11 replies to this topic

[Tara]

Hi, I am new to this forum and this is my first post.

 

I have just bought the Tamron AF24-70 to replace my 50mm. I took some photos in the weekend and  have been very disappointed at how the sharpness has been real hit and miss. Possibly I don't know how to use it very well yet.

 

What f stop would you use for a family photo?

 

I did a family shot and when zoomed in it is very soft. (other shots were very sharp but it was just one subject).

 

I selected my focal point (usually the eyes of someone in the front).

My settings were 1/160th sec, f4.0, ISO 160, zoomed at 46mm

 

With my 50mm I always set it to f4 for a family shot so have I wrongly assumed it would work for this lens too?

 

My question is does that f stop sound right for this lens? 

 

What would you use?

 

Thanks

Tara

[Merco_61]

What distance were you from the subjects? If you were somewhere near 4 m with 47 mm and f/4, your DOF would be something like 70 cm in front and a bit over 1 m to the rear. This is of course similar to the 50 at the same f-stop, but the 50 might have a smoother, less distinct border between sharp and unsharp.

The Tamron should be closed down enough @f/4 to be sharp, but the sweet spot is @f/7.1-f/11. This is where it is at it's sharpest. Remember that the Tamron is closed down 1 stop, the 50 over 2 and most lenses improve in sharpness and contrast when stopped down a bit. It might be worth it to shoot some things from a tripod, critically check for front/rear focus and tune things with the micro-adjust in the camera

[etphoto]

How many in the family? 3 people standing pretty close to each other F4 should have done it (although I wouldn't have shot less than F5.6 probably). 10 people in the family? I probably wouldn't shoot less than F8-F9. Focal length has to be taken into consideration as well.

I wish I knew someone that had that lens, Tamron's 24-70. I'd like to give it a field test. Sadly, I need to send my 24-70 Nikon in for repair (AGAIN) and don't know if I should dump any more money into it.

Sent from mTalk

[dcbear78]

May need some focus calibration? Your settings should be fine for what you are after. I have the same lens and it is sharp from f2.8 onwards. Really good around f4. Put a ruler on a table and shoot it at a 45 degree angle at f2.8 and take note of where you are focusing. Is the resultant photo focused where you wanted it?

[Jerry_]

Good advice above.

Just to add a consideration about weight:

- the Nikon 50/1.8 weights 185g/6.6oz
- the Tamron 24-70/2.8 weights 825g/29.1oz (the Nikon 24-70/2.8 weights even slightly more with approx. 900g/31.7oz)

Thus you have increased the weight by 640g, giving a total weight of 1675g for the D610 with this lens, not to mention that with the extra length of the new lens the weight center changes.

This can cause you not keeping the camera as steady as you did with the previous combo, so it might well be that you also have to increase the shutter speed by 1 or 2 stops.

Once you get used to the extra weight, this factor might decrease and you get to keep the lens steadier (unless you have to hold it for a longer time)

[M.Beier]

May need some focus calibration? Your settings should be fine for what you are after. I have the same lens and it is sharp from f2.8 onwards. Really good around f4. Put a ruler on a table and shoot it at a 45 degree angle at f2.8 and take note of where you are focusing. Is the resultant photo focused where you wanted it?

Not going to challenge you, but I usually shoot F4.5, as F4 tends to miss some shots, especially if two objects are beside one another.

F4-5.6 I use for 90%+ of my shots with the lens - I have not been dissappointed with the results, only the lack of NIKON NC 82mm filter at my local stores

*oh and slightly sad that it doesnt match/beat 70-200 F2.8 in focus speed... But then again, anything none prime that does?

 

As for the thread:
The sharpness of the lens should be equal to slightly superior to your 50mm 1.8G, if you changed from the SIGMA 1.4 ART, well then its another story - as its significantly sharper.

Both Tamron 24-70 and 50 1.8G is at 16P-Mp on your camera - The prime might be slightly superior at its focal length.

[Merco_61]

I would like to add to Jerry's comment about the mass of the lenses that the Tamron is decidedly front-heavy on a light body like the D610 as it was made to balance nicely on a D3 or a gripped D700. This can take some time to get used to.

[TBonz]

I am sure that a large part of it is that I am used to grip cameras, but my first D600 I purchased a month or two before they released the grips and it was the most uncomfortable time I've ever had in photography.  Didn't matter if it was a hand hold setup or if it was on a monopod, I just didn't enjoy shooting with it and never felt like I had a good hold on it...the problem went away as soon as my grip came in...

 

I found the Tamron 24-70 a nice lens...bought it for my son to use and tried it a couple of times...

[Tara]

Thank you all very much. You were all very helpful. I am going to re-read a number of times to digest and think. Yes - I think I was about 4-5 metres away from subject. I can' remember where I focused exactly but I usually do the middle (or slightly to the side of the middle) on a front subject - but I can't be sure. 

Here's a link to the photo

https://www.flickr.c...57672681790766/

May need some focus calibration? Your settings should be fine for what you are after. I have the same lens and it is sharp from f2.8 onwards. Really good around f4. Put a ruler on a table and shoot it at a 45 degree angle at f2.8 and take note of where you are focusing. Is the resultant photo focused where you wanted it?

If I do this is it just testing that my camera is focusing properly? Therefore is test comes out good it should also be good at f4?

Thus you have increased the weight by 640g,  - I was totally surprised how heavy it was!

[dcbear78]

If I do this is it just testing that my camera is focusing properly? Therefore is test comes out good it should also be good at f4?

Thus you have increased the weight by 640g, - I was totally surprised how heavy it was!

Yeah. Will be fine at all apertures. Just test it at f2.8 as it will make it easier to see where focus falls away. Also wide open is always going to be the hardest to focus as depth of field is narrowest.

[Merco_61]

Thank you all very much. You were all very helpful. I am going to re-read a number of times to digest and think. Yes - I think I was about 4-5 metres away from subject. I can' remember where I focused exactly but I usually do the middle (or slightly to the side of the middle) on a front subject - but I can't be sure. 

Here's a link to the photo

https://www.flickr.c...57672681790766/

If I do this is it just testing that my camera is focusing properly? Therefore is test comes out good it should also be good at f4?

Thus you have increased the weight by 640g,  - I was totally surprised how heavy it was!

The link leads to a page not found notice. Have you remembered to make the photo or album public or is it private in your Flickr settings?

[Tara]

The link leads to a page not found notice. Have you remembered to make the photo or album public or is it private in your Flickr settings?

Try this - it is private but this should lead you to it. I think I just gave the website before not the private URL (or what-ever it's called)

https://www.flickr.c...8470@N07/4tcZQ2

Here's a link to the photo again. Sorry if it didn't work.

https://www.flickr.c...8470@N07/4tcZQ2