RayF Loc: New Jersey

What is the downside to a Tamron 150-600 g2 International Model ?

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…the silliness of compatibility software in order to function properly…the pages here are filled with frustration every time something changes with there camera and updates need to be made to the lens…there are sometimes delays as Tamron tries to catch up…

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

International models will probably not have US warranty support. Some companies (i.e., Nikon USA) will not even repair a model not sold by an authorized US retailer.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The major knock on this lens is that it is soft at 600, which is where the majority of users shoot it at.
Another knock on Tamron in general is that they loose a much larger percentage of their value over time when compared to OEM equipment. Sometimes it can be significant.
Another knock on Tamron is that they sometimes cannot hold up under professional use. Tamron aims their sales at the lower end of the market where price is more important than quality. IMHO

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Sounds like you don't like third party lens'. You didn't answer the question.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

I called tameron about something else and realized Agreed that I should back off a bit from the 600 matk and go to 550
I'm going to try both and see

Metis407 Loc: Canada

Don't buy a grey market one. Tamron USA won't touch it or give it a warranty.
I have a US one and had it calibrated by Tamron to my camera. It works very well through the whole range.

Josephakraig

I have that lens and love it. Downside? Well it's big and heavy, it is slightly less sharp from 500 to 600 although I use 600 a lot. It isn't bad between 500 and 600 it just isn't quite as sharp as at closer ranges. When zoomed all the way out when getting an eagle in flight for instance the little hairs in an eagle feather may not be quite as crisp as they would be if you were shooting closer with a prime for instance. If you don't have something to compare it to you will likely not notice it. If you shoot at a dark object with a very bright sky behind it you might get a little purple fringing, nothing that PS can't take out however.

There really isn't a downside except that all less expensive long zooms don't open up as wide as an expensive zoom or large prime. Since I only shoot with it in daylight it isn't a problem. I also shoot with a D850 which doesn't need a lot of light to get a good picture. The camera you use it with will make a difference. If you aren't using a high res camera you will not notice any downside. If you are using a really cheap camera that doesn't do well in low light then you may have some problems especially at dawn and dusk.

I love mine and keep it in the case and take it where ever I go, like the credit card motto, I "don't leave home without it".

Toby

Where did you send it and what was the cost of calibration?

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

if it's new you get one free calibration from tameron
send camera and lens in to them I believe Nyc

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I've had two Tamron long zooms and traded them in on Nikon zooms. Same problem, very soft at the long end. Why "live with" soft 500-600mm when for a couple hundred more dollars you can have oem with no problems? I'm not opposed to 3rd party lenses. I have a couple third party lenses that work very well but I won't buy another Tamron big zoom.

Toby

OK thanks

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Repair-ability. You'll need to contact Tamron about your question. Each company has their policies on international copies of their products. Nikon is probably the worst. Otherwise, the lens is fine.

As far as image quality is concerned this comparison, with the Tamron on a Canon 1DXM3 (20 mp) and the Nikon 200-500 on a Nikon D3X (24mp), with both lenses wide open @500mm give the edge to the Tamron. The Tamron at 600mm even looks better than the Nikon. So much for the value of brand loyalty. Close your eyes to the brand, get the lens that gives you the best results for your needs. No one is going to give you a merit badge for buying "in brand" lenses. FYI - while it is possible that the Tamron does soften up a little bit at full zoom, so does the Nikon, so that characteristic should not be a deal breaker. The good news is that both look considerably better stopped down to F8. In all likelihood F8 will be a good working aperture when you take into consideration depth of field.

Nickaroo

I found that going down to the 550-575 mark really does improve the shot in my Nikon D500 and even my D850. But when I plan on doing serious shots, I still use my Nikon 600mm f/4 and sometimes slap my 1.4 teleconverter on it.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

I bought my Tamron 150-600mm G2 for Nikon from a reputable Canadian company, so it does not have the USA warranty. If I ever need warranty work under the six year warranty (I think that's the term) I have the assurance of the Canadian company (in writing) that I can send it to them and they will process the warranty claim. I don't really know if that will work, but to date I have never had a warranty problem on a lens. Oh, and BTW, I am extremely happy with my lens and its performance. For me, it was a better decision than the Nikon 200-500mm lens which at the time was nearly twice as expensive. I am hardly a professional, so there's that. Good luck on whatever decision you make.