Not sure about my lens

[Pratoman]

im new at this, posted once or twice before.
Have a new Nikon D3200, just learning to use it. Took a couple of lessons, sort of understand the exposure triangle, but still, every shot I take seems to be an experiment.

To the point - I dropped the camera, broke the kit lens (18-55mm). I am going to Alaska (cruise) and wanted more telephoto,. I decided instead of buying a new 18-55, AND a ne 55-200 telephoto, I would rather have one all purpose lens so I don't have to keep changing lenses in Alaska. So I bought a Tamron 18-270.
Now I'm having buyers remorse. It's hard to carry around, and I seem to not get great crisp focus in my shots, as I did in ten 18-55.

Did I make a mistake in lens purchase, or am I missing something in how I shoot?
What are my options? When out in Alaska, off the ship, or even walking around Manhattan, should I take just the camera, or should I carry the case (it's a compact case,fits the camera and lens, an extra battery, and the cable. )

I am obviously lost.

 

[tirediron]

"Ultra-zooms" are like a Swiss Army knife; they do a lot, but they don't necessarily do any of it really well, so some issues such as increased CA, softness, and distortion, especially at either end of the zoom range is normal. A common mistake newer photographers make, especially when shooting longer focal lengths is too low a shutter speed. A guideline for minimum shutter-speed is 1/FL, in other words, if your focal length is 250mm, then your lowest hand-holdable shutter-speed is around 1/250th of a second. Also make sure you know where you're focusing... "missed focus" or allowing the camera to make the decision about where the point of critical focus should be causes a lot of problems too.

Posting a couple of images and indicating the issues you see will help diagnose any potential problems.

 

[Solarflare]

Superzooms are ANYTHING but a swiss army knife. Superzooms are highly specialized tools that offer a lot of focal range variance, but very little else. No image quality, no brightness, and no autofocusing performance either.

The most tolerable of this species seems to be the Nikon 18-300mm f3.5-6.3. The Tamron 18-270mm however is probably the worst piece of glas you can get. Dont expect much image quality for it. Or anything else. Its just focal length variance, not much else.

The swiss army knife of lenses is a good selection of lenses. Like, say:
- Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, or Sigma 8-16mm f4.5-5.6
- Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 OS, or Nikon AF-S 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 VR DX, or Nikon AF-S 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 VR DX
- Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8 DX
- Tamron 90mm f2.8 VC macro, or Nikon AF-S 85mm f3.5 VR DX micro
- Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR [Yes thats an FX lens]

Thats a lens for every occasion - Wide Angle Zoom, Normal Zoom, A bright prime for lowlight and general IQ, a macro, and a high performance telephoto zoom with an autofocus thats strong enough for sports.

 

[Pratoman]

So then whats the answer? If I'm in a helicopter, or sailing thru the Inside Passage, or walking around Vancouver BC, do I have 2 lenses and constantly switch back and forth? This is what i am trying to figure out. I could probably return the lens its a month old and i still have the box. But I'm afraid to be switching lenses all the time that i will miss good shots.
As a newbie, I'm curious how do you guys handle that?

 

[Bryston3bsst]

I have not used the Tamron 18-270 so I cannot speak directly to that. But I used to have a Canon 18-200 that would cause me to strongly disagree with Solarflare. That was a very versatile lens that returned great image quality at any focal length.

Have a bag full of 5 or 6 lenses and haul that tub of crap around through airports, hikes in the mountains, on crowded city streets......uh huh, I'll do that. Nonsense. You most assuredly don't need to go to that length to bring home great pictures.

I have always used glass from the same company that made my camera. I know there are a lot of shooters here that are using non OEM glass and are getting fantastic results with it. So you may, with some practice, start getting better results with this particular Tamron.

I think tirediron has a very good point with regard to shooting at long focal lengths. Most people don't consider the math that's at work when shooting at say 200+mm. How little movement of the camera amplifies itself at the greater distance. I just did a very unscientific experiment sitting here at my desk. I moved an 18 inch long ruler on a pivot at one end. I moved it up 1mm, at the other end it moved up a distance of 8mm. So my movement was amplified 8 times. And that's only at a foot and a half of length. Think of the amplification when you're aiming at something 100 yards away.

I think you at least need to spend more time practicing and getting used to your equipment. Hopefully you have time to do so before your trip.

By the way, how did you drop your camera when you had the strap around your neck? You were using the strap.......weren't you?

 

[Jasii]

Your post indicates your desire to shoot good good pics. If you are new to the camera, fall in love with it, handle it like you'd a small baby, get shooting and than look at your own shots and list out what you like and what you don't. And of course share your results with friends and in forums like this would help too.
Since you already own the AIO Tammy, it would be nice to know what it can do and what it can't and try and see if you can live with it's limitation curve, else you can always swap it for something nicer.
Jasii

 

[SCraig]

As a newbie, I'm curious how do you guys handle that?

Depends on the situation. Two bodies, two lenses when I don't have time to switch lenses between shots. One body, two lenses when I do have time to change lenses between shots. Decide what the circumstances will dictate and choose a single lens accordingly when I know what I'm getting into.

Nobody said that using a camera with interchangeable lenses was easy, only that they create better photographs. You pay for that ability by having to switch lenses to accommodate the conditions.

 

[tirediron]

So then whats the answer? If I'm in a helicopter, or sailing thru the Inside Passage, or walking around Vancouver BC, do I have 2 lenses and constantly switch back and forth? This is what i am trying to figure out. I could probably return the lens its a month old and i still have the box. But I'm afraid to be switching lenses all the time that i will miss good shots.
As a newbie, I'm curious how do you guys handle that?

My answer is to use multiple bodies with different lenses mounted. IMO, buying a DSLR and a super-zoom means you're missing the primary benefit of having a DSLR; that is: The ability to change lenses. When multiple bodies aren't the answer, then pre-planning is. If you're in an aircraft, or on a boat, chances are you're NOT going to need 18mm; you're probably not going to need 50 or 75mm; you're going to need 150, 200, or (ideally) even more. Walking around Vancouver, well... you're more likely to want wider so, mount your short lens.

 

[FITBMX]

I just switch lenses, you can get rather fast at it. Sometimes you will miss a shot, but that's just how it goes.

 

[FITBMX]

Also if you are getting blur in low light areas, you could get a good monopod. It would be better than freehand, and it wouldn't be a cumbersome as a tripod.

 

[raventepes]

I keep a 2 lens shooting solution for wandering around and travel. Simply an 18-105 and a 70-300. You can get most everything with that combination, short of birds in flight, or other far off (or small) subjects.

Yes, sometimes I miss a shot. It happens. But here's my perspective on it. I'd rather take a good shot than a mediocre one by using less than desirable optics. Granted, sometimes I need different equipment, but that's where (as tirediron suggests) pre-planning comes in. Know what kinds of things you want to photograph before you leave your front door.

 

[Rob5589]

A couple different friends have done AK cruises and 99% of their shots were from long distances. I get great shots with my Nikon 70-300, purchased barely used from KEH. For around town shots I really like my Sigma 17-50. Definitely masks my lack of ability

 

[pjaye]

I'm going to have to disagree with what people are saying about that specific Tamron lens (18-270) I have had that lens for almost two years. It almost never comes off my Nikon D7100. I LOVE that lens and get crystal clear, sharp shots with it all the time. It has never let me down. If you are having issues, I'm going to say you got a bad lens.

I have had zero issues with mine and I shoot almost exclusively wildlife. However I've also done a wedding and several people shoots with it.

 

[FITBMX]

I looked up the Tamron 18-270, and it doesn't cost a whole lot, and gets a lot of good reviews. So I am sure it is well worth keeping around. If it continues to take blurry shots, there maybe a problem with it, and you should get a replacement from the store were you got it.

 

[KmH]

Reviews of that lens by respected web sites indicate some important cons and not much pro:

Conclusion - Cons

• Slow and occasionally indecisive autofocus
• Geometric distortion across much of the zoom range
• Significant chromatic aberration at wideangle and telephoto (especially 270mm)
• Macro performance rather compromised (very soft at F6.3, focus shifts on stopping down)
• Uneven zoom action, zoom creep when not locked
• Slightly sub-par build quality
  Conclusion - Pros
  
• Remarkable 15x focal length range
• Impressive image quality in the normal to short telephoto range
• Excellent resistance to flare
• Effective vibration correction system, at least 3 stops benefit
• Reasonably compact despite the long telephoto range