Affordable
Great Contrast
Fast focusing
Decent build quality
Sharp

Light fall off

I did a lot of research before buying this lens. I came to the conclusion that it would be better built than the Sigma alternatives. And even though the Nikon version is better, the Tamron is less than half the cost--and cost was my motivating factor. I worked at a dealer of photographic equipment for a year and got the chance to use a lot of high end Canon, Nikon, Zeiss equipment...with those in mind as comparisons, I'm quite pleased with this Tamron--particularly the contrast level which yields wonderful color and tonal separation for black and white (although it won't keep high key detail as will a Zeiss). The biggest drawback is the extent of light fall off wide open--better at the wide end, but quite noticeable (on slide film and slow print film) on the long end. It takes stopping down a good two stops before disappearing to tolerable levels. Gone at 3-4 stops down. That of course means that the best f-stops are f11/16, making it difficult to get quality shots with low depth of field. My purpose for this lens was mainly with flash indoors and travel/scenic, so it works well for that. But to re-emphasize, it's a fine performer except for the falloff.

Customer Service

Not yet necessary

Similar Products Used:

Many Nikon Canon Zooms

sharpness,contrast,color

flare
slow apeture although with todays outstanding fast films not that big of a problem

I was a little hesitant on buying this lens. But I had no other choice I didn't have alot of money to spend. And I'am glad I didn't then I wouldn't have known how much of a good lens this really is.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

canon 28-105
sigma 28-78

Compact.
Internal Focusing.
Wide Range 28-105.
Price
Sharp Pictures.
Good COntrast.

Slower than Nikon.

Great lens for the money. For 50 bucks more, I got 25 more mm over the 28-80. Sharp pictures with good contrast. Takes great slides too. Better than the Sigma equivalent, more solid and better results. This is a great "standard lens."

Customer Service

None needeed.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-105
Tamron 80-210

Optically, very sharp and contrasty, handles well. Focus was quick and sure.

A bit delicate in build. Vignettes when using more than one filter, or using a filter system like the Cokin system, at the 28mm setting.

I got this lens as my first AF lens when I got my F4s. Lost it tragicly, when my Nikon F4s, mounted on a tripod, spilled forward. The Camera wasn't even scratched, but my poor Tamron was broken in half! Tamron was quick to respond, and was very easy to deal with.

Customer Service

Good, quick response.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-80 f4-5.6, Various AF and MF Nikkor lenses.

Price, good optical quality - sharpness, contrast & colour

None

Very good value for money. The equivalent Canon lens might be a little sharper and has faster USM focusing but it also costs 3 times as much. Doubt very much if it is 3 times sharper and faster!

Good build quality, didn't have any particular problem with zoom creep. Good optical quality in general.

Recommended for anyone looking for a decent quality lens at a decent price.

Customer Service

Not had to use

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-80

Very good price for what you get. Comfortable (and aesthetically pleasing) design

Not sure, but I think this lens is flimsy.

Well, I purchased this lens, and right from the get-go, I noticed that it would extend whenever the camera was merely pointed downward. Add a filter or two to it, and it would drop even faster. This, I could live with. But within two weeks, I started noticing that it was inredibly hard to get things in focus, and that frequently, the image in the viewfinder would snap left and right. It was definitely a problem with the lens. I could even see that the focus ring wasn't turning around the lens properly. It seemed to be shifting off axis every once in a while. Anyways, the lens was unquestionably defective. The camera store agreed.

The store wouldn't take it back because the rebate information had been sent in, which apparently registers the lens to you. The store told me to call Tamron, so I call Tamron and they told me that they can't instruct the store to exchange the lens, even if Tamron gives the store a new lens. They insisted that they had to see the lens themselves. I told them that the people at the camera store could simply call Tamron and tell them that the lens is faulty. No dice. Tamron wouldn't allow that.

The people at Tamron were clearly willing to fix or replace my lens, but I had to ship it to them (at my expense, naturally). For me to ship a BRAND NEW lens to them (as I would a 5 year old lens under warranty) is poor customer service to me.

Other than that, the AF is slow, irrespective of the lens being a lemon. I had tried the Canon 28-90 USM lens whose AF was on an order of magnitude faster than the Tamron. Also, the Tamron lens is comparatively heavy. And, above all, it's loud.

Maybe the fixed (or replaced, hopefully) lens will be better in all respects, but for now, this lens gets a low rating. The pictures were, well, normal.

Customer Service

Poor.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-90

sharp,light,fast AF,excellent hood, flare protection

wish it had aspherical element and faster f3.5-4.5 openings

For the money, it is a good lens. It is well balanced in my Nikon F-100 and F90s, it is sharp even wide open and I have done beautiful portraits at f8 with it. For landscape photography try f8-f16. In my humble opinion, little distortion at 28mm or at least similar to other zooms. Excellent, neutral reproductions of colors and the 62mm filter is a plus to me. Contrast is adequate for the price.
It is a good buy for the money. I have done very beautiful landscape photography which I have enlarged to 11x14 with very good quality considering what I paid for it.
I use it often!

Customer Service

Pretty good. I had to send the lens in because of a shift in focus.

Similar Products Used:

nikon lenses

Very good value for a lense of its versatility. Comes with a convenient lense hood

I wish it was a little faster (aperture not auto focusing).

I purchased both this lense and the Canon 28-105 mm, f3.5-4.5. I gave the Tamron to my daughter but sometimes I wish I hadn't. Performance of the Tamron at wide open apertures is sharper than the Canon. Only at the stopped down apertures is the Canon more clear but it is very minimal. Distortion for both is similar with noticeable pincushion and barrel distortion. Color balance is slightly more natural with the Canon. For the price and performance difference I would recommend the Tamron. I have seen other ratings at various sites and am amused how the Tamron is often downgraded and the Canon is praised. I don't think the raters have done a side by side comparison.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-105mm, f3.5-4.5. Miranda 50mm, f1.8; 35mm, f2.8; 105mm, f2,8.

Excellent value, compact size, and good sharpness.

not quite as sharp as canon 28-105 or canon 28-135.

best value in this focal length range, although slightly less in quality when compared to canon equivelants

Similar Products Used:

canon 28-105 and canon 28-135.