Tamron 17-50 2.8 Anyone else have this problem???

[Lane123]

I recently purchased a Tamron 17-50 lens. It seems to be having focusing problems in low light situations. Wanted to know if anyone else has experienced the same thing. I am including some examples. All of the images with this lens were coming out blurry so I changed to a 70-200 2.8. & you can see a huge difference. The first two images are taken with the Tamron lens and the second two are taken with the Nikon lens
settings:
1 shutter 160; apeture 3.2
2 shutter 100; apeture 3.5
3 shutter 125; apeture 3.5
4 shutter 125; apeture 3.5
I did play around with the settings a bit thinking it was user error, but every image taken with the Tamron lens was blurry. I realize that you are going to see a difference between images taken with a Nikon and a third party lens but these are just totally oof. Anyone else had similar problems with the Tamron? Any suggestions?

[abuford]

looks to me like the lens was focusig on the fence in the background - this combined with a relatively large aperture would give you small depth of field as evidenced by the foreground - on top of this you had a relatively long exposure time - next time I would recommend using manual focus (pre focus on a sopt on the stage) and a faster shutter speed

[Lane123]

Thank you Allen. I did not try using manual focus because I didn't have a lot of time to experiment so I change lenses. My big problem with this is that I purchased this lens for low light situations when my 70-200 would not give me a wide enough angle. I hate to think that I have to manual focus every time I need to use it in low light. I did not have the blurry focus with the Nikon lens at the same settings. Is this normal in Tamron/third party lenses?

[Lane123]

The last two images are with the Nikon 70-200. They appear a little blurry on here but not when I view them on my moniter. Maybe the upload. There is a drastic difference in the first two images and the 2nd two straight out of the camera

[Patti Edens]

That is not normal with a third party lens. I have a third party lens and it is tack sharp. I know of others that use Tamron, Sigma and other third party lenses designed for Nikon and Canon cams and they are also very good. Sure, a really good Nikon lens will likely be better, but what you have here is not normal. It might just be your lens.

If you are using a single focusing point and you know that it was on the model in both of those first two shots, then your lens appears to be back focusing and should be returned either for a replacement (if still in warranty) or to be calibrated.

The longer shutter speed should have less effect on the wider angle Tamron than the 70 to 200, so I don't think that is the problem here. ?

I shoot Canon and had a problem with my Canon 100-400 IS L lens not focusing correctly. I sent it back to Canon and they calibrated it. Now it is spot on.

[Lane123]

These are a couple more images from this lens from the first time I used it. Same situation - I ended up changing lenses to the Nikon 70-200. The first two are using the Tamron & the 2nd two are from the Nikon. Listing settings below. I did try a faster shutter speed but kept a pretty wide open apeture for light. I know that I am not going to get super sharp images with a wide open apeture on either lens but again the difference in the two lenses is quite large! I just assumed it was user error then ( had also purchased new camera). Maybe still is but Two weeks later ~ same thing.
settings:
image 1 tamron lens 2.8; 1/4000
image 2 tamron lens 2.8; 1/250
image 3 nikon lens 2.8; 1/1000
image 4 nikon lens 2.8; 1/125
all are shot on single serv focal point set on subject - if moving tracking subject (close to eyes/face if possible)

[Lane123]

Again thanks Patti! I just posted a couple more image differences with this lens and nikon. I was using a single focusing point on subjects face. You can see by the settings that I used various shutter speeds and it did not make a bit of difference. I have only had the lens for 18 days. In good light, it seems to do a good job. It is low light that I am having a major problem. Think I will take it back today. Of course, the refund/exchange is 14 days and I have had it 18! Arrrrgh!

[Patti Edens]

Hmmm. If it is back focusing, I would think it will do it no matter if you have good light or low light. So, I'm a bit puzzled by that one.

Quick test for back (or front) focusing is to prop up a yardstick or tape measure on a table. Orient it so that the numbers are on the bottom and it is stretched out in front of you and the front is elevated at a 45 degree angle. Focus on the exact middle and take a shot. Do this with autofocus and also with manual focus. Then look at the photo and see where it is actually focused. I suspect that yours will be behind your focus spot.

See this website if my description doesn't make sense. You can print out their target too, but I just use a yardstick.

[Lane123]

I did try the test after I had the problem the first time and it seemed fine. I am just wondering if it is something else - maybe attachment problems/something else, and it just coincidently happened both times that I was in a low light situation shooting with a wide open apeture. I just know it is having some type of focusing issues. The images that I have posted are just a few of the many that shows the totally oof difference between the 2 lenses. I am just really 'flusterated' lol. Am going to go into FW camera this afternoon with all of the images and the lens and see what they have to say. Have a feeling they are just going to tell me I have to send it back to Tamron because it is 4 day past the return date. More frustration! :(

[Lane123]

Took the lens back y'day afternoon. They tried it on a different camera and had some issues with it focusing at first...then it worked just fine. They were very kind and did replace the lens. So I will be off and trying it out this weekend. Thank you all for you input and suggestions!