My first outing with my 70-200mm 2.8

[TamiAz]

I bought a Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 last week and was able to test it out at my daughters softball tournament this weekend.. The lens worked great and I'm loving how sharp the images look.

 

[gsgary]

Its a nice lens but slow focus for sport

 

[imagemaker46]

Good lens to use, but your timing is off. First one is late, second is early, and the third one could use a big crop. Taking most of the background out would make it a much stronger image.

 

[MLeeK]

I used that lens for sports for about 2 years. Yes, it's slow focus for sports, but it can definitely be done. I don't think that is your primary use for it, just where you got to put it to use, right?
Play with it a bit for Macro shots too. It's my go to lens for macro now. Not that I shoot much macro, but... It's a gorgeous lens for weddings and portraits, which I think is your wishes, isn't it?

I generally keep it at about f/3.5-4 at the low end, but it's not too awful bad at f/2.8 either! Definitely useable! If it weren't for my sports sideline profession I wouldn't have upgraded mine. Pretty impressive for very little money!

 

[Canuk]

Yes, the focus is somewhat slow for sports, compared to lenses that cost more than double. I have been using that same lens for hockey and motocross pics, the trick is to pre-focus to the area that you will be taking the picture of, that way the lens doesn't have to hunt to gain proper focus. That's what I found worked for me, anyways.

 

[TamiAz]

I used that lens for sports for about 2 years. Yes, it's slow focus for sports, but it can definitely be done. I don't think that is your primary use for it, just where you got to put it to use, right?
Play with it a bit for Macro shots too. It's my go to lens for macro now. Not that I shoot much macro, but... It's a gorgeous lens for weddings and portraits, which I think is your wishes, isn't it?

I generally keep it at about f/3.5-4 at the low end, but it's not too awful bad at f/2.8 either! Definitely useable! If it weren't for my sports sideline profession I wouldn't have upgraded mine. Pretty impressive for very little money!

Yes, I will be using it for a portrait lens as well.. I haven't played with macro shots yet, but I plan on it. I did keep my aperture between f/3.5-4 this weekend..Would you say that is the sweet spot for this lens? I did notice the AF speed, but it is faster than my Nikon 55-300mm 3.5-5.6 that I have been using. Do you use a teleconverter on your lens? I do miss the reach I had on my 55-300mm. I plan on buying a monopod and use my tripod to help me stabilize it when I have to bring down my shutter speed. I had no issues with hand shake this weekend using the high shutter speeds..

 

[MLeeK]

I used that lens for sports for about 2 years. Yes, it's slow focus for sports, but it can definitely be done. I don't think that is your primary use for it, just where you got to put it to use, right?
Play with it a bit for Macro shots too. It's my go to lens for macro now. Not that I shoot much macro, but... It's a gorgeous lens for weddings and portraits, which I think is your wishes, isn't it?

I generally keep it at about f/3.5-4 at the low end, but it's not too awful bad at f/2.8 either! Definitely useable! If it weren't for my sports sideline profession I wouldn't have upgraded mine. Pretty impressive for very little money!

Yes, I will be using it for a portrait lens as well.. I haven't played with macro shots yet, but I plan on it. I did keep my aperture between f/3.5-4 this weekend..Would you say that is the sweet spot for this lens? I did notice the AF speed, but it is faster than my Nikon 55-300mm 3.5-5.6 that I have been using. Do you use a teleconverter on your lens? I do miss the reach I had on my 55-300mm. I plan on buying a monopod and use my tripod to help me stabilize it when I have to bring down my shutter speed. I had no issues with hand shake this weekend using the high shutter speeds..

I don't have a TC. I have often thought about buying one, but I THINK I have decided on buying the 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L.
Of course, every time I THINK I have my mind made up I re-think and say something like "it'd be cheaper to play with a TC first!..."
I keep hoping one or the other will fall into my lap and make the decision for me.

I think I hung around f/4 most with that one. I have it in for servicing right now, but from looking at images that's what I come up with. I haven't used it much other than macro in about 2 years. I tend to hang out about f/4 with my new one too. I know that if I stop it down even 1/3 stop it's noticeably sharper. I can't really answer you if that was the sweet spot 100% but I think it was.
I'd just do a simple focus test to compare the difference.

I am really kind of dying to get mine back from Tamron. I was wishing for it on this weekends trip I took. It's been 2 weeks, I'd guess (HOPE) It would be soon!

 

[imagemaker46]

If you do decide to go with a TC make sure you buy a really good one, otherwise you'll end up being disappointed with the results.

 

[MLeeK]

If you do decide to go with a TC make sure you buy a really good one, otherwise you'll end up being disappointed with the results.

I THINK you and I have spoken on the TC's before. I have another question-with this particular lens being a Tamron is there compatibility issues with the canon TC's? Something is niggling at the back of my brain about some TC's and compatibility issues-or is that something not to worry about?

 

[DBA]

Its a nice lens but slow focus for sport

Is this just the Tamron 70-200? I use the Nikon 70-200 vrii and find it more than adequate in focus speed.

 

[Mach0]

Its a nice lens but slow focus for sport

Is this just the Tamron 70-200? I use the Nikon 70-200 vrii and find it more than adequate in focus speed.

Yes.

 

[MLeeK]

Its a nice lens but slow focus for sport

Is this just the Tamron 70-200? I use the Nikon 70-200 vrii and find it more than adequate in focus speed.

It's the tamron. It's the slowest of the 70-200's. It's a macro lens-so that is the reason for the slow focus. The Sigma Macro is a touch faster, then the Sigma OS version and then the Canon/Nikon lenses. HUGE difference from your lens to this one for focus

 

[DBA]

Its a nice lens but slow focus for sport

Is this just the Tamron 70-200? I use the Nikon 70-200 vrii and find it more than adequate in focus speed.

It's the tamron. It's the slowest of the 70-200's. It's a macro lens-so that is the reason for the slow focus. The Sigma Macro is a touch faster, then the Sigma OS version and then the Canon/Nikon lenses. HUGE difference from your lens to this one for focus

Thanks. Glad I didn't go with the Tamron then.

OP sorry about the off topic...