A New Lens …
I have been itching to get a faster lens for a while now to use as my standard, walk around zoom-lens. When I say ‘faster’, I mean a lens is one in which the lowest aperture goes down to f2.8 . Having a larger aperture allows for more light to get into the camera which in turn allows for is faster shutter speeds in low light situations.
Of course I was dreaming of either the 17-55mm or the 24-70mm lenses from Nikon but with a little digging, you will see that the prices of these lenses are a little staggering. With these being my options and my budget being limited, I was forced to do the ‘unthinkable’ to Nikon enthusiasts. I went with a third party lens.
I did not have to look long or hard. Many on the discussion groups on Flickr and the salesman at Samy’s raved about the 17-50mm lens that is made by Tamron.
When initially trying it out at Samy’s, I was immediately impressed with the weight and sturdiness of the lens. While it may not be built like tanks that are made by Nikon, it has a considerably better build than the Nikon kit lenses that I have been accustomed to.
When researching reviews on the lens, I had seen mention that the lens was not that fast to focus and that communication errors were experienced if the lens was not seated properly on the body. In my use of the lens, I have found no issue in either case. I find that the lens focuses quite quickly and I have had no problem with the lens ‘talking’ to the body.
I am sure that I would be beaming even more were I able to get the Nikon glass but at a price tag 1/3 or even 1/4 the price, I am VERY happy with what I got and recommend this lens to others.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to add them below.
