Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Preliminary Review

[adscram14]

All-
After a cool walk home from school, I was greeted with a nice big package from Amazon. It looks like UPS had come early! With it came my purchase of the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD on sale for only $399 from over $900. This is just a quick review of some preliminary findings. Aviation-wise, hopefully I'll test her out on Saturday or Sunday.
These were taken by my iPhone.

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182721217_is3qD-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182721217_is3qD-A-LB)

There she is! A quick note on packaging. It was packaged very well, very secure with plenty of padding and plastic covering parts that needed to be covered. Very good job, Tamron. My initial thoughts were that the lens was very nice aesthetically, it has a copper like ring with a black exterior, which went very well. The numbers are easy to see, and are white. The lens is a bit heavier than my old EF 70-300 f/4-5.6, which made it feel very well built. Not too heavy that you can't shoot with it without problem, but not that light cheap feel either. It is about the same size as my EF, maybe slightly larger.

http://nycaviation.com/forum/%3Ca%20href=http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182721371_XjFEg-A-LB%20target=_blank%3Ehttp://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182721371_XjFEg-M.jpghttp://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182721371_XjFEg-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182721371_XjFEg-A-LB)

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182721535_H2REv-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182721535_H2REv-A-LB)

I took it out for a quick test run comparing it to my EF afterwards.
EF:
http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182697304_ztbg3-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182697304_ztbg3-A-LB)
SP:
http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182699340_NZ8BL-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182699340_NZ8BL-A-LB)
These were taken at 300mm, Full auto (So they were JPEG), and from the same position. The Tamron was clearly sharper, really not even a contest there. I will check for noise this weekend, but both look pretty good noise wise.

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182697710_VaK3c-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182697710_VaK3c-A-LB)

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182699444_TP4GJ-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182699444_TP4GJ-A-LB)
This one was much closer sharpness wise, but the Tamron was still sharper (look at the digits on the oven). It also provided much brighter, truer colors on an especially lightless, gloomy day. Props to the Tamron there as well.

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182698103_D6GYq-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182698103_D6GYq-A-LB)

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182700191_Zwqdj-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182700191_Zwqdj-A-LB)
This one was pretty clear as well. Look at the contrast. The Tamron provided a much brighter picture as well. This was taken at 70mm.

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182698365_TLAHs-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182698365_TLAHs-A-LB)

http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/photos/1182700155_qToTD-M.jpg (http://adamsheinhaus.smugmug.com/Hobbies/lensreview/15772603_jCcuW#1182700155_qToTD-A-LB)

Really much sharper on the Tamron here as well. 300mm.

So far I really like this lens. It far surpasses the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6. I will add more this weekend with aviation shots.

[Derf]

EXCELLENT as your 70-300 IS is no slouch.... I really wanted that Canon Lens. Looks like the reviews were correct! Is there anything you liked better about the Canon as it IS much more expensive and is considered a much better lens than what you pay for already. I am now dreaming about the Tammy!

[adscram14]

Maybe I don't understand what you're saying- I had the canon EF f/4-5.6 which is a pretty cheap lens. If you can help me out here I'd be happy to answer your question!

[megatop412]

Wow, nice performance on the Tamron...one does not expect 3rd-party lenses to outperform OEM like that. You should get some real nice shots of the birds

[Derf]

You said in your earlier post that you sold yor Canon 70-300 for $360 on eBay, I assumed that you were selling the IS version that goes for about $600 and not a $150 dollar non is version. You were not very specific as I think there are like 4 different Canon 70-300 len's.

Can you be specific? What Lens do you have?

[adscram14]

Wow, nice performance on the Tamron...one does not expect 3rd-party lenses to outperform OEM like that. You should get some real nice shots of the birds
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-70-300mm-4-5-6-Lens-Cameras/dp/B0007Y794O/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1297388556&sr=1-1
That's the one. So it is the IS version. Sorry about that one, Derf! Really, the Tamron is better in every aspect so far. It is much quieter, takes better pictures, and has the depth of field meter on the lens.

[Derf]

I would dream about the Canon 70-300is because of the 3 stops of IS but the picture quality was not really as good as my $160 Tammy 70-300 non VC version. Once I started reading about the $450 Tammy VC version that changed what I wanted.

[RomNYC]

While we're on the subject, can anyone recommend a similar option (quality-wise, price-wise) for my Nikon D60? I do like that Tamron!

[Derf]

I'm confused, it looks from the reviews that there is nothing close in this zoom range for the price from ANY maker. You could.... Say..... Get the lens with the label on the box that says Nikon instead of Canon for the same price. (sorry, but I had to be a smart a$$)

[RomNYC]

Well, I guess you're right.

http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B003YH9DZE

$410.