Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I bought one of these used from B&H for the little extra reach it has over my 200-500 Nikon. And my wife and I are always switching the camera back and forth on the wildlife drives and have missed shots because of it. I figured that I could get two cameras going with long lenses. The problem is that the Nikon lens walks all over the Tamron on focus. No competition at all.
I'm using the Tamron on a D850. When I called B&H and suggested that I might try the auto focus fine tune to see if I could fix it before I returned it, the tech said yes he would recommend doing that.
I've never had to fine focus adjust any of my Nikon lenses so I have some questions about that. If I use the fine focus tune and it works, can I swap the lens between the two cameras or will it have to stay with the camera that it was adjusted with? Being a used lens I wonder if that's why the original owner dumped it? I'm assuming that B&H checked it out before putting it in stock? Did the lens go wonky again after B&H checked it out and I bought it? Will I have to repeatedly adjust it?
Curious minds want to know. Thanks for any suggestions.

CWGordon

All I can tell you is that I bought one for the same reason you did, that wee bit of extra reach. My G2 does an excellent job of focusing. Fast and accurate. That said, I wonder if your guarantee would not have been good to use in such a situation. I have had a photo shop check and calibrate another lens and it did make a difference.
The G2 is worth extra effort - if it works you’ll appreciate that extra and cost effective reach.
Good luck.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

I thought I read somewhere (could have been Steve Perry's Nikon Focus book) that the 850 had a fine focus utility built into it. I don't have an 850, so I can't check it myself, but thought I would mention it.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Yes, it does. That's what I'm talking about. I just wonder if it will be worth the time and effort on a lens that has been problematic already?

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I was impressed with the lens when I first got it. Focus was fast and quiet. And it's beautiful too. I had one of the first 200 to 500 Tamrons about 8 to 10 years ago and it had focus problems too, especially at the long end. Not even useable at 500mm. Maybe I'm just a once bitten twice shy kind of guy. I'm really disappointed, I had high hopes for this after reading all the good reviews.

CWGordon

Tamron has always been a very consumer-oriented company. Maybe dealing directly with them would provide some relief for you. My D850, like yours, is supposed to automatical
ly adjust focus. However, I wonder how much or well it does with non-propriet ary lenses.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Perhaps it would a good idea to elaborate what you mean by "walks all over" your Nikon zoom. I'm going to assume you mean sharpness. I have always felt that native glass is going to out perform third party lenses, but others may take issue with that. Regarding fine tuning, adjustments you make with your 850 will be specific to that camera. The lens by itself does not know you made any adjustments just the 850 body. As such, the camera your wife is using will not be affected in any way, and that camera may focus accurately and not need any adjustments, but it might. This of coarse is assuming your wife's camera is also compatible with the lens. Something you may want to try before going thru the AF fine tuning process. Try a couple of shots using manual focus (as best you can) and see whether the results are acceptable. That would give you an indication of the quality of the glass and help confirm that issue is the camera's AF system.

Anyway, just thought I would comment. I did a lot of fine tuning with my Canon cameras and long lenses and it was a pain in the "you know what" but probably worth it. I am really pleased I don't have to do that with my Sony mirrorless gear. Good luck

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Thank you.
That's what I thought about being able to swap the lens to another body after the fine tune.
Yes, "walks all over" meant focus. My wife and I could be shooting the same thing virtually side by side and the Nikon would produce crisp and clean images while the Tamron, not so much.
They are both D850 cameras. I'll give your suggestions a try.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I believe that you fine tune a lens/camera combo and moving to another camera requires calibration for that new "combo."

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Thank you, Dave. I think you're right.
How have you been doing lately? Haven't seen or heard from you lately.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I have been working seven days a week for a couple months re-landscaping my yard...nuts! Too beat to do much else! I pretty well wrapped up most of the labor about a week ago.

I see that you have been tearing up Apopka and doing a fine job! I'm postponing my usual trip to Fl until spring. We do have our first winter Yellowstone visit planned for early Feb. We'll see!

I want to tune my lenses to the 850 and 500 if necessary. I have been shooting the 200-500 and G2 for a while now and can't complain. I did use a 600f/4E for a couple weeks and had a ball with the 1.7 and 2X. Besides landscapes, Old Faithful and Canyon, we'll be spending four or five days in Lamar Valley checking out the wolves. Kathy follows the pack activity.

In Fl, I usually have the 200-500 or G2, depending on the light, on the 500 and the 70-200 on the 850.

Keep at it! It appears you're getting the hang of it.

Tough to train an old Chief!

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

FWIW - I believe tuning is unnecessary when using live view. If you try this, you may also use the magnification feature in live view with manual focusing.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

For dslrs you are right. LiveView uses contrast detection AF where AF through the viewfinder uses phase detection. One way to check whether a lens needs tuning is to look at a viewfinder shot and a LV shot side by side in your PP software, i.e., LR. If the LV shot is more in focus, then tuning may be a good idea. If they are the same, leave it alone. You should check at different focal lengths and distances. For the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 G2, Tamron suggests looking at 18 different combinations of focal length (6) and distances (3).

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

You will have to tune it to each (both) cameras. It will have to be done periodically or any time you suspect a problem.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida