KOH KHO KING

First Impression! Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II VC (Part II)

Posted on October 24th, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Photography.

I was too busy in the last few days, so don’t have time to follow up with my “first impression” write-up of the Tamron SP 17-50mm VC lens.

I have asked Futuromic to loan me a sample to test, but no news from them. Nevermind, one of my customer has requested me to test his lens, so I did some tests and share the results here. All lenses were handled with extreme care.

The Old and the New

I have the Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 lens myself (First Generation, screwdriver type), so I were able to compare it to the new VC version side by side. The new VC lens is significantly larger - fatter and longer. Good solidly built, which I am quite impressed with.

The VC lens is made in Japan, which is normally an assurance of good quality control (but not all the case). At least is better feeling to owner.

Vibration Correction

How does it works? Nikon has VR (Vibration Reduction), Canon has IS (Image Stabilization), Sigma has OS (Optical Stabilizer), of course now Tamron has VC. All works similarly by having one of the lens element inside the lens moves in up and down / left and right position to correct for the shake of the lens and making sure that the image that hit the sensor is always sharp and stable. The good thing about lens optical correction as compared to sensor stabilizer is that you can see the effect immediately through the viewfinder, and the degree of shake correction is better.

I still remember the first Tamron VC lens that I have tested is the 18-270mm VC, which has an annoying TICK TICK sound whenever the VC hits in. The new VC in this Tamron 17-50mm lens does not has such sound anymore, and is actually a great improvement!

I did some test shots at 1/4 second, F/8 at 50mm focal length and found the image to be quite acceptable. Though not extremely sharp. Without the VC ON, the hand shake is obvious.

This is my test subject:

VC ON

VC OFF

Ok, VC does helped but at 1/4s, it is kind of a bit extreme…

Sharpness?

The Tamron 17-50VC is a very sharp lens, which I am quite impressed with.

Test Subject

100% crop

Another full view

100% crop

As compared to the first generation version that I have, I found that mine is slightly sharper…not a scientific test so don’t take it as a definite answer. When you turn the VC OFF, I find the photo to be sharper as with VC ON.

I also notice that VC is less successful with shooting at 1/15s, which is a critical shutter speed that is very much affected by camera mirror bounce.

Auto Focus Speed?

There are 3 versions of Tamron SP 17-50mm lens for Nikon mount.  First is the screwdriver type, Second is the built in motor type, and now the Third version is the VC lens.

In terms of AF, the built in motor type is the slowest, really slow that I feel throwing the lens away and you can fee how lame the lens is in AF when you first use it. The screwdriver type is fast and the VC version is similar speed as compared to the screwdriver type. This is a great improvement in Tamron for the 17-50mm lens considered that the VC version is using built in motor as well!

How does it compared to Nikon AF-S 17-35mm? Not near and not even close. The Nikon AF-S 17-35mm is extremely fast and you can feel the difference immediately once you tried it. This can be partly due to the fact that Nikon AF-S 17-35mm is shorter in range as compared to Tamron 17-50mm. Sorry, I do not have the Nikon AF-S 17-55mm ready in hand to compare. While the Tamron 17-50mm VC has improvement in AF speed, it still can’t compare to the Silent Wave technology I believe.

Not forgetting that the S lens is extremely quiet, while the Tamron is slightly noisier (not disturbing).

Conclusion

I wonder why Nikon and Canon does not implement VC into their 17-55mm and 16-35mm or 17-35mm f/2.8 lenses, is it because it might reduce the overall sharpness of the lens or is it because it is not needed in such wide angle?

While the screwdriver version (first generation) of the Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 lens is no longer available, and only the built in motor version and the VC versions are available now, I would suggest to get the VC version for the improvement in focusing speed in Nikon mount (Take note that Canon version has built in motor from day 1, and is fast like the Nikon screwdriver version.).

A recommended lens for those who do not want to spend 2-3 times the money of the Tamron for Nikon or Canon counterparts, and is definitely a nice addition to have VC to play with when you needed it.

12 comments.

Fotolah.com - 500 Registered Members now! 马来西亚中文摄影论坛！

Posted on October 23rd, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Photography.

Glad to see Fotolah.com having 500 registered members now!

http://fotolah.com/index.php

Just a month old,  Fotolah.com is growing steadily and we now have 7 staffs including myself.

We aimed to become the largest, most respectable and active Chinese photography forum in Malaysia. Do join us and be part of Fotolah.com today!

0 comments.

First Impression! Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II VC (Vibration Compensation) LD Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital DSLR

Posted on October 22nd, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Photography.

Have the chance to play with this lens today…

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II VC (Vibration Compensation) LD Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital DSLR

Did some comparison to my own Tamron SP 17-50mm (without built in motor…

and also Nikon AFS 17-35mm f/2.8.

I am really tired today…will continue tomorrow…

2 comments.

the so called…SUPPORT FRIEND!

Posted on October 6th, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Rojak.

Have you ever heard someone saying…

“Hey…I support you…I buy this from you…you give me best best price lah!”

Your friend is selling computer, doing it as a business to support his family and life. You plan to buy a computer, so you thought of him and want to “support” him.

You went to his shop, said “hey friend, I want to buy a computer for my kid, you give me best price then I support you and buy from you lah!”

THINK AGAIN!

Are you really supporting your so called FRIEND? Or are you trying to TAKE ADVANTAGE from your friend?

Your friend is making living from selling computer, and yet you are trying to squezze him and ask him to give you the lowest possible price and to SUPPORT YOU! So this is the friendship you are talking about…

A true friend won’t mind paying more to support the business of another friend, that is what I think is the true support. So next time if you want to buy something at the lowest price from your friend, don’t use the word “Support him” again instead of “Support ME!”.

6 comments.

Mooncake Festival - 2009 中秋节

Posted on October 5th, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Family.

It was on Saturday…we have a great time.

I still prefer the traditional tang lung than the now battery powered type. But of course need to watch out for the candle / fire, cannot let children play by themselves and must watch out for the candles and matches.

Family photo…

Megumi loves carrying tang lung.

Mother and daughter…

Goodnight…

4 comments.

Megumi just loves Yummy yummy!

Posted on October 4th, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Family.

Yummy yummy = her child term for Ice-Cream…

4 comments.

MV Doulos

Posted on October 4th, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Family.

A Christian Bookstore Ship - MV Doulos

Parked at Pasir Gudang port from 25th September 2009 till 06 October 2009 if I am not mistaken. We took the chance to visit there yesterday. I used to work as a volunteer onboard many years ago…miss the time there and it is good to see her sailing here again. (ship is always called “her” and not “he”…)

We make a visit there yesterday (Saturday - 3rd Oct 2009).

Hmm…time for me to keep fit…can see the stomach coming out… (or should I blame that shirt?!)

Foong’s sister is with us as well. In fact, it was her idea of visiting Doulos.

Entrance into the Bookstore onboard can see many children books at reasonable or rather low price! They use unit system. 100 unit = RM8.00. This is for them to convert to different currency when they sailed to different country.

Of course, Bible is being sold online as well.

Different religion people also visited there…

and various races too!

I saw some Singaporeans making their trip across the bridge to visit as well!

Volunteers from various countries and skin colours…

There are many different souvenirs sold there…

Megumi is busy onboard scouting around…

As usual, she is curious of my camera and lens…

and her mum also busy shopping for children books…

Coming down from the ship…way home…

Took an hour to drive back…quite jam, but of course is a nice and worthy trip.

2 comments.

My Latest Nikon…best investment!

Posted on October 4th, 2009 by KhoKing.
Categories: Photography, Rojak.

My old spectacle is having problem…the leg is almost broken. I made that one in Japan, age only around 1.5 years and costs me quite a lot.

No choice, have to do a new one…as I am a “no spec can’t see” person…very high degree in far sight.

Went to a nearby spectacle shop last week to do my spectacle. Don’t want to spend much initially, but then can’t find one that I am happy with.

Test tested the Nikon frame, quite nice and is quite light (not heavy). It is a spring type, so is comfortable to wear and should be more lasting. The frame is made out of titanium (yeah…as if I am going to put it through test…). Anyhow, RM420 for the frame and I swipe my card…

The nose resting design is quite special. Simple and quite comfortable. Take a closer look at you will see Nikon wordings on it too.

The side frame has Nikon wording too and the spring design is not thick.

Together with 1.67 slim multicoated lens, it costs me RM610. Ok…way above what I have planned initially but since it is going to be my daily Nikon…no choice lah…better than any other Nikon items that I have bought but only use occasionally.

6 comments.