Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical (IF)

[GTi]

Anyone familiar with this lens. Heard it's an excellent portrait lens along with other uses too. They say the Non VC version is best. Have anyone tested it or have a copy of it. On-line test looks pretty good. http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/289...pherical-if-canon-test-report--review?start=2 or http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/637-tamron175028d7000 for Nikon.
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[koffiejunkie]

I have tried both and I have friends with both. They're both great. Basically any f/2.8 zoom on the market at the moment is going to be high quality.

 

[hilton]

I find it a bit short for portraits to be honest. I prefer to stand back and use a longer focal length but that's just me.

I think the lens takes getting used to as I have one (only for a couple of weeks now) and I'm still getting soft images. My mistake was to take portraits at f/2.8 (kinda of why I bought the lens in the first place).

Initially I thought my 28mm f/1.8 was too limiting so I thought this lens would be the perfect indoor short focal length zoom but 2.8 is really not enough. I end up using a flash.

It's well built though and only costs just over R4k so worth it.

 

[koffiejunkie]

I find it a bit short for portraits to be honest. I prefer to stand back and use a longer focal length but that's just me.

Different strokes for different folks. My favourite portrait was with my Sigma 10-20mm

 

[bwana]

I use all my lenses for portraits so I'm never quite sure why some people refer to specific lenses as a portrait lens.

 

[hilton]

Because they are more than likely in the traditional focal range for taking portraits

Heck you can use any lens for portraits or even landscapes, just depends on what framing you want and if you want your subject to still like you afterwards...........

 

[bwana]

Because they are more than likely in the traditional focal range for taking portraits

Heck you can use any lens for portraits or even landscapes, just depends on what framing you want and if you want your subject to still like you afterwards...........

The characteristics of a lens, particularly its compression, is more important to me than the focal length.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Some nice portraits at a wide variety of focal lengths: linky