Tamron AF20-40mm f/2.7-3.5 Aspherical IF SP Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

rokkorfan
( Expert)

Review Date
February 29, 2008

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 4

Price Paid: $120.00 from ebay

Summary:

This is a outstanding lens indeed, capable of very sharp and contrasty pictures. It is clearly better than the Nikon 20-35mm that I once owned. I was never happy with the Nikkor. Perhaps I had a bad sample. But this Tamron just beats the Nikon zoom in everyway with noticably sharper images. Also, the lens is sharper than Tokina 17mm, which actully got good reviews on Photozone and by German Color Foto magazine. Moreover, it is relatively compact and light.

Strengths:

sharpness, contrast, good build quality

Weaknesses:

have to use lens hood to keep the flare low

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 20-35mm, Nikon 25-50mm, Nikon 20mm, Minolta 24-50mm, Minolta 24-35mm, Tokina 17mm. The Tamron is better than all of them.

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Rating
Reviewed by: TFC
(Expert)

Review Date
January 17, 2008

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 4

Price Paid: $200.00 from eBay

Summary:

Fast respondse, alittle noisy in autofocus. There is noticable flare at the low end (20mm), but it is managable. Some distortion at wide angle, but again correctable. Does well with portraits, but be wary that it tends to shift to the warm side in natural light.
Very sharp and crisp at the mid ranges, but focus is alittle soft at the high end.
If you can't swing the price of the your camera manufacturer's glass, this is one of the first places to look.
An excellent choice as a second wide angle lens.

Strengths:

Fast focus, sharp in the mid ranges.

Weaknesses:

Some flare at 20mm, alittle soft in focus at maximum zoom. Can show some colour shift to the warm end of the spectrum. Very correctable.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 18-55-3.5
Tamron 28-80 3.5

Customer Service:

Not needed. Purchased used.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

quietlightphoto
( Expert)

Review Date
August 24, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 4

Price Paid: $150.00 from Auction site

Summary:

A superb lens. Very sharp. Great color & contrast. I even procured a second one for the girlfriend. I highly recommend it. There are two versions. Both are identical optically. In 'photo.do" tests, it even beat out some primes in it's focal range.

Quiet Light Photography

Strengths:

Very well built. Superb optics.

Weaknesses:

None.

Customer Service:

Not needed.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Quiet Light Photography
( Intermediate)

Review Date
April 22, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 4 of 4

Price Paid: $150.00

Summary:

I have the first and second version of this lens. It's a "very" good lens. Very sharp, great colors, etc.The auto-focus is fast anmd accurate. When bench tested, it did better than the Nikon and Canon equivalents, and even better than some primes in it's focal length. I highly recommend it.

Quiet Light Photography

Strengths:

Well built with great glass,

Weaknesses:

None that I can think of.

Customer Service:

Not needed. But whenever I contact Tamron with a lens question, they are quick to respond.

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