Nice size. AF focus is quick and manual focus is very easy to use.

Lense hood is very awkward to use.

A very poor lens. Macro photos never had sharp focus. The colors were bad... often with a green tint. It was too slow for macro photography. Only got sharp focus using f12 or above. Very little camera shake created blured photos. Used it for two weeks and returned the lens for another Brand as I was not happy with the results I was receiving.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta camera & lenses.

Are we all talking the same lens here? (The "Super" model.) Popular Photography 2/97 said "superb performance at 28mm, well above average at 100mm...Test slides were generally crisp and contrasty from maximum to minimum aperture at all focal lengths....Convenient to use, light and compact lens. Its improved optical quality and close-focusing ability at all focal lengths are impressive."

"performance slightly below average at 200mm"

A great buy and great performer for the price. Actual focal length is 28.11-190.88; and apertures are f3.69 - f5.30

Customer Service

No problems encountered with lens.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-105, 28-135 IS, 28-80, etc.

very useful zoom rang
build quantily
Internal focusing
Sharp image

does it really zoom to 200mm???
weight

I don't know about other owners, my biggest question is, does it really zoom to 200mm? According to my test, it only zooms to 170-175mm (please tell me I'm wrong) by comparing result with my other lenses. However, it's a great lens, under 150mm, pictures are very sharp, better than 28-80 Nikkor D lens. Above 150mm, only exceptable. Kind of heavy, but I can live with that, heavier lens, better construction. I don't like those new plastic mount lenses. As long as you don't compare it to other top of the line lenses, it surely worth the money, makes it a wonderful daily lens.

Customer Service

not yet needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 28-80D
Nikkor 35-70Ais
Nikkor 70-300 ED
Sigma 35-70 AF
Sigma 70-210 AF

Cheap
Long ranges of focal length
72mm

very BLURRED image
no IS

I am completely dissatisfied with the performance. I will return/sell it very shortly. I was tempted to buy it for its long ranges and by its ISO award. I bet those ISO people don't know photography. Even a beginner like me can tell that its photos are not sharp. I have tested it, using remote control, with a tripod at 1/125! For 70mm or above, the image is still blurred. I am now sure that it is not the vibration of hand that blurs the picture, it is the lens itself. I will never buy Tamron product any more.
You should only consider it if you budget is very very very tight.

Customer Service

no tried

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-135mm

Wide range of focal lengths
price
compact

"dark" lens
could be faster

I feel like many of the negative reviews on this lens refer to the non-"Super" version. I understand that the first version of this lens had many more weaknesses. Certainly this lens is not perfect and it really isn't a macro lens (nor does Tamron imply that it is) and it's minimum focusing distance is reached at about 135mm, tailing off again as you approach 200. The lens is very dark when viewed through the viewfinder and as such makes it hard to use in low light situations, and at f-3.8 it is rather slow (in fact, my 800si only indicates a max aperture of 4.0) - but speed is what the 50mm prime is for. These issues not withstanding, I feel the lens has been worth every penny. I would have preferred the "Super II", but I couldn't justify the extra $$$. It is clear, crisp, sturdy and at the price, it was a true steal - $225 WITH a circular polarizer and BEFORE the $50 rebate. I am really looking forward to travelling with this lens, where I know that I will appreciate the compactness and the flexibility of the 28-200mm focal length. Especially if you are a hobbyist on a budget, than this lens is definitely worth looking at.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 70-300 (AF)
Tokina 19-35 (AF)
Minolta 35-70/4.0 (AF)
Minolta 50/1.7 (AF)
Minolta 45/2.0 (MF)
Minolta 58/1.4 (MF)
Minolta 24/2.8 (MF)
Albinar 80-210/4.5 (MF)

zoom range

defective

I had never used a zoom lens before buying the Tamron. It came with my Canon Elan. Previously I have used Canon bodies. The Tamron was not as sharp as my non zoom lens and was not good in the auto focus mode. I used it anyway but was never impressed with it. My sister bought a Minolta alps and it took sharper pictures than the Tamron!
I went to a camera store to trade the Tamron in on a better lens. When I told the salesman he told me I should be getting better pictures than that with the Tamron. He put it on a camera and said send it back, it is still under warranty and is defective. It does not focus properly. So I did and Tamron mailed me back saying the lens had been damaged and it would cost $70.00 to repair. I explained that it was that way when I bought it. That did not matter and they refused to fix it under warranty.

My experience with Tamron is their equipment is either fragile or junk, and they do not stand behind their product. I rate them poor in all catagories and will not buy nor recommend Tamron to any one.

Customer Service

poor

Similar Products Used:

canon, sigma and vivitar

Light weight, nice range 28-200 covers a lot.

Doesn't show much shadow detail in photo's.

I'm gonna dump my lens as soon as possible. Cheap construction (plastic), but light in weight. Don't expect miracles from lens, like I did.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to list individual focal lengeths: Nikon, Canon, Schneider-Kreuznach, Voitlander, Yashica, Wollensack, Tamron,

I bought it for $230 after rebate. it's great. I compared it with 75-300 Canon USM. This Tamron has a faster focusiong. I love it. It's very convenient since I don't have to switch between 28-80 and 75-300 lenses. Great!!!

So far so good.

If you want an all-around lens, this is the one.

Customer Service

never contacted them.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-80, Canon 35-80, canon 75-300 and canon 80-200.

Zoom range for the price. 28mm very handy, short and compact, not too heavy. Perfect all around lens

Zoom will extend while carrying in dependent position.

A fine all around lens, great for grab shots, versatile. Will have to take a closer look at my images for sharpness, have not noticed any blur as described by others... yet.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 70-300

As a travel lens, I have found it incomparable. I have had similar Sigma and other zooms, but none produced such good pictures. It may not be the sharpest lens, especially at long focal lenghts, but its versatility (especially the ability to shoot at short distances) makes it an excellent general purpose lens. Try taking a decent portrait (~90 mm) with other 28-200 zooms - you just can't do it. It also is very sharp at shorter focal lengths.

None. It could be faster. But then it would be heavier and much more expensive

Excellent travel lens for a great price. Only 28-200 zoom I know that can focus so close
For most amateurs, the only lens they will need or want.

Customer Service

Haven't had to deal with them

Similar Products Used:

In this category:
Sigma 28-200
Kiron 28-200
Nikon 35 -135