Tamron 150-600mm focus hunt
Aug 2, 2014 01:20:42 #
Hello. Yesterday I got my long awaited Tamron 150-600mm lens. It´s clearly a capable piece of glass. However, beginning at 550mm, the lens starts to hunt for focus and never achieves it. The lens is also a little unpredictable at other settings. Sometimes it will work fine for a while and then it is back to this erratic behavior. I have tried it on Canon 7d and Canon 5d mk II with exactly the same results.
There is a rather big peck of dust on the second glass inside the front glass. Could it be interfering with the auto focus?
This does not seem to be the original near and far focus problem that plagued the lens at the beginning. I have used different focus settings, single shot, AI auto focus and Servo, all with the same results.
I really wish there was a simple solution to this. Are there any suggestions from other members?
Thanks, Valdimar
There is a rather big peck of dust on the second glass inside the front glass. Could it be interfering with the auto focus?
This does not seem to be the original near and far focus problem that plagued the lens at the beginning. I have used different focus settings, single shot, AI auto focus and Servo, all with the same results.
I really wish there was a simple solution to this. Are there any suggestions from other members?
Thanks, Valdimar
Aug 2, 2014 02:03:59 #
sr.valdimar wrote:
Hello. Yesterday I got my long awaited Tamron 150... (show quote)
Its because the lens is slow and at the fringe of your cameras auto focus range. Nothing you can do about it.
Aug 2, 2014 02:44:16 #
sr.valdimar wrote:
There is a rather big peck of dust on the second glass inside the front glass. Could it be interfering with the auto focus?
Are there any suggestions from other members?
Thanks, Valdimar
There is a rather big peck of dust on the second glass inside the front glass. Could it be interfering with the auto focus?
Are there any suggestions from other members?
Thanks, Valdimar
sr. Welcome to the Hog.
I'm sure you will get plenty of help from those that actually own the lens. I've never even seen one. but here's what I would try.
My only suggestion would be to use it ONLY in good light and always use it wide open.
Depending on your targets, possibly enable all of the focus points, but try and make sure that the center point is always on the target.
The 5ll only has one cross point, that's the center point. The 7 has more, so you should have better luck with the 7's focus system.
Maybe try to get focus lock on Servo while zoomed wide since the lens is fastest while wide, then zoom in.
Good luck
SS
Aug 2, 2014 02:57:25 #
Aug 2, 2014 04:38:53 #
Apaflo wrote:
How does that help?
When I shoot with my 100-400 +1.4x. The camera is already struggling to hold focus. As I shoot with smaller f-stops, as the lens stops down between shots, it has a tendency for the servo mode to lose lock, and struggles to regain a lock if the target continues moving around, as with a BIF or sports.
So I have much better luck if the lens never has to stop down, plus you get the added bonus of nicer bokeh.
I am just assuming that the big Tamron will have the same effect on the cameras focus system, especially if he is using the 5dll.
As I said, I've never actually used a Tamron, so I could not be very specific to it.
If you have other experience with similar lenses in similar conditions, by all means, do present them. ;-)
SS
Aug 2, 2014 07:10:45 #
SharpShooter wrote:
When I shoot with my 100-400 +1.4x. The camera is ... (show quote)
Except that "as the lens stops down between shots" does not happen. Between shots the aperture is wide open.
The AF system only works at wide open. It never sees anything else. The lens only stops down to whatever aperture you use when making an exposure, and the AF system is not active when that happens.
Aug 2, 2014 08:26:40 #
sr.valdimar wrote:
Hello. Yesterday I got my long awaited Tamron 150... (show quote)
Its a VERY common issue with that lens and was part of why it was taken off the market in February for 2 months.
Tamron has a fix for it, but you need to send it in to them at your expense, they will upgrade the firmware on the lens and it will function properly then.
Aug 2, 2014 09:37:32 #
I have this lens for my D7100. It has had intermittent issues with near to far focus and it seems the greater the change, the more likely it is to fail. It is at Tameron's lab now and as of yesterday, it would not fail for the technicians. It sounds like some cars I have owned...sigh. Any advice? Many thanks to all...I have learned so much!
Aug 2, 2014 09:52:57 #
Thank you all for your help. If it´s a question of faulty firmware, then I don´t understand why B+H ships a lens with the old firmware. As the lens is now, it is more or less a manual lens because it will not auto focus even on largest apertures. I have tried every setting on my 7d and some on the 5d mk II but the lens will not behave. The day I got it, I spent a couple of hours on a balcony testing it with my friend who is an accomplished photographer. It was getting a little dark but the auto focus was spot on every time, both near and far. It was impeccable. The next morning, the lens is out of whack. I live in Iceland so it could become an issue sending it back to the States. If I do, I might not want it back...... - By the way, I´ve been following many posts on Ugly Hedgehog for some months now and I find much of the discussions informative and interesting. Thanks again!
Aug 2, 2014 10:13:19 #
sr.valdimar wrote:
Thank you all for your help. If it´s a question ... (show quote)
Welcome to the world of Tamron. It has nothing to do with B&H, they simply sell the products supplied to them from Tamron. I personally think its almost criminal that Tamron is so well aware of the issue, but isn't providing the fix for free but instead making everyone send their lenses back at their own expense to get the fix installed rather than shipping them with the fix already in the lens. They have known of the issue since early February, stopped ALL SALES until they figured it out, then resumed sales with no fix installed. Perhaps some of the newer production lenses have the fix installed, but ask Tamron and they will not tell you at what serial numbers that was done, because they have no idea if or when it was done. All they tell you is that you should send your lens in for the upgrade.
Aug 3, 2014 06:32:07 #
well I"m glad to find out, all this Information, I think , I'll pass on this lens.......
Aug 3, 2014 06:52:45 #
MT Shooter wrote:
Welcome to the world of Tamron. It has nothing to ... (show quote)
I think there will be more problems with these third-party lenses in new cameras on the way!
I had intended to get one, but but gave up because not sure if it will work well with D800 xx body's!
Aug 3, 2014 07:05:31 #
exactley so, I own a D800 myself, and I see that my fear of 3rd party lenses, have come to fruition , with all the problems, that I hear about this tamron lens, I think I"ll stick with my Nikon Lenses and my Nikon Teleconverter, and just do, a little cropping, instead, of going threw of all the problems, of my fellow photographers that bought this lens in good faith, and now are plagued with all these problems, that tamron should have worked out in the first place, before putting this lens, on the market
Aug 3, 2014 08:08:29 #
MT Shooter wrote:
Welcome to the world of Tamron. It has nothing to ... (show quote)
Hmmm... I've been thinking of getting one for my D7100. After reading this, though, I think I'll either wait a while or get the big-sig...
Aug 3, 2014 11:55:07 #
I received my Tamron 160-600mm July 30. I tested it on my D7100 by shooting some birds from by back porch. Time about 5-6 PM.
No post processing was used except to convert from RAW in PS 2014.
The dove was in a shaded area of the yard, hand-held, 1/90 sec, f6.3, 600mm, ISO 400.
The playhouse, in my neighbors yard, two houses down the street, was shot at 1/750 sec, f6.3, 600mm ISO 800, also hand held.
I then cropped the photo of the playhouse to 100% to see the resolution in the clock.
I have only tried the lens once, but I am very pleased with the focus accuracy, color, build quality, and resolution.
No post processing was used except to convert from RAW in PS 2014.
The dove was in a shaded area of the yard, hand-held, 1/90 sec, f6.3, 600mm, ISO 400.
The playhouse, in my neighbors yard, two houses down the street, was shot at 1/750 sec, f6.3, 600mm ISO 800, also hand held.
I then cropped the photo of the playhouse to 100% to see the resolution in the clock.
I have only tried the lens once, but I am very pleased with the focus accuracy, color, build quality, and resolution.
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