It’s never been easier to capture great action shots than with the Tamron AF 70-300mm macro lens. Delivering superior image quality for both digital SLRs and 35mm film cameras, this flexible lens lets you zoom in extra close when shooting moving subjects, such as athletes on the field or children running or playing. When used with a digital camera, the lens does even better, producing a super-telephoto 35mm equivalent of 465mm–unbeatable in almost any other lens. Macro Switch T (more…)
This lens is great. Don’t let the price fool you, it’s a great performer with quality components. Unlike some other lenses making claimes of quality, Tamron continues to deliver. Japanese parts, glass, electronics. Unlike the other guys, Tamron actually licenses the Minolta/Sony software so they can program good compatible and reliable code that works perfectly with Konica/Minolta/Sony (also Cannon and Olympus) cameras. The other top sellers reverse engineer their code, so who knows what you are getting. The other reviewer gives a good description of the DI and ‘close-up’ mode, which works extremely well. Check out his review.
Important, this lens does come with a good solid metal mount to attach it to the camera body.
This lens is great, it’s worth much more than $200. Sony isn’t selling the new Zeiss 70-300mm lens yet and the current lens is just a repackaged Minolta Maxim lens which is still a great lens, but I don’t like it as well as this one.
The new Di lenses from Tamron are designed to work well with digital cameras, although those with the Di will work for 35mm as well (Di-II only work with smaller, APS-C chip size digital cameras). This is an improvement on the fine 70-300 LD (Low Dispersion glass) design. The major improvements in this lens are in the coatings, to help reduce any color bias, and minimize reflections. Additionally, lens manufacturers are doing more inside the barrels to reduce reflections.
Like the older LD design, the new lens has a close-up mode (not strictly “macro”) position that allows images 1/2 lifesize on the negative. That’s about twice the size of most 300mm zooms lacking this feature.
If you’re buying this for one of the new Sony Alpha series, this might be your best bet. The Tamron will include a 6-year USA warranty. It also includes the lens hood. The Sony 75-300 is repackaging of the older Konica-Minolta 75-300 lens, a lens that hit the market before any KM digital SLRs.
When my old Sigma 70-300mm lens died this summer, I wondered if I’d be able to replace it with anything I liked as well. I’d used it with my Minolta SLR camera for years, and then for a couple of months with my new Sony DSLR, and it had performed beautifully. But this Tamron lens far exceeded my expectations. It is relatively lightweight, yet feels sturdy enough to stand up to hard use. The focus is sharp and quick, and it works very well with Sony’s Super Steady Shot feature (essential for me since I don’t use a tripod). Pictures shot in macro mode are gorgeous, once I got used to the minimum focal distance. And the price of the Tamron lens is a real bargain when compared to other lenses that work with Sony DSLRs. I’m a pretty good amateur photographer, and I’m picky about the quality of my equipment, but I don’t want to spend more than I need to. This lens is just what I needed.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Lenses for the price
I purchased this lense almost a year ago and have had great luck with it. Fully extended this thing is huge!
4.0 out of 5 stars
The price gives it the 4th star!
I own an Alpha-200 and have 2 other lens for it (Sony/Sigma) and this is just as reliable as the others… The only complaint I have is the zoom is a little stiff.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can’t beat it for the price and quality
I was reluctant at first to buy this lens. I read several reviews first and felt comfortable investing in it.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a thing that I wanted
Tamron AF 70-300m is not a type of lens that I wanted to buy. I was looking for the lens that allow me to do close up pictures of insects, flowers and butterflies.
5.0 out of 5 stars
HOORAY!
I just took this lens out for a spin today and I absolutely love it!!! This lens is great for an amateur photographer like me! I love the bokeh, so soft and beautiful.
1.0 out of 5 stars
BROKEN!
It didn’t last long. The zoom lens jammed. What a waste of money!
4.0 out of 5 stars
I am loving it
Great product given the price. Can take pictures in a crowd without being noticed or distrubing the rythm of the audience.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice lens
I’ve had this lens for about a month now, and it has been a great lens! It’s definitely not the best out there, but for less than $200 it’s awesome!
5.0 out of 5 stars
I add another vote for this is a really a good one
I have sony alpha dslr A200 and a bit disappointed with it’s softness in focus. Now I know it was a problem of the lens comes with a default.
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent zoom lens
As I am not an accomplished photographer, I know little about all of the technical terms associated with photography. I do know, however, the tamron af 70-3– f/4.0-5.