 10.7X to a 13.9X and now to the world’s largest zoom ratio of 15X by combining advanced high power zoom design technologies accumulated by Tamron since 1992. The lens covers an angle of view equivalent to that of a 28mm wideangle to a 419mm ultra telephoto with just one lens, letting the user capture once-in-the-lifetime images of panoramic landscape images or close-up pictures of children smiling, without having to get too close to the subject and without having to change lenses.

So, weather to believe all the hype or not is tricky, especially as this is £400+. Amazon have it yo-yoing in price currently from £410-530, so if you see the top end price shop around you will find it for less.

I went out recently in the frost on the way to Brecon with the lens on and took loads of shots, I was'nt planning a test of any sort but I found I had taken a set of 3 shots showing the zoom quality. I've been varying weather the vibration compensation is on or not, in these shots I think it was as I found the long zoom does need it in some circumstances. Other info: I shot at about ISO 200 with aperture about 5.6. I'm no expert so dont expect a geeky technical answer. I did'nt do much to these photo's other than add the yellow box showing where I zoomed in and lightened slightly. I'm still learning so took them a bit dark.

Ok, here's the shots:

Well, like them or not what i think it does show is that you can zoom in pretty close and still keep detail. I think it could have got closer too! but as said before this was'nt a real test, I was just out snapping.

Overall, I'm really pleased with the lens. It's a meaty beast, has a few settings for AF and MF as well as the Vibration button and a lens lock to stop it moving when walking around. It gets so long by being double telescopic and can be heavy enough to move back on itself when not in AF mode but this is a known issue I believe with all type of lenses like this, and as mentioned I found having it on AF stops it shifting.

Definatley an option for anyone else like me who's fed up of carrying around zoom's, wide angles and 50mm's and just wants a small case with a couple of spare batteries.

If you want to take a look at any more of my pics, the most recent have nearly all been taken with this lens please visit my Flickr Page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjmorse/