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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VC in the wild

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stu aull

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Pulled the Trigger and bought one and just wanted to post my initial impressions for those who might be considering it.
Not sure when I will have an opportunity to do much field testing in the near future, and of course posted movies are pretty meaningless as a qualitative guide anyway. Numerous DLSR tests have given it a pretty good rating compared to the older Canon 24-70 (wins some, loses others), complete with viewable uncompressed stills, so you can judge optics for yourselves .

I was going to spend nearly as much on a used Canon as this was new ($1299) and I got the IS thrown in so ...

The Good:
-autofocus compatible with Scarlet controls, so it does "talk" to the Scarlet, at least basically
-autofocus seems quick and responsive, tho no Canon to compare too.
-VC: Tamron-speak for IS, Image Stabilization (Vibration Compensation).
-weather-sealing, at least to some degree
-any optical tests I read match it very well to the Canon

The Not So Good:
-you need to really dig thru the paperwork to get Tamron to actually admit it, but:
you should NOT manually focus the lens in the autofocus mode, threatening unspecified havoc to the wee motors inside. That said, you certainly CAN manually focus in the auto-mode, with no apparent resistance like you are twisting things apart inside. At your peril.
There is a switch on the barrel of course. VC switch right below that one.
-82mm filter so you'll be dropping some coin on a matching set of filters instead of your nice 77mm Canon collection
-plastic housings. Nice quality mind. Feels very solidly made, but at least some of the Canon components are metal where these are not. Including the filter thread. So now you start seeing why a new Canon is near double the price...

Fire away if you have any Qs, but I have literally had it a day so my experiential depth is limited. I will say this: if this lens is a consideration, you certainly could (ahem) take advantage of Amazon's amazing returns policy and buy-and-try and send it back if you don't like it. No questions asked. For the cost of shipping you can figure out if this is Glass you want.

Sorry - no pic mounted up. Forum not letting me load for some reason. Will try later.

Stu Aull
SX 199
Alaska
 
stu aull said:
The Good:
-VC: Tamron-speak for IS, Image Stabilization (Vibration Compensation).
Click to expand...

Stu,

Is the VC is working with the scarlet?

I had read other comments that suggested that it wasn't. I'm really hoping that was a misunderstanding.
 
+1 Very interested in this! Also, how does the lens perform a f2.8? Thanks Stu!

Miles Heckendorn said:
Stu,

Is the VC is working with the scarlet?

I had read other comments that suggested that it wasn't. I'm really hoping that was a misunderstanding.
Click to expand...
 
Stu,

Any confirmation that VC/IS is indeed working would be great, I had been holding off on this lens due to reports that this primary feature was inactive. Thanks!
 
Haven't tinkered with the IS yet other than it is activated. Have to say I am not seeing a huge diff betw IS on/off, but confess I am new to the IS tech. (25 yr Betacam user with IS-by-armstrong!) Put another way, since IS is INTERNAL to the lens itself, what could the Scarlet (etc.) do that would INHIBIT its operation?

As to lens performance at 2.8 I think from what I read about comps with the Canon was the Canon beat it - but again I would urge you to research the details, they are out there. In other f-stops and focal lengths the Tamron came out ahead so, like all glass, you win some/lose some eh?

Dan - yah, maybe a ring would work! cheap alt to find out. Didn't think of this before dropping another $200 on a Formatt hot mirror... :(

Stu Aull
SX 199
Alaska
 
My girlfriend picked up this lens for her 5D, and we've shot a fair amount on it with the Scarlet - only used firmware 3.0 with it, and VC is definitely NOT working - you can test easily (without shaking the camera a bunch...) by holding it up to your year and switching it on and off. On the 5D, there's a click and a constant whirring noise, but on the RED it only clicks and the whirr stops right away.
 
DL Fitch said:
My girlfriend picked up this lens for her 5D, and we've shot a fair amount on it with the Scarlet - only used firmware 3.0 with it, and VC is definitely NOT working - you can test easily (without shaking the camera a bunch...) by holding it up to your year and switching it on and off. On the 5D, there's a click and a constant whirring noise, but on the RED it only clicks and the whirr stops right away.
Click to expand...
Also while the Scarlet is recording?
 
Yep, same deal when it's recording... with the 5D, it seems to stay on whenever live view mode is enabled. Also, I upgraded to 3.0.7 for a shoot tomorrow and it's the same. I'm hoping its a matter of 'when' not 'if' this lens gets characterized...? Otherwise I'll be sad, the images are great.
 
stu aull said:
Haven't tinkered with the IS yet other than it is activated. Have to say I am not seeing a huge diff betw IS on/off, but confess I am new to the IS tech. (25 yr Betacam user with IS-by-armstrong!) Put another way, since IS is INTERNAL to the lens itself, what could the Scarlet (etc.) do that would INHIBIT its operation?
Click to expand...

In the the lens manual it says the VC will only come on when you press the shutter (while shooting stills), and will then turn off after 2 seconds unless another image is taken. In video/live view mode, it instead tells the camera to keep VC on continuously (from what I can tell). Apparently the RED fails to send any of this communication... I'm guessing it was to save power that they didn't enable the switch as a simple on/off independent of the camera.
 
DL Fitch said:
In the the lens manual it says the VC will only come on when you press the shutter (while shooting stills), and will then turn off after 2 seconds unless another image is taken. In video/live view mode, it instead tells the camera to keep VC on continuously (from what I can tell). Apparently the RED fails to send any of this communication... I'm guessing it was to save power that they didn't enable the switch as a simple on/off independent of the camera.
Click to expand...


Ah - that makes more sense. So there IS some sort of command the camera has to give it to stay in the VC/IS mode then. Well, if that is the case then I will have to wait for RED to step up. Meanwhile, I am no further behind the Canon version, with hope of IS capability sometime. Which is more than Canon intends to offer.

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
The Tamron got added to the supported list with the latest beta firmware. Makes me wonder, is the VC working now? Can anyone test it?
 
Maik Müller said:
The Tamron got added to the supported list with the latest beta firmware. Makes me wonder, is the VC working now? Can anyone test it?
Click to expand...

Exciting news! I just wrapped a shoot using it and the release firmware... wish I had known and I would have taken a gamble with the beta. I may not have time to test before an upcoming rental, but I will definitely try and report back!
 
:(
no IS that I can tell...
was a shot in the dark as a feature for me, since I just like the lens anyway. Tried a 1/2 press on the Record, which activates the AutoFocus (on my Scarlet), to see if it would initiate the IS too, but is not apparent. But as others suggest here, I think the lens needs some sort of power/signal from the camera to activate IS, and its not getting it. yet.



Stu Aull
SX199
Alaska
 
stu aull said:
:(
no IS that I can tell...
was a shot in the dark as a feature for me, since I just like the lens anyway. Tried a 1/2 press on the Record, which activates the AutoFocus (on my Scarlet), to see if it would initiate the IS too, but is not apparent. But as others suggest here, I think the lens needs some sort of power/signal from the camera to activate IS, and its not getting it. yet.
Click to expand...
Damn. ;) Thanks for testing Stu.
 
i don't understand....the lens is listed as supported with the new beta and firmware...can someone from RED explain? does the IS/VR/VC work or not?
 
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