wwp@yahoogroups.com:
Re: Tamron 11-18mm
Michael Maersch 2006-Jul-05 16:49:00
On Jul 4, 2006, at 8:16 PM, Paul Stewart wrote:
> List,
>
> If some of you are lookinging for a wider, but not fisheye lens, have
> a look
> at the Tamron 11-18mm. Just released in the last few weeks.
>
> Claims of 16.5mm equiv on a Nikon D bodies. 17mm on a Canon - cost is
> around
> 550U$ which is quite a bit cheaper than the Nikon 12-24 which I had
> an eye
> on.
>
> Just doing some cylinder tests. 10 shots but can (just) cover the
> bases
> using 8 pics. A tiny bit of barrel distortion.
>
> I don't think it's the sharpest dude in the pack but I have fallen in
> love
> with this wide angle pocket puncher and it will stay firmly fixed to
> my body
> as my standard editorial lens.
>
> It's slow (f4.5/5.6), it's noisy (focusing) but it's a corker and
> you'll
> take some of your best shots with it.
>
> Close, intimate, super wide. What a pleasure.
>
> There's not much info around on this lens so I'll post my results and
> methods in a day or two. Anybody else working on this combo?
>
> Paul
I also have the Tamron 11-18mm lens I use w/my Canon D20.
As I am always on a really tight budget and have found more times than
I care to recall that original manufacturer's equipment is not always
"the sharpest knife out of the drawer" I did quite a bit of research in
advance of my Tamron purchase. There are some great reviews of the
Tamron 11-18mm lens here:
-
http://www.photo.net/equipment/tamron/11_18_Di/tamron_11_18_review.html
- http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=375
-
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/tamron%2011-18mm.shtml
I am always amazed when people make such a big deal out of camera or
lens ? or even computer HD ? "noise". I can see there being an issue if
you're capturing a sleeping baby or a skittish deer in the forest but
hey, it's a camera! I'm focused on what I'm looking at through the
viewfinder instead.
As well, the issue some have w/sharpness. Correct me if I'm mistaking
but aren't most of the folks out there shooting immersive photography
using a tripod and rig to begin with? What's with stopping down and
using a cable release? And when final projects are posted on the Web or
authored to CD/DVD, after optimization, who-in-the-world notices how
"sharp" the image is as they spin it anyway?
Sorry, these issues, to me, are like a bunch of guys sitting around
boasting about who has the finest audio equipment at their pad. There's
only so much the conscious human mind, our senses can process without
degrading our interaction with the world and what goes on around us to
a controlled science project. I say "stop down and move on".
All that being said, there is technology out there to help out in
correcting barrel distortion and other perceived shortcomings of any
given lens. Check out DXO Optics Pro ?
http://www.dxo.com/en/photo/dxo_optics_pro/overview_introduction.php I
believe this application has been discussed here before. This is really
very sophisticated software that will correct all sorts of "problems"
in an image capture and they sell "modules" for many lens/camera
combinations including the Tamron 11-18mm lens we're talking about
here.
I love this lens. I also invested in the Tamron 24-125mm lens as well.
I get great images from both lenses!
Invest your savings to purchase DXO Optics Pro. You'll need the app for
correcting barrel distortion in any of the other lenses we chat about
on this and other lists.
Regards,
Michael Maersch
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Location Services for filmmakers and photographers
p: 602-225-3737
w: http://www.locationswest.com
and now Quicktime VR's at RoundWorld ?
http://www.locationswest.com/roundworld
BTW, the VR's I have up in RoundWorld are all made with my original
digital camera investment, a Nikon Coolpix 995. I can hardly wait to
begin experimenting w/the quality images one can make w/a camera like
the Canon D20.mm
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