Tamron SP AF 70-210mm f/2.8 LD Reviews

This lens is no longer available new, but if you see one available second hand, it's well worth considering.

Optically this lens is superb, very good wide open, although a little softness can be noticed at each end of the zoom. Stop it down one third of a stop and the softness vanishes.

The build quality is superb, most of the lens barrel is made of metal, which also adds to the weight of the lens. A metal tripod mount is permanently attached, but it can get in the way because it half covers the zoom ring.

Focusing is performed by extending the front element, which also rotates. This can make using polarising filters difficult.

Even with the odd handling problem, this lens is superb value if you see a used one available.

I use this lens on my Sony/Konica-Minolta DSLRs and agree with the comments made below. It is a vintage lens but it has superb image quality. I have recently gone back to using it over my BEERCAN (70-210mm f4 Minolta). This is my goto portrait lens for outside portraits and for (indoor) pool tournaments. It is an excellent low light lens. I am also a advid billiards (pool) player and take photos of my friends on league. They are amazed at my ability to take pictures in the dark - and at ISO no higher than 400! No flash ever! If you can find this lens and get a chance to use it you will be impressed with its IQ.

Because of this lens I am eagerly awaiting the recently announce Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 (focuses down to 19 inches!).

I love that lens. It's huge and heavy, but it's razor sharp and has a fine bokeh. AF is fast enough even for sports when subjects don't move back or forth too quickly.

Optically it is a full-fledged alternative to current lenses that are equally fast but unequally expensive.