Tamron 100-400
Dec 5, 2019 14:54:42 #
donmikes
Loc: Doylestown, PA
I'm considering buying a Tamron 100-400mm lens for bird photography with my Nikon D7000. (Although there are obvious advantages to longer alternatives such as 150-600, I don't want such a big heavy lens.)
I am somewhat put off, however, by the idea that I should also buy a tap-in console to ensure that the lens focuses properly. Is it unreasonable to expect that a product should work well upon receipt, rather than asking customers to purchase additional products to properly calibrate it.?
I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions on this issue, as well as whether owners of this lens really find the console necessary and helpful.
I am somewhat put off, however, by the idea that I should also buy a tap-in console to ensure that the lens focuses properly. Is it unreasonable to expect that a product should work well upon receipt, rather than asking customers to purchase additional products to properly calibrate it.?
I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions on this issue, as well as whether owners of this lens really find the console necessary and helpful.
Dec 5, 2019 16:00:29 #
I bought the tap-in for my 18-400. Could not get it to connect. Returned to B & H for refund. Wasn't 'told' to buy it, but the reasons for buying it sounded ok.
Dec 5, 2019 16:20:22 #
donmikes wrote:
I'm considering buying a Tamron 100-400mm lens for... (show quote)
Nothing made is perfect, that is why they have "tolerances". Therefore it is fairly rare that a camera body and lens will be absolutely in perfect sync though many are close enough most people don't mind. But if the two are not in sync and you want to adjust (calibrate) then you can either use the tap-in console or do it the old fashioned way. (Sigma and others also have consoles.) Your choice.
And don't forget, the only reason people didn't do the calibration in pre AF days was it was all manual focus judged by eye ball. Though some really finicky photographers did have cameras or lenses adjusted because the mount match was so sloppy they had excessive movement.
Dec 5, 2019 16:25:52 #
Dec 5, 2019 16:48:44 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
Birding is my favorite type of photography. 400mm is a bit on the short side even for a DX body, but is workable, especially if you know you can get close to your subjects, like at a rookery. I started birding with the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 G2 and have the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-5.6 get good results with both AFTER tuning. Both were soft before tuning. I picked up a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 and found it to be sharper in the corners and it focuses and locks quite a bit faster than the G2. If you want to go with the heavier glass, you can overcome some of the weight issues with a monopod.
I have a fair amount of experience with 3rd party as well as Nikon glass. FWIW, if you are willing to test the Auto Focus of the lens on your camera and willing to tune, then you can save some money with 3rd party glass and get very good results. If not, then stay with Nikon glass.
I have a fair amount of experience with 3rd party as well as Nikon glass. FWIW, if you are willing to test the Auto Focus of the lens on your camera and willing to tune, then you can save some money with 3rd party glass and get very good results. If not, then stay with Nikon glass.
Dec 5, 2019 21:06:06 #
Strodav wrote:
Birding is my favorite type of photography. 400mm... (show quote)
Judy 2011, who hasn't posted here in some time, uses a Canon 100-400 L lens and gets some excellent bird photos, so I would have to disagree with your statement. She tried a lens that went to 500mm but went back to her 100-400 as a better lens. She shoots wildlife and birds primarily at Antelope Island, Bear River Bird Refuge and other locations in Utah.
Dec 5, 2019 21:11:59 #
Strodav
Loc: Houston, Tx
SteveR wrote:
Judy 2011, who hasn't posted here in some time, uses a Canon 100-400 L lens and gets some excellent bird photos, so I would have to disagree with your statement. She tried a lens that went to 500mm but went back to her 100-400 as a better lens. She shoots wildlife and birds primarily at Antelope Island, Bear River Bird Refuge and other locations in Utah.
Best advice I can give is to rent a couple of different lenses in the category you are looking for and see what works for you. I have heard many times, and it works for me, "you can never have enough reach or enough pixels for birding".
Dec 6, 2019 06:38:41 #
Your camera body will have a fine tune adjustment feature where you put of in buying it? These features can take you from good to perfect just depends on how good you want your images to be and equipment to perform.
Dec 6, 2019 08:05:13 #
ggab
Loc: ?
donmikes wrote:
I'm considering buying a Tamron 100-400mm lens for... (show quote)
I have found mfg lenses have less of a need for "calibration" then non mfg. lenses.
I have a sigma 100-400 and did "in camera" microfocus as opposed to in lens microfocus and was very satisfied. I recently bought a Canon 100-400 MKii and was extremely happy with the out of box settings. When I used "Focal" to check the lens it returned "0" with both the wide and telephoto settings.
The Sigma was roughly half the price, however the Canon is superior and didn't need adjustment.
I keep the Sigma as a back up lens.
I also have the Tamron 150-600 G2 and only do the in camera microfocus adjustment. The "Tap In" focus adjustment is just too time consuming IMHO and limited to only one camera, the one you are using for the calibration settings. The Tap In module is great for firmware updates and fine tuning the OS/VC.
Dec 6, 2019 08:14:31 #
400mm is too short for smaller birds , 600 is minimum , i use a older 800 , and that is about right .
Dec 6, 2019 08:20:35 #
Lagoonguy
Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL
I have the Tamron 100-400 and the Tap In but I have not seen the need to use it. The lens does a very good job, in my opinion, as long as you can get fairly close and have good light. I would prefer the reach was longer but as you know it is a very light 40 ounces and that works well when spending a day with it. Good luck.
Dec 6, 2019 08:37:32 #
I have used Nikon lenses for as long as I can remember and I never had to calibrate anything.
Dec 6, 2019 09:49:37 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
donmikes wrote:
I'm considering buying a Tamron 100-400mm lens for... (show quote)
Then Nikon 200-500 is a much better choice, and has a longer reach and is sharper and faster at the business end of the lens. The 200-500 is currently on sale and will resale at a much higher rate than the Tamron. Why risk once in a life time shots to anything but a quality proven Nikon lens.
Dec 6, 2019 10:11:12 #
garrickw
Loc: Wyoming Mn.
I bought this lens for my wife's D500 it is the sharpest lens we have right out of the box did not even micro adjust the lens have the 24-120 Nikon and the PF 500 Nikon and the Tamron 100-400 and 70-200 both Tamron's are sharper out of the box can't say enough about them use the Tamron's on D500 and D850
Dec 6, 2019 11:46:37 #
Ed Chu
Loc: Las Vegas NV
donmikes wrote:
I'm considering buying a Tamron 100-400mm lens for... (show quote)
LIKE ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN that responded, I too bought a Tamron tap-in console for my 18-400; never could get the tap-in software to install on either my Windows 10 pc or my new laptop; I, too, returned it to the vendor
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.