Tamron 28-75 Review

Shopping for a less expensive lens with Canon "L" lens level of quality?

Tamron 28-75mm Lens for Canon

This Tamron 28-75 Review ought to help by shedding some light on your problem. You get pro quality in a streamlined package.
How do you really feel about third party lens companies?

This Tamron 28-75 Review is a result of my love affair with third party producers. That lens is attached to my Canon 30D most of the time.

At the time that I made a decision to move from a point and shoot camera to a digital SLR, I determined that I would not get the kit lens that came with the Canon Rebel 300D. At the time, the kit lens was not highly regarded at all by most photography websites.

The Tamron 28-75mm lens for Canon rose to the top of the heap as I did my research. This was based on several factors, not the least of which was my budget. I have upgraded my camera body a couple of times, but my trusty 28-75 lens has remained my prime all purpose lens.

Since it is not a Canon L lens, it does not get the respect that those highly revered lenses get in all the reviews, however, this little Tamron lens is really excellent.

There are two things I have come to appreciate about my main walk-about lens.

Morning Glory - Taken with Tamron 28-75mm Lens for Canon

Number one is the wide aperture of 2.8. It is stable across the entire focal range, which means that it does not matter what focal length you select, you will be getting the quickest shutter speed. This is truly important when you are shooting in below perfect light situations.

Next is the rapid focus. I have used some Canon L lenses, and my Tamron performs just as well as those costly models. The bokeh is really nice too. If you are not familiar with the term "bokeh", bokeh is when the background of a photo is pleasantly blurred. This happens when you shoot your picture at a fairly wide aperture (like 2.8). The plane of focus is quite shallow, rendering the background and foreground as blurry.

Not too long ago, I was talking with a photographer buddy of mine who was doing some work at my school. He knows that I am also a photographer. He was not using his tripod as he normally did. That's when he told me that he had just bought this "brilliant little lens" for his Canon 5D. He was so impressed with his new lens that he was passionately recommending it to all his photography friends.

The lens he was talking about was the Tamron 28-75mm lens for Canon digital SLRs. I was quite shocked that a pro photographer would even think to attach a third party lens to such an extraordinary camera as the 5D.

Thinking back though, I should not have been that shocked. Of course, I have been defining the virtues of this superb lens for years. But I had always thought of the Tamron 28-75 lens as a beginner Canon digital slr lens.

This close crop of a Sunflower gives you an idea of how sharp the images are with this lens.

Needless to say that is not the case. It is a fantastic alternative for amateurs and pros alike.

Just consider it, you will be happily surprised after shooting a few frames at how effectively the lens handles, the high quality images that it produces, the quick focus, and the satisfying bokeh. Oh, and the value. You will save a bundle of cash if you buy this lens instead of an L lens of the same focal length and aperture.

The Tamron 28-75 lens for Canon digital slr cameras is an excellent choice as a less expensive walk around lens. Be sure to compare it to some other all purpose Canon EOS lenses before you make your final purchase decision.

The 18-200mm Canon Lens - This Super Zoom Lens Does It All

This is it, the
18-200mm Canon Lens

The 18-200mm Canon lens may very well be the single lens that gives you the freedom you require to take care of nearly each and every picture taking opportunity.

While we refer to it as the 18-200mm Canon lens, it has an official name. It is a Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS telephoto lens.. How would you like to have to live up to a label like that? As we examine the name, we see EF-S. This implies the lens is made for Canon's entry level cameras, such as the Canon Digital Rebel sequence and its 50D digital SLR (along with the earlier xxD versions). That means that you can not use this general walk around lens on the more high quality models such as the Canon 7D and the full frame models.

These Super-Zoom lenses are strongly regarded as holiday or travel lenses because they are "one lens fits all" alternatives. You can leave your camera bag back at the hotel room..

When you have to stop and change lenses to match the circumstances, it is likely that the photo op will evaporate before you can take advantage of it. With the 18-200mm Canon lens, you don't have to fret about which lens is affixed to your camera. It is fantastic for getting those quick, fleeting shots.

In fact, having to change lenses is one of the blessings AND the curses of digital SLR owners. We actually buy the cameras so we can change the lens, then we are frustrated when we have to.

40D at 200mm : Lilac-breasted roller in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Pleasing bokeh in the background.
(from images at amazon for Canon 18-200mm lens)

Continuing with the positive aspects, this lens has several more worth pointing out.

To start with, as pointed out is the focal range, which is 11x. Taking into consideration the monumental variance in range, the image quality is outstanding.

Also, there is IS (image stabilization) which is supposed to give you an additional 4-stops of aperture without having to use a tripod. This is important because the widest aperture is only f/3.5, and it increases from there to a max of f/5.6. This is typical of the super-zoom lenses, whether Canon or some other manufacturer.

One more benefit is the bokeh that is produced when using a wide aperture. Photographers are always comparing bokeh. Briefly, it is when you try to get the main subject of your photo in sharp focus and have the other areas of the photo in a pleasingly blurred focus. The 18-200 does a pretty good job with this, but it is not considered the best.

The last benefit has to do with a comparison to the "kit lenses" that Canon promotes. Sometimes new buyers purchase the 18-55mm starter lens and an additional 55-250mm lens for the mid-range focal lengths. These two lenses are not bad as far as image quality goes, but they are not high quality construction.

The Canon 18-200mm lens is far better constructed than the kit lenses.

The Down Side

There are some concerns to consider. You will find this true of the majority of super-zooms, whether they are Canon, Nikon, Sigma, or Tamron lenses. There is a compromise in image quality in order to get the wide focal range. Most will have barrel distortion at the wide angles and chromatic aberration issues at both the shortest and the longest focal lengths.

In spite of these issues, the images are not really bad. In fact, they are quite good. The issues are barely noticeable to the novice. However if you are searching for the pixel-perfect image, you will possibly need to fork out more money or work with a more specific focal length lens.

What about third party lenses.

Third party lens makers have designed some really good lenses that fit Canon digital SLR cameras. If the positive aspects and problem areas are the same, why don't you give some thought to saving some money for one of those? It's a thought.
As you look at the 18-200mm Canon lens, you will be pleasantly surprised at how well it really does perform.


But do take a look at the other lenses in the same category. You can do that at Canon EOS Lenses.

Portrait Photography - Use The Right Portrait Lens

Photo credit: idahoeditor
from morguefile.com
f/3.5 @ 70mm

If you have thought about doing portraits with your Canon EOS digital SLR camera, you are not alone. Portraiture may be the most popular photography applications pursued by amateurs and pros alike.

It may surprise you to know that having the consummate Canon portrait lens is not the most vital part of getting a great portrait. But a good lens will unquestionably go a long way toward getting you to that great image.

The glitz and glamor of portrait photography is what attracts the attention of many. If you are good and make the right connections, you could be in the company of some very well known people. Not like the paparazzi, who are the bottom dwellers of the paid photography industry (author's opinion). Besides, what they do is not portrait photography.

Most portrait photographers don't shoot famous people though.  There is plenty of work in the field that does not include actors, singers, and other glitzy individuals.

Other portrait niches include individuals, family photos (Olan Mills does not have a monopoly here), high school senior photos, babies, and even pet portraits. And sports portraits is a huge opportunity, too. You can truly find a unique niche in portrait photography.

Depth Of Field - Your #1 Goal

Portrait photographers know that the lens is just as key as the digital SLR camera it is attached to. Good portrait images have specific qualities that help to draw attention to the subject, or model. The first, and probably the easiest way to make that happen is to use a narrow depth of field. This means that the plane of focus is shallow, putting the other objects in the photograph out of focus. That sharp area of focus unconsciously draws the eye of the viewer.

One of the reasons for this shallow depth of field is the quick speed of the shutter. This is a feature of good portrait lenses. Fast shutter speed happens as a result of getting the lens to open wider. The lens opening is called the aperture. A good number for the aperture would be f/2.8 or wider (smaller = wider). In fact, the better lenses have apertures as wide as f/1.2. (And as the number gets smaller, the price tag gets bigger.) If you want a sleek and sexy photo with an out of focus background, a good place to start is with a wide aperture. When you show the photo to your subject, they will feel very special. And you will feel like you accomplished a portrait that could go head to head against the pros.

Focal Length - Another Key Element of Portrait Photography

Canon 70-200mm f/4 @120mm

Another feature you will want as a portrait photo shooter is the right focal length lens. There are two types of lenses, single (prime) or zoom. Many pros use only prime lenses when doing portraits. If choosing a prime lens, 50mm would be the shortest length to choose. Any shorter and you have to get too close to your model. If you have a lens between 75mm and 150nn, you are in what most photographers consider the right focal length for portraits. This gives the photographer a better combination of depth of field, distance from the subject, and flexibility in choosing the perspective.

If the lens does not have a long enough focal length, it could cause facial features that are out of proportion. Everyone has seen those images of the cows where the cow's nose looks way out of proportion when compared to the rest of the animal. This technique is cute, and done purposefully, employing a wide angle lens and getting right up next to the subject. We laugh when we see these kind of photos, but we would not laugh if it was OUR face blown out of proportion. People are way too vain.

Zoom lenses are also popular among many photographers who soot portraits. One of the most popular is the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 zoom lens. Using a lens with such a wide selection of focal lengths can add so much flexibility to your set up.

The good news is that just about any lens can double as a portrait lens. If you know how to pull it off, you can take great portraits with you cell phone.

Better Backgrounds - A Nifty Little Trick

To get that really special portrait, you need a blurred background. Try putting more distance between the model and the background. You want as much distance as possible between subject and background. This compensates for the aperture component. The background will be blurry in spite of the aperture because of the distance.

The mere fact that you tote that awesome digital SLR gives your family and friends reason to believe that you can take great portraits. Actually, you can. But the job can be done so much easier with the right lens, a portrait lens.

Canon 70-300mm Digital SLR Lens - A Quiet Surprise

Check Price at Amazon

Good surprises are not an every day occurrence. So when they happen it is a time for celebration and, perhaps reflection.

Recently discovering the Canon 70-300mm mid-range zoom lens came as just such a surprise.

In fact, it could be the best kept secret among photographers. You rarely hear anyone proclaiming the greatness of this little lens. There is nothing about this lens that screams "outstanding." It is rather drab. And yet, when you look deep, you see the subtle praises.

The reason may be that the lens is not that impressive or glamorous in appearance, and "real" photographers want an attention-getter on the front of their prized digital SLR.

Perhaps it's even because there is nothing special about the price. It's not too high or too low, it's just right.

No matter the reason, the 70-300mm Canon lens is well worth taking a look at.

When you look for impressive, the first thing that draws attention is the image quality. This should be the number one consideration for any lens. And this one is rated as good, or nearly as good, as the Canon "L" lenses.

What you will generally see on blogs and forums is how simple the lens actually is. Comments like, "I thought it was a toy," express the first impressions of many first-time users.

You have heard that first impressions are lasting ones. But that is not necessarily true with this lens. Once they shoot a few frames, their opinion changes. The reason for the change in attitude is not only the wonderful image quality, but the addition of IS (image stabilization) and USM (ultrasonic motor). These are impressive qualities shared by the most advanced Canon lenses.

If you are one who likes to shoot mostly hand held shots, you will really like these features.

My favorite story about the 70-300mm Canon lens comes from a guy who found his lens at a garage sale. He was not familiar with the lens, but he decided to get it for a relative who was just getting into photography. He figured because of the price and the feel of the lens that it was not a great lens. The person running the garage sale had no information about the lens. Without any useful information at all, the photographer decides to buy the lens. Price was not mentioned, but under those circumstances, it was probably the deal of the century (except for those Ansel Adams photos that were valued at $4 million).

Upon arriving home, he put it on his Canon 5D to see if it even worked. Took a few shots. To shorten a rather long commentary, the end result is that the photographer never turned the lens over to his young relative. He deemed the lens too good for his relative and kept if for himself.

Surprises are great when they come like this. Garage sales can be the source of some real finds.

For more about the Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, visit www.canoneoslenses.org.

Happy Shooting!

Buy Your First Canon Digital SLR Lens - Which Lens Is Right For You

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L

Once you have decided on the right Canon EOS camera, your decision making process is not over. Which Canon Digital SLR lens should you buy?

It was probably a research and decision process just to settle on the correct Canon EOS camera, right? Before you lies this huge range of lenses. Not only Canon lenses, but those from third party suppliers as well.

Now what, how do you select one?

Maybe you choose to avoid this whole situation and go with the package deal that includes the kit lens. Some online stores even have deals that involve two kit lenses to cover the basic spectrum of focal lengths. Then there would be no choice to make.

But, if you are anything like,similar to most new digital SLR buyers, you will want to get the best lens available. After all, that's where some of the excitement comes from, the assembly of the camera bag and its contents.

Some new digital SLR owners fret over this choice for days, weeks, and months. If you go online to some of the camera forums, you will see how totally involved some photographers are in lens selection. Some people take it too far for it to be fun.

At the end of the day, you want this decision to be the right one. The one that gets just the right lens onto your camera.

Before moving on, let's settle this question, "Why not merely go for the kit lens?" Buying the kit lens was mentioned above, and the answer is a simple one. You could purchase the kit lens and be quite happy with it. Lot's of do that. But it just is not most fantastic lens created for a Canon EOS digital SLR camera. Its aim is to get a lens on that camera so you can get started taking pictures right out of the box. Perhaps you are thinking about what lots of people do. Buy the camera body only, without the kit lens. Then you have the freedom to get a lens of your own choice separate from the kit lens.

As you go through the lens evaluation process, think about a number of questions that will assist you slim down the number of choices.

1. What is your budget?

This may just be the lone question you have to answer. If your money does not allow for any lens wiggle room, you just get the kit lens and start shooting. If that is not the case, and you are in a position to spend some of your budget on a lens or two, you are ready to move ahead with the questions. A limited budget of $500 or less will put you in one area, whereas $1000 will give you much more flexibility in your final decision.

2. What kind of photos will you be taking the majority of the time?

More than likely, you have developed a preference concerning the images that you really like and work well with. Most photographers acquire a favorite style even before they buys to their first digital SLR. For shooting photos of family and friends or vacation, the focal range of 18-70mm (or something within those parameters) will be perfect. But if nature, sports, or portraits are your favorite types of images, the ranges you regard are going to be much different.

3. Is your plan to begin with a number of lenses? Not just one?

Usually buyers of digital SLR cameras have plans for having a variety of lenses. It is the number one or two reason many folks go the DSLR route in the first place (the other reason is simply to get better images with a better camera). If you budget allows for another lens or two, then the first lens choice can focus more on getting the best image in the 17-75mm range. Your second lens should be one of the 70-200mm or 70-300mm lenses.

4. The final question is this: Which Canon EOS camera did you decide on?

Depending on your answer, you may not be able to get some of the Canon or third party lenses simply because they will not work on your camera. If you buy one of the entry to mid level digital SLRs, you can buy almost any Canon EF lens or third party lenses made for Canon. If, on the other hand, you buy a more professional "full frame" camera, you can not get any of the lenses that are designated at EF-S lenses, as they are for only the crop frame models such as the Rebel series.

The decision to move to a DSLR camera is an exciting one, but it is not without its research and challenges. You really need to do your homework before making this buying decision.

Making the wrong lens choice is especially painful if you only have a limited amount of funds for photography equipment.

Fortunately, there are resources available to help you decide which Canon digital SLR lens is right for you.

Go to www.canoneoslenses.org to continue your quest for the best lens for your Canon EOS camera.

Which 70-200mm Canon Lens - You Can't Miss

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS HSM

With five (count 'em - 5) separate 70-200mm Canon Lenses, how do you choose a winner? Is there a single most fantastic lens in this category?

It's a valid question. As a matter of fact, this question has been bantered about among photographers and online photo forums since the second 70-200mm lens was produced .

Let's get one item out of the way . Every photographer that uses Canon photo equipment needs a 70-200 Canon lens . This should be the second lens you obtain, after you get your basic all purpose . The focal range it covers is in the medium telephoto range, a very important area that you unquestionably want to cover with your lenses .

It has so many uses. You can use it for portraits, street photography, nature shots, some close up work (even though it is not technically a macro lens), and whatever your creative eye can come up with. It is just a great general purpose shooter.

Gattlinburg Church - Canon EOS 30D and
70-200mm f/4.0

Actually portraits is one of the most popular uses. The optimum focal length for portraits is 100mm, which is right in the "sweet spot" for this zoom lens.

Now, back to the question, which one is best...

Still, before getting to that, professionals agree on two benefits that apply to all the lenses mentioned here. The first benefit is superior image quality - they are all virtually the same on that point. And the second is the HSM(hypersonic motor) feature that provides really fast focus speeds.

The 70-200mm lenses from Canon are their "flagship" lenses. They are proud of them, and they should be. They are each fantastic, whether it is the cheapest or the most costly of the category.

See the "L" in the title of each one? L is attached to only the best build quality lenses made by Canon. Every photographer wants at least one L lens.

One more thing, and this should have been mentioned with the benefits of all lenses in this category. The aperture, whether it is 2.8 or 4.0, is constant throughout the entire focal range. With zoom lenses, this is not always the case . This characteristic adds value because you do not sacrifice quality or shutter speed by using the zoom.

There are five lenses to choose from made by Canon. There are also third party manufacturers which are really well made, too. However, for this article, we will focus only on the "home-grown" choices.

Now for the benefits of each offering.

Starting with the least complex, which is also the cheapest:

1. Canon 70-200mm f/4.0 L HSM - a highly regarded lens, even though it is a fraction of the price of the more advanced choices. It is the lightest but it still turns heads because of the tell-tale light grey color which is typical of all the lenses in this category. Lacking in IS(image stabilization) it is recommended for use with a tripod if the light is not really bright.
2. Canon 70-200 f/4.0 IS L HSM - add IS (image stabilization) to the mix and you can shoot hand-held images at lower shutter speeds, negating the need for a tripod. The IS feature does add a couple of ounces in weight, but the size is identical to the other f/4.0 lens. Price almost doubles though.
3. Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L HSM - the larger aperture of 2.8 is a huge plus to some photographers. This alone adds value in terms of being able to shoot at lower light levels with confidence that shutter speeds are fast enough to prevent image blur. The larger aperture adds length and weight to the lens, but it turns out to be about the same price as the previous model.
4. Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS L HSM - this is the big brother of the group. The most complex lens has the most desired capabilities. Shooting at 2.8 apertures with IS gets you into very low light shooting without the aid of a tripod. This may include night scenes and concerts. It is a heavy lens, and it is the most expensive of the group. However, many photographers are totally convinced it is the only one to have.
5. There has been an upgrade to the top of the line - Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L HSM II - same fantastic lens with better technology and a slightly higher price tag.

ONE of these lenses in your camera bag is a given. Given the fine quality of each one of these lenses, it boils down to either your desire for the most advanced gear or your pocketbook. The ultimate choice has to be your own.

As you continue your quest for great Canon lenses, make sure to check lots of photography forums, blogs, and information websites. www.CanonEOSlenses.org provides a run down of the most sought after lenses for your Canon EOS digital camera.

Sigma Macro Lens - Great Choice For Canon EOS Cameras

Have you given macro photography a shot? It is really rewarding, and it gets your photography juices flowing. To get a great macro image, you need a great macro lens. Sigma Macro lenses are well worth your consideration when going for a new close-up lens.

Something happens when you use a macro lens on your digital SLR camera. Things appear seemingly out of nowhere. Things that you never imagined were in the shot when you were setting it up.

You have to experience this to know the feeling, but when it happens, it's very cool.

This bee was shot with a Sigma 150mm macro lens and Canon EOS digital SLR.

If you are a major camera brand user, such as Nikon or Pentax, you can use a Sigma Macro lens, however, this article is based on using a Canon EOS digital camera system.

Why? Why not just get the Canon macro lens? What's so special about a macro lens anyway? Can't you just use a regular lens?

These questions deserve answers.

First, about macro lenses. These are special lenses dedicated to close up photography. They are created carefully for this purpose. However the pieces of glass are placed inside the lens barrel is just right for getting that macro photo.

This allows the macro lens to take much sharper and clearer photos when placed close to a subject. Even the lenses that are multi-focal lengths and have the word "macro" in the name are not as good as a prime focal length macro lens.

What about a Sigma macro lens vs a Canon macro lens? Many Canon users would not think to go outside the Canon fold to buy any equipment. If you are one of these, you may as well move on. However, there may be a valid reason to think about it... money.

Almost always you will pay less for Sigma Macro lenses for Canon digital SLRs than you would pay for a Canon macro lens. Photo quality is really good with either choice. You may not be able to tell the difference between photos taken with one or the other, in fact, you probably CAN'T tell the difference. You would have to call in the investigation team from NCIS to figure out which is which.

Sigma, being a third party manufacturer of lenses for Canon EOS cameras, has made a commitment to excellence. They recognize that if they don't get the quality right in their macro lenses, they will not get any of the market share. So they did their homework and got it right. Their lenses are well designed and produce great images.

 A Sigma 105mm macro lens is a great Portrait Lens too.

If you decide on Sigma, you will find that there are four dedicated macro lenses to choose from. The focal lengths are 50mm, 70mm, 105mm, and 150mm. The 105mm macro lens is the lens of choice to start with.

There are two great reasons for this, and it is not because the others are not good. First, you get a true macro image at 1:1 (life size). This is why you buy macro. And the second reason is not one you might think of. The 105mm lens is an excellent portrait lens. Yes, facial portraits. Many portrait shooters use a 100mm lens for much of their work, and this one will fill the bill.

Sigma macro ratings are very high. You actually should check ratings before buying any piece of camera equipment. In this case, you will observe that many consider Sigma an equal to Canon in the macro category.

Close up photography is really rewarding. The beauty and intricacies of nature make you realize that there is a Creator, and He did not hold back, even in the most minute details.

Discover the thrill of macro photography with a Sigma Macro lens - you NEED one of these!
Go to www.canoneoslenses.org.