Tony, when doing lens reviews don't you think you should use a tripod for the photos where VR is not in the equation? I particularly felt this from your focus breathing test while trying to stand in the same spot. Yes, you are probably right that tamron focal length is not calibrated as accurately as nikon but the amount could be made marginally better or worse due to body movement in your experiment. I think experimental parts of the review should be as scientific as possible.
Hello Tony and Chelsea. I like your reviews. But I am a bit irritated about your comments on focus breathing and magnification. Tamron stated in their specs that the maximum magnification of the 24-70 f2.8 is 1:5 while the Nikon offers 1:3,7. Taking into account the same focus distance it should be pretty clear that there has to be a difference and the Tamron is certainly more wide angle. Around ~25 % more to be precise. So your result just confirms the technical specification.
Ralf O Focus breathing and magnification aren't necessarily related. Focal length at close distances is an important factor for many photographers, so we always test and disclose it.
Tony Northrup Indeed, Nikon Micro-Nikkor lenses have this "feature". The 60mm lens is not too bad (actual focal length 55mm) but the 105mm is about 78mm) and the 200mm Micro-Nikkor is just 125mm when the magnification is 1:1.
I have this lens for my D7200 and absolutely love the image quality I get out of it (most of the time)... I've had the lens for two months now and have shot 2000+ images with it. That said, I did just do a shoot with low natural light shooting at slower shutter speeds and noticed I have an issue with the VC in my lens. Starting at 1/200th of a second (very apparent at 1/125th down) and slower the images are actually sharper with the VC off rather than on. This also happened with a brand new 24-70 that my local camera shop had as well as with Tamron's new 45mm 1.8. I just returned the 45mm since it was still in the return window and have sent the 24-70 in for warranty repair. We'll see if they fix the issue. I suggest that if you get this lens (or any Tamron VC lens for that matter), you immediately find yourself a brick wall, stand 8-12 ft away, shoot it in Aperture Priority at f/8 with the VC turned on and walk your shutter speed down from 1/1000th to 1/60th and see if you notice any soft images. Here's a link to a google drive folder where you can visually see what I am talking about. drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4FGnwswPW_VRkNicVhZT1U1WVk&usp=sharing
I've got the Tamron lens on my D800E and I love it! Only thing though is that the moving part of the lens actually wobbles a bit and makes a bunch of thudding noises and when I move it with my hand while the camera is in live view, I notice the black corners actually move around (but very little) too. But other than that, highly recommend the Tamron if you want to save a bit of money. I'm Looking for a nice 50mm too and looking to just go for the little cheap Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D. Maybe when I'm free :)
Many people upgrade to these pro-grade lenses to get sharper images, not at the center of the frame, but towards the corners. It's a bit surprising that you don't compare off-center sharpness. Choosing a scene with lots of moving subjects for testing low shutter speed image sharpness is also a bit awkward. Bokeh quality comparison would have been a great addition as well.
The Tamron is a fantastic lens. For people photography, sharpness in the corners isn't much of an issue, in my experience. At shorter focal lengths, you avoid your subject to be in the corners because of distortion. Towards 70, it may be an issue. Bokeh... That's a purely subjective thing. If you want, go to the Flickr group and look through some images taken with the lens. I personally find the bokeh of the Tamron very pleasing, especially if the out of focus background is greenery with some patches of sunlight. It's just beautiful, IMHO!
Surprised as the G from Nikon should have superb sharpness in the middle compared to most of the lenses, even the new E one... Might be the AF a little off in the asylum photo?Wanna have a lens for a concerts in a bad light and wonder if should I go tamron G2 or Nikon G in that AF consistency regard... Of course VR would be welcome for convenient landscape photos, but can have tripod with me...
I have a few lenses now in my collection my latest addition was the Tamron 24-70 I love it and it's my go to Lense if I'm forced to just take one with me. Yes the price is still over 1k but it's worth it. You won't be disappointed.
In the sharpness test with the cone shaped tiled roof the tiled seemed to have better contrast and slightly better sharpness to me. Minor detail. Nice video.
The Tamron 24-70 will be my next lens! I have the Tamron 70-200 2.8. I love it!!! $1000 less than the Nikon, with better quality! Thanks Tony and Chelsea (and Danny D.) for the great review. You guys are the best!
Yeah, I would definitely give the Tamron a go. The colour and contrast is fine. Slight flare is acceptable. I don't really like this range so saving $600 for another lens sounds great to me. Great lens to shoot events in dark places.
I respect this review but I will still go with the Nikon 24-70mm. Ihave seen all the DXO Mark test as well as other sites. The final choice for me is "resale" value. The Tamron doesn't have much of a resale value as compared to the Nikon. So in the end if I decide I made a mistake trying to become a pro photographer, I know I will get about a 3/4 return on my dollar with the Nikon. Again, great video but I think the point I mentioned should be factored in.
Hey tony, about the focus breathing how can you say that nikon is at 70mm and tamron is less? maybe it is the other way around, what if tamron is at 70mm and nikon is at 75?
Great video as always - thanks! One thing I would have liked was a comment on the real world implications of the focus breathing. I understand the issue, but how bad is it for e.g. portrait use in a real world scenario? Usually I would prefer to be at least 1.5-2 meters (5-7 ft) from my subject in order to prevent those crazy "big-nose" distortions, and it would be interesting to know how much of an issue the focus breathing is at that distance? Is the effective focal length still significantly shorter? You mentioned an effective focal lenght of 64 mm (I think it was) when doing the VR test - was that shot at the 70 mm mark on the Tamron?
Tony, you ditched the Golden Dome for Burnt Orange. This is a problem. Beyond that, another great review. You guys are one of the only shutterbugs on net that INSIST on comparing apples to apples. Most reviewers choose to gloss over focus breathing, full-frame/crop lens aperture differences, etc but you don't drink the propaganda or bath water. You cant argue mathematics. Price is a different metric and Im glad you always separate the price argument from the performance argument until its relevant to the discussion.
I was going to get a 50mm prime lens. However, I have made my decision to get the 24-70mm Tamron. Yours and +Matt Granger was the final "snapshot" I needed to complete my "series" as I have been researching like mad to figure out my next lens. Being that I am going into the portrait realm of photography, this lens seems like the best bang for buck in comparison to everything else I have looked at for my D5300. I know realize it is a cropped sensor but it's also a pro lens, and I need that for the next level for when I do get a full frame body. We can't all buy $1.5k lenses. So this will be a stellar investment being I'm buying used and looking forward to the long haul. Thanks again for a thorough review of this lens, and I will continue watching viewing your channel for future additions.
Great Job you guys. The TAMARON is worth every cent. The lens flare and maximum focus distance issues are very small compared to what TAMARON is offering for the price.
I would think most ppl would rank sharpness high up on their list of what is important. That plus good image stabilization made Tamron the easy choice for me.
Sharp wide open and able to hand hold at crazy low speeds makes me really really want this lens. And it's 900 euro cheaper than the canon (Ireland). Also makes it an interesting choice for video with the VC.
Well, I liked my Tamron 70-200 vc so much that I ordered the Tamron 24-70. The VC and focus along with price with rebate made the decision pretty easy. Wasn't easy to go away from Nikon lenses, but not a pro either.
I found a usedTamron 24-70mm and have been using it on a classic Nikon D750 with great results! However, I also have an older DX camera and wondering if I will lose image quality using this lens on the DX crop sensor....your thoughts?!
I'm still undecided between the 2, but sharpness is the only thing I care about. You said a few times that the Tamron is a bit sharper, but Cameralabs did a real-world comparison and showed that the Nikon was way sharper, especially on the corners?
+Herp McDerpington I have seen people test several copies of one particular model lens and find them quite different. I also head people talk about the very good sharpness of the Nikon, but I cannot compare the Tamron and the Nikon, simply because I don’t have access to the Nikon. I am very happy with the Tamron. If I had to, I’d replace it with the same lens. Anyway, the 24-70 would be my main work horse. I’m into people photography, so it is often rather the expression of the subject, or the moment I try to capture. There is a bit of vignetting, which doesn’t bother me. I certainly cannot complain about lack of sharpness of the Tamron.
Hi tony. I own both lenses. I got the tamron thinking it would be good for video. But now i use it all the time for photography, it's lighter, sharper and the VC is amazing. One thing though, and its my only but with this lens. Autofocus is slower, and in low light it's even slower and half as accurate,
Videos I would like to see in the future from you guys: Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 vs Sigma 24-105mm f4. Also: Data management. How do you organize and store the many many GBs you get from shooting a lot ? What harddrives, cloud services etc. do you use how do you manage everything. Love your videos and books !
fetze Good suggestions, I'll put them on the list. Re: Tamron vs Sigma, I use the Tamron for events (like a wedding reception) where I need the extra stop. For everything else, I prefer the Sigma. We mostly just use the Sigma. For data, I just keep buying the biggest USB 3 hard drives, filling them up, making an extra copy, and storing it off-site. No cloud service is affordable, and there's not enough bandwidth for all our data.
Which focal length was used for the VC test (billiard table test)? Just curious since at 70mm my keeper rate is not so good below 1/15 sec which translates to about 2.5 stops of VC assistance.
First of all, holy moly... so much objective evaluation crammed into 7-something minutes. wow.. THANK YOU, Tony & Chelsea! No,w quick question... Could you advise as to what the focus breathing behavior of the Tamron is as one moves farther and farther away from the minimum focusing distance? meaning, is it a constant variance from true 70mm up to a certain point and then BAM, 70mm is 70mm(on/off)? or is it gradual...diff between true 70mm and delivered 70mm gradually decreases until you get far enough away for 70mm to be 70mm?
Kevin Good when he was working with the "WOMP" channel agreed that in the lineup of Canon, Nikon, Tamron and Sigma. Tamron's 24-70 2.8 just straight out out performed the others in very important categories. Its an amazing lens at that price compared to the competition. Do you think Sigma will come out with an Art version of the 24-70 and 70-200 with OS?
yes they will, but the question is when, and not sure if the 24/70 will have IS, but maybe it will be even faster then f2.8, but i'm more looking forward to the new 85 f1.4 ART witch I think might be out before the zooms, but I could be wrong
I think you are right about the 85 I heard rumor that Sigma's art version of the 24-70 may actually be an F/2 lens and will have OS.. That would be a very serious contender if the price is right
"The Tamron is definitely not 70mm. It's something..(pause)..shorter". Love the Carl Sagan / William Shatner pauses Tony 😀. Kidding aside, keep up the good work. Your knowledge keeps us dedicated enthusiasts informed. Thanks for all you and Chelsea do.
Wouldn't the focus breathing test be better on a tripid? Even if you are standing in the same spot, it is hard to gauge how much you lean forward or back. That being said, I believe you on the Tamron because tests done on the 70-200mm Tamron vs. Nikon, showed the same issue.
tokina 28-70 atx pro II 2.8? i cant find any good review for it. i am thinking to buy tamron 24-70 vc but i want to see comparison tamron vs tokina 28-70 atx pro II 2.8 before i decide? pls help
+Tony & Chelsea Northrup if u check yt, it is immposible to find any good review but i found some sites it has good results so it is weird how there is no videos about that lens. I hope u will review it in near future. I love ur videos. Cheers - regards from croatia
Well, I have the Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 AT-X, and I want to share an interesting observation of this very good lens. First off, it's a very sharp lens, even at corners, and when wide open too. And when using with a DX sensor body, it does not show any distortion at all. However, when using with FX bodies, it has significant barrel distortion. Not a big deal, as it can be corrected in Lightroom, and the distorted parts look sharp too, but this is an interesting observation nonetheless. By the way, my Tokina 28-70 AT-X is a very old lens, I think, and I procured mine third hand for dirt cheap, like $50. So, I can't complain. But I am not sure if it is the same lens as the Tokina 28-70 AT-X Pro II you mention.
Hello tony. I have a nikon d800 and I need to do a 24-70, but I'm undecided between Nikon & Tamron, given your experience in photography, can you tell me if it worths to buy it, since you've tried what you advise me. With the purpose is used for marriage and so on.
Do I understand correctly that the sharpness test you did was only at 24mm? DxOMark says that at 70mm wide open Nikon is actually is significantly sharper than Tamron. Also Nikon's AF is appreciably faster than Tamron. I am surprised this did not show in your tests.
Tony, Great review! If you had to choose between the Tamron 24-70 or the 70-200 lens for portraits, weddings, etc which one would you rather have? Thanks!
+ziphoticus1970 I prefer the 24-70 for portraits, for me, the 70-200 is big and heavy, not something I want to haul around all day. Also, I'm rarely that far away from my subjects to need it. If you are shooting outdoors and can't get say within 10- 20 feet of your subject go big. I also favor the big primes 85mm and 105mm for portraits. On my DX, I use a 35mm and 50 mm 1.8. most of the time. That all said, and it's just my experience and I'm certainly not a seasoned pro, my advice would be to rent both lenses and take a few days to shoot with them both, then make your decision. I rented a 70-200 for a shoot and liked it, but not enough to fork over about 2K for one!
Thanks for the video. I wonder how much focus breathing affects if you are not standing at minimum focusing distance but more like head and shoulders distance. And about sharpness at 70mm. I head Nikon got lead there.. is it true? Trying to choose a zoom for D750.(you guy's and girl ;) should try that camera out, it tops D610 pretty much everywhere in my opinion. Maybe Execpt AWB but since i shoot RAW, it doesnt matter really much. Thank you!
Awesome comparison, you guys are the best photo channel with the best content. I was just thinking if the extra bucks are worthed ? But i dont think so.
which lens would you recommend i just purchased a nikon d800 after being with canon for 11 years and i would like to know which lens would be the best for it should i pay more for the nikon or get the tamron? also does the tamron focus as fast as the nikon because i know that the nikon is super fast focusing?
Hello Tony, please can you give me some urgent advice! I cannot decide between the Tamron 24-70 or the 70-200. Each are in my budget at the moment but not both. My primary focus will be studio photography of newborn babies and couple pics standing in front a white screen. My studio will have 3-4 meters of movement. I also want to shoot outdoor stuff like weddings and sports. Which one would you pick for my current situation? Thank you!
from the video the nikon looked a little sharper at f8. the nikon looks really of at 2.8 did you guys check the af for front or back focus? how's the af on the tamron?
I have the Tamron 18-270mm lens. It never leaves my D 40. I am think of a wide angle lens. And it is tough. Can you do a comparison between Tamron, Sigma or something else. I think remember you saying how sharp the Sigma was even compare to the Canon.. My wide angle would be a 10- 24 mm What do you suggest?
Tony & Chelsea, first of all, thanks for your work. I am wondering if Is it there any way to have a comparition between the old Tamron 24-70 vs the newest Nikon 24-70 VRii as well and a comparision between the old tamron 24-70 vs the newst G2? It isn't been easy for me to finding a quality stuff like this video you guys made. Thanks for sharing with us!
What do you think about the nre Nikon 24-70 with VR ? I'd like to see this test done again with all 3 of those lenses when the Nikon VR version is released.
Hi I'm planning to buy one of the lens between Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD and Tokina Fx 24-70mm f2.8 for my Nikon D610. Nikon Fx 24-70mm f2.8 VR is bit too expensive for me. I want a better image quality but VC/VR is equally important for me. I'm a casual photographer and use my camera mainly for travel photography. Currently most of my shots are landscape and some are portraits. I read the DXOMark review on these lens - tokina was rated better for it's sharpness/image quality but lacks vibration control. VC will be useful in the low light/slow shutter condition and videography. I'm not sure how good VC in this Tamron lens. Both lens has consistent wide aperture to take Bokeh and can help me to carry less lens for travel photography. Initially I wanted to buy tokina because reviews says that it has better image sharpness. But it lacks VC so I'm confused. Photography is my hobby but I've a plan to take it to another level. I need suggestions on how much impact these lenses can make on my in camera photo outcome.
Hi Tony, Thanks for the great video, I really enjoyed it. Just a question: I have a D7000 and I also have the Nikon lens 50 1.8 and I was planning to get either Nikon 24-70 or Tamron 24-70. I need it for portrait and landscape also. What do you recommend me to get?
Focus breathing with Tamron: I think you are a little unfair to them, when Tamron has an explicit class of lenses which use their "Internal Focusing" to eliminate focus breathing. If a lense from Tamron has [IF] or Internal Focusing they should be free of focus breathing, all other lenses will should have some focus breathing (I guess).
Tony help me, I have 1000 dollars for a 24-70mm f2.8 lens and I can get an old Canon 24-70mm l but not a mark ii in that focal length, also I could do a sigma or take on in that focal length. so which one should I get for fashion photography
Hey Tony. I'm wondering by you mentioning ”there is no significant difference”, while shooting continuous between lenses. Which one focused better? There was some difference right or was there no difference at all? Well did Nikon beat out Tamron or vice versa? What kind of percent?
robert paxton I mean, there was no statistically significant difference. Focusing speed and accuracy seems to be exactly the same. We tested the D810 vs D610 at the same time, using the same methodology, and did see a statistically significant and predictable difference. So I feel like the test would have shown a difference if there was one.
I'm looking to get a 24-70mm lens for my D810 in the near future. Have you done a comparison between this Tamron 24-70 with VC and the newest version of the Nikon 24-70 with VR? Price difference is $1,299 for the Tamron compared to $2,400 for the Nikon.
Tony, there is ONE huge problem in this review, you have not tested the sharpness on the long end. I would like to see if the tamrom is sharper than the nikon at 70mm wide open and stopped down.
Thank you for all yours great review and information, your videos are really helpful for a beginner photographer like i, i have a nikon camera D3200 which coming with 18-55mm kit Lens but i'm not a happy with the image quality and sharpness, i decided to upgrade my lens. I'm looking for something between 18-300 or 18-200mm max 800€ which lens your recommend for me? Thankyou
The weight and missing vr are really serious detriments to the nikon, of course. But the image quality is still way superior, imo. You need to push up the ISO when you have to go under 1/20 or so to solve that. Which isn't a problem, since the lense easily manages ISO levels up to 2000-3000 without serious quality loss.
I just got a tamron 24-70, and was hoping it would be bit of an all around lens that I could still shoot stars with. Shoot? yes. Wide open without flaring (aka coma) on the brighter stars? No. I should have checked some images on flickr a little closer...
Almost. I tried the Tamron on a Canon 6D the coma (smudged stars in the corners) at f/2.8 was pretty disappointing as I had sold my tokina 16-28mm to help pay for the tamron. So I'm not comparing to the nikon 24-70, just commenting on the tamron. I'm back to using a samyang 14mm for stars, wanting something like a sigma 24-105 for walkaround, and waiting to see what tamron's 15-30 (I think that's the range) will be like wide open.
Hi Tony &Chelsea, Great review! I have watched most of your videos and learnt a lot for them. Than you for revealing secrets that manufacturers don't reveal. I could not find any reviews from you on the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. Though an old lens, it is still quite popular and a lot cheaper alternative to the 24-70mm lenses that cost dear. Could you please do a review on Tamron 28-75mm F2.8?
I'm going to purchase a D810 I will probably take more landscape pictures an pictures of the grand kids so I was wondering if the Nikon or the tamron 24-70. 2.8. VR Witch would be the best lens
Hi Tony and Chelsea I really want to get some lenses for my photography. I really want the 24-70 mm and 70-200 mm at 2.8 lenses and a 24 mm at 1.4 or 1.8 (should i get this 24 mm?). I don't want to spend the money on a name brand if i don't have to. Which is best for shooting with Nikon equipment. At the moment i shoot with a Nikon D5000. I also have a 35 mm DX at 1.8 and a 50 mm at 1.4. Please help me out and thank you very much.
Thanks for this video, I have a question. I am upgrading to a D750 from a D7000, I would like to start doing portraits for money. I have a Nikon 50mm 1.4D and a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 OS and was thinking about buying either a Nikon 85mm 1.8G or this Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 VC - wondering which you might suggest Nikon 85mm or Tamron 24-70mm for portraits (I sold my Nikon DX 17-55mm 2.8 lens so leaning towards the Tamron for the wide angle because I take landscape photos for fun).
I did some more research and for the sake of anyone with the same question, I'll put my findings. If you want to take portraits for money on a Nikon full frame camera, and your priority is the price/quality ratio - the Nikon 85mm 1.8G (beats the Sigma and Samyang 85mm 1.4's decisively) is a must have over this Tamron. I gotta start thinking about my future clients - I can’t walk in there without the Nikon 85mm and expect them to pay for reduced sharpness and transmission through the lens. I also found out the D750 doesn't have an internal focusing motor so my 50mm 1.4D needs to go. So in my bag is/will be my Sigma 70-200mm OS (because I got it for so cheap, but Tamron 70-200 VC is sharper) and a Nikon 85mm 1.8G. I’ll have to save up and get a good full frame wide angle so I can do my hobby.
Joshua Photara what lenses are you using now for portraits? I'm on the exact same boat currently. I'm looking at 85mm lenses (prime) and 70-200mm or around there. I just bought a D810. I switched over from Canon to Nikon. Thank you in advance!
I"m not a pro but I would definitely own a 85MM lenses. I have the Nikon 85MM 1.8 and it is Extremely sharp! This is my go to lenses for portraits. The 70-200MM is also a great lense for portraits and if you have the money i would go for the 70-200 if you need that zoom but i'm a Prime person. I own both 50 and 85 Prime lenses. The Tamron 24-70 I use it more for outdoors group shooting.
📚 Nikon 24-70 on Amazon: help.tc/n70
📚 Tamron 24-70 on Amazon: help.tc/t70
Tony & Chelsea Northrup Hey what's up am about to buy nikon D850 is tamron a good lens for it
The link you posted for Nikon 24-70mm lens doesn't goto Nikon 24-70mm lens on Amazon.
As long as you buy anything from the links, they are fine.
I got the Tamron 24-70, based mainly on this video, and it was a great choice! Thank you.
I just purchased the D750 and will be including this lens with it. Thank you for the video!
Tony, when doing lens reviews don't you think you should use a tripod for the photos where VR is not in the equation? I particularly felt this from your focus breathing test while trying to stand in the same spot. Yes, you are probably right that tamron focal length is not calibrated as accurately as nikon but the amount could be made marginally better or worse due to body movement in your experiment. I think experimental parts of the review should be as scientific as possible.
You can't go wrong with either lens. They both great, I own a Nikkor 24-70, and try out the Tammy 24-70, they do step up their game big time
I just bought a used Tamron 24-70 on eBay for
Hello Tony and Chelsea. I like your reviews. But I am a bit irritated about your comments on focus breathing and magnification. Tamron stated in their specs that the maximum magnification of the 24-70 f2.8 is 1:5 while the Nikon offers 1:3,7. Taking into account the same focus distance it should be pretty clear that there has to be a difference and the Tamron is certainly more wide angle. Around ~25 % more to be precise. So your result just confirms the technical specification.
Ralf O Focus breathing and magnification aren't necessarily related. Focal length at close distances is an important factor for many photographers, so we always test and disclose it.
Tony Northrup Indeed, Nikon Micro-Nikkor lenses have this "feature". The 60mm lens is not too bad (actual focal length 55mm) but the 105mm is about 78mm) and the 200mm Micro-Nikkor is just 125mm when the magnification is 1:1.
Really love these type of videos. Would you guys be able to make a playlist containing all the lens comparisons you have done so far?
I have this lens for my D7200 and absolutely love the image quality I get out of it (most of the time)... I've had the lens for two months now and have shot 2000+ images with it. That said, I did just do a shoot with low natural light shooting at slower shutter speeds and noticed I have an issue with the VC in my lens. Starting at 1/200th of a second (very apparent at 1/125th down) and slower the images are actually sharper with the VC off rather than on. This also happened with a brand new 24-70 that my local camera shop had as well as with Tamron's new 45mm 1.8. I just returned the 45mm since it was still in the return window and have sent the 24-70 in for warranty repair. We'll see if they fix the issue.
I suggest that if you get this lens (or any Tamron VC lens for that matter), you immediately find yourself a brick wall, stand 8-12 ft away, shoot it in Aperture Priority at f/8 with the VC turned on and walk your shutter speed down from 1/1000th to 1/60th and see if you notice any soft images. Here's a link to a google drive folder where you can visually see what I am talking about.
drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4FGnwswPW_VRkNicVhZT1U1WVk&usp=sharing
I've got the Tamron lens on my D800E and I love it! Only thing though is that the moving part of the lens actually wobbles a bit and makes a bunch of thudding noises and when I move it with my hand while the camera is in live view, I notice the black corners actually move around (but very little) too. But other than that, highly recommend the Tamron if you want to save a bit of money.
I'm Looking for a nice 50mm too and looking to just go for the little cheap Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D. Maybe when I'm free :)
Tamron's focus breathing is not a big a deal. Its sharper. It has better vibration reduction etc. And is cheaper than Nikon.
Many people upgrade to these pro-grade lenses to get sharper images, not at the center of the frame, but towards the corners. It's a bit surprising that you don't compare off-center sharpness. Choosing a scene with lots of moving subjects for testing low shutter speed image sharpness is also a bit awkward. Bokeh quality comparison would have been a great addition as well.
The Tamron is a fantastic lens. For people photography, sharpness in the corners isn't much of an issue, in my experience. At shorter focal lengths, you avoid your subject to be in the corners because of distortion. Towards 70, it may be an issue.
Bokeh... That's a purely subjective thing. If you want, go to the Flickr group and look through some images taken with the lens. I personally find the bokeh of the Tamron very pleasing, especially if the out of focus background is greenery with some patches of sunlight. It's just beautiful, IMHO!
Surprised as the G from Nikon should have superb sharpness in the middle compared to most of the lenses, even the new E one... Might be the AF a little off in the asylum photo?Wanna have a lens for a concerts in a bad light and wonder if should I go tamron G2 or Nikon G in that AF consistency regard... Of course VR would be welcome for convenient landscape photos, but can have tripod with me...
WOW, you guys went nuts on the camera angles and editing of this one. NICE WORK!!!
I have a few lenses now in my collection my latest addition was the Tamron 24-70 I love it and it's my go to Lense if I'm forced to just take one with me. Yes the price is still over 1k but it's worth it. You won't be disappointed.
In the sharpness test with the cone shaped tiled roof the tiled seemed to have better contrast and slightly better sharpness to me. Minor detail. Nice video.
The Tamron 24-70 will be my next lens! I have the Tamron 70-200 2.8. I love it!!! $1000 less than the Nikon, with better quality! Thanks Tony and Chelsea (and Danny D.) for the great review. You guys are the best!
From my eye when you stop down the Nikon to F8 it becomes noticeably sharper in the Tamron.. I'm i the only one who noticed that?
Me too :D
looked the same to me as well
It looked slightly sharper to me but I'd need to see the actual files to see as it could be just contrast. Tamron looked a LOT sharper wide open.
Yeah, I would definitely give the Tamron a go. The colour and contrast is fine. Slight flare is acceptable.
I don't really like this range so saving $600 for another lens sounds great to me. Great lens to shoot events in dark places.
Tamron is a bit tad sharper at f8 to me than the Nikon. But it is almost unnoticeable.
I respect this review but I will still go with the Nikon 24-70mm. Ihave seen all the DXO Mark test as well as other sites. The final choice for me is "resale" value. The Tamron doesn't have much of a resale value as compared to the Nikon. So in the end if I decide I made a mistake trying to become a pro photographer, I know I will get about a 3/4 return on my dollar with the Nikon. Again, great video but I think the point I mentioned should be factored in.
jason24cf This is a good point--the Tamron loses resale value quickly. I do recommend buying the Tamron used--it's an even better value.
Looked like a lot of vignetting on the Tamron in the shots against the sun. Did you forget to mention it? :D
Probably cuz that is usually something that is easily fixable in post production: => PS ;)
@@luiscruz5082 And not to mention that Nikon can make in-camera adjustments for vignetting but cannot for Tamron.
That focus breathing thing was neat, never expected to see such a difference.
Hey tony, about the focus breathing how can you say that nikon is at 70mm and tamron is less? maybe it is the other way around, what if tamron is at 70mm and nikon is at 75?
Sigma and Tamron are the same but Nikon is not, which tells us that Nikon is more than 70mm
Thats right, thats what I was thinking,, its the Nikon that has focus breathng problem
Great video as always - thanks!
One thing I would have liked was a comment on the real world implications of the focus breathing. I understand the issue, but how bad is it for e.g. portrait use in a real world scenario?
Usually I would prefer to be at least 1.5-2 meters (5-7 ft) from my subject in order to prevent those crazy "big-nose" distortions, and it would be interesting to know how much of an issue the focus breathing is at that distance? Is the effective focal length still significantly shorter?
You mentioned an effective focal lenght of 64 mm (I think it was) when doing the VR test - was that shot at the 70 mm mark on the Tamron?
Tony, you ditched the Golden Dome for Burnt Orange. This is a problem. Beyond that, another great review. You guys are one of the only shutterbugs on net that INSIST on comparing apples to apples. Most reviewers choose to gloss over focus breathing, full-frame/crop lens aperture differences, etc but you don't drink the propaganda or bath water. You cant argue mathematics. Price is a different metric and Im glad you always separate the price argument from the performance argument until its relevant to the discussion.
I would love to see an update of this video with the Tamron VC compared to the Tamron G2 ;)
Keep in mind, this review was for the Tameron G1. The G2 has been out for a while and whoops both of these.
This is interesting. I need to shoot wide open because I do low light concert photography, might have to go for Tamron
I was going to get a 50mm prime lens. However, I have made my decision to get the 24-70mm Tamron. Yours and +Matt Granger was the final "snapshot" I needed to complete my "series" as I have been researching like mad to figure out my next lens. Being that I am going into the portrait realm of photography, this lens seems like the best bang for buck in comparison to everything else I have looked at for my D5300. I know realize it is a cropped sensor but it's also a pro lens, and I need that for the next level for when I do get a full frame body.
We can't all buy $1.5k lenses. So this will be a stellar investment being I'm buying used and looking forward to the long haul.
Thanks again for a thorough review of this lens, and I will continue watching viewing your channel for future additions.
Great Job you guys. The TAMARON is worth every cent. The lens flare and maximum focus distance issues are very small compared to what TAMARON is offering for the price.
I would think most ppl would rank sharpness high up on their list of what is important. That plus good image stabilization made Tamron the easy choice for me.
Sharp wide open and able to hand hold at crazy low speeds makes me really really want this lens. And it's 900 euro cheaper than the canon (Ireland). Also makes it an interesting choice for video with the VC.
Im 16 and just got the tamron 24-70 2.8 for my 13k actuation d600. Its amazing
Hey, which strap did you use in this video, it looks like a seatbelt from a car.
Well, I liked my Tamron 70-200 vc so much that I ordered the Tamron 24-70. The VC and focus along with price with rebate made the decision pretty easy. Wasn't easy to go away from Nikon lenses, but not a pro either.
i bought the Tamron and love it! Love this video and everything you two do!
I found a usedTamron 24-70mm and have been using it on a classic Nikon D750 with great results! However, I also have an older DX camera and wondering if I will lose image quality
using this lens on the DX crop sensor....your thoughts?!
I'm still undecided between the 2, but sharpness is the only thing I care about. You said a few times that the Tamron is a bit sharper, but Cameralabs did a real-world comparison and showed that the Nikon was way sharper, especially on the corners?
+Herp McDerpington
I have seen people test several copies of one particular
model lens and find them quite different. I also head people talk about the
very good sharpness of the Nikon, but I cannot compare the Tamron and the
Nikon, simply because I don’t have access to the Nikon.
I am very happy with the Tamron. If I had to, I’d replace it
with the same lens.
Anyway, the 24-70 would be my main work horse. I’m into people
photography, so it is often rather the expression of the subject, or the moment
I try to capture. There is a bit of vignetting, which doesn’t bother me. I
certainly cannot complain about lack of sharpness of the Tamron.
Hi tony. I own both lenses. I got the tamron thinking it would be good for video. But now i use it all the time for photography, it's lighter, sharper and the VC is amazing. One thing though, and its my only but with this lens. Autofocus is slower, and in low light it's even slower and half as accurate,
And nikon is better built. But it is cheaper.
haha, the car ride, Chelsea was very disinterested! :P LOL
Videos I would like to see in the future from you guys: Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 vs Sigma 24-105mm f4.
Also: Data management. How do you organize and store the many many GBs you get from shooting a lot ?
What harddrives, cloud services etc. do you use how do you manage everything.
Love your videos and books !
fetze Good suggestions, I'll put them on the list. Re: Tamron vs Sigma, I use the Tamron for events (like a wedding reception) where I need the extra stop. For everything else, I prefer the Sigma. We mostly just use the Sigma.
For data, I just keep buying the biggest USB 3 hard drives, filling them up, making an extra copy, and storing it off-site. No cloud service is affordable, and there's not enough bandwidth for all our data.
Nice concise comparison. Now let's see the Tamron 24-70 VC vs the Canon 24-70L II
Which focal length was used for the VC test (billiard table test)? Just curious since at 70mm my keeper rate is not so good below 1/15 sec which translates to about 2.5 stops of VC assistance.
First of all, holy moly... so much objective evaluation crammed into 7-something minutes. wow.. THANK YOU, Tony & Chelsea! No,w quick question... Could you advise as to what the focus breathing behavior of the Tamron is as one moves farther and farther away from the minimum focusing distance? meaning, is it a constant variance from true 70mm up to a certain point and then BAM, 70mm is 70mm(on/off)? or is it gradual...diff between true 70mm and delivered 70mm gradually decreases until you get far enough away for 70mm to be 70mm?
Kevin Good when he was working with the "WOMP" channel agreed that in the lineup of Canon, Nikon, Tamron and Sigma.
Tamron's 24-70 2.8 just straight out out performed the others in very important categories. Its an amazing lens at that price compared to the competition.
Do you think Sigma will come out with an Art version of the 24-70 and 70-200 with OS?
yes they will, but the question is when, and not sure if the 24/70 will have IS, but maybe it will be even faster then f2.8, but i'm more looking forward to the new 85 f1.4 ART witch I think might be out before the zooms, but I could be wrong
I think you are right about the 85
I heard rumor that Sigma's art version of the 24-70 may actually be an F/2 lens and will have OS.. That would be a very serious contender if the price is right
You guys seem like some pretty well off photographers :) its nice to see.
Tamron 24-70 compared to Nikon 24-120 f/4 please. Wondering if I should but the D750 with the kit or Nikon Body and the Tamron lens.
I am having the same dilemma right now :)
I use the Nikon D750 with this Tamron lens its a super sharp outfit
"The Tamron is definitely not 70mm. It's something..(pause)..shorter". Love the Carl Sagan / William Shatner pauses Tony 😀. Kidding aside, keep up the good work. Your knowledge keeps us dedicated enthusiasts informed. Thanks for all you and Chelsea do.
Wouldn't the focus breathing test be better on a tripid? Even if you are standing in the same spot, it is hard to gauge how much you lean forward or back. That being said, I believe you on the Tamron because tests done on the 70-200mm Tamron vs. Nikon, showed the same issue.
Wow, The low light performance from the Tamron is shockingly good!
Maybe i' missed smth, but is that correct to compare NEF for Nikkor vs JPG for Tamron? czcams.com/video/zu0AawE73C8/video.html
+Artyom Ustyantsev Lol good eye. Didn't notice that.
+Artyom Ustyantsev Well it won't make much real difference in that situation, you can't really correct lens flares regardless of it being raw.
Great review for the two lenses especially if people are considering buying a 24-70 and need to think about cost.
Great video. Thank you. Question do you have an opinion between Tamron 28-75 vs Tamron 24-70? Which performs better
tokina 28-70 atx pro II 2.8? i cant find any good review for it. i am thinking to buy tamron 24-70 vc but i want to see comparison tamron vs tokina 28-70 atx pro II 2.8 before i decide? pls help
Sorry, we haven't tested it, and Tokina didn't respond to our request for a loaner.
+Tony & Chelsea Northrup if u check yt, it is immposible to find any good review but i found some sites it has good results so it is weird how there is no videos about that lens. I hope u will review it in near future. I love ur videos. Cheers - regards from croatia
Well, I have the Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 AT-X, and I want to share an interesting observation of this very good lens. First off, it's a very sharp lens, even at corners, and when wide open too. And when using with a DX sensor body, it does not show any distortion at all. However, when using with FX bodies, it has significant barrel distortion. Not a big deal, as it can be corrected in Lightroom, and the distorted parts look sharp too, but this is an interesting observation nonetheless.
By the way, my Tokina 28-70 AT-X is a very old lens, I think, and I procured mine third hand for dirt cheap, like $50. So, I can't complain. But I am not sure if it is the same lens as the Tokina 28-70 AT-X Pro II you mention.
Hello tony. I have a nikon d800 and I need to do a 24-70, but I'm undecided between Nikon & Tamron, given your experience in photography, can you tell me if it worths to buy it, since you've tried what you advise me.
With the purpose is used for marriage and so on.
Thanks for that thorough explanation of focus breathing.
Are both of them good for taking pictures in the cold?
Isn't the first test shot you showed a skewed example? different focal range and shutter speed would both attribute to different images
Do I understand correctly that the sharpness test you did was only at 24mm?
DxOMark says that at 70mm wide open Nikon is actually is significantly sharper than Tamron.
Also Nikon's AF is appreciably faster than Tamron. I am surprised this did not show in your tests.
Which is good for portrait and event shots esp in low/night light?
I know it is not a new review but the point about Tamrons iso made the difference to the purchase Tamron won.
I wantched for the video review, but spend more time appreciating how nice the BMW and the house was!
Just curious. Could it be that the Tamron is not focus breathing and the Nikon is in the opposite direction?
Tony,
Great review! If you had to choose between the Tamron 24-70 or the 70-200 lens for portraits, weddings, etc which one would you rather have? Thanks!
+ziphoticus1970 I prefer the 24-70 for portraits, for me, the 70-200 is big and heavy, not something I want to haul around all day. Also, I'm rarely that far away from my subjects to need it. If you are shooting outdoors and can't get say within 10- 20 feet of your subject go big. I also favor the big primes 85mm and 105mm for portraits. On my DX, I use a 35mm and 50 mm 1.8. most of the time. That all said, and it's just my experience and I'm certainly not a seasoned pro, my advice would be to rent both lenses and take a few days to shoot with them both, then make your decision. I rented a 70-200 for a shoot and liked it, but not enough to fork over about 2K for one!
Love all your videos. Do you think the Tamron 24-70 is still a good lens in 2019, a bargain at less then $500? Thank you
Love it! Picked up the Tamron cause of you guys. Absolutely love it! Great video!
Thanks for the video. I wonder how much focus breathing affects if you are not standing at minimum focusing distance but more like head and shoulders distance. And about sharpness at 70mm. I head Nikon got lead there.. is it true?
Trying to choose a zoom for D750.(you guy's and girl ;) should try that camera out, it tops D610 pretty much everywhere in my opinion. Maybe Execpt AWB but since i shoot RAW, it doesnt matter really much.
Thank you!
Awesome comparison, you guys are the best photo channel with the best content. I was just thinking if the extra bucks are worthed ? But i dont think so.
Wow, didn't expect that from Tamron. I am starting to think about changing my Nikon 24-70 to Tamron 24-70.
Valters Pelns Yeah, I'd pick it over the Nikon for most scenarios.
which lens would you recommend i just purchased a nikon d800 after being with canon for 11 years and i would like to know which lens would be the best for it should i pay more for the nikon or get the tamron? also does the tamron focus as fast as the nikon because i know that the nikon is super fast focusing?
Hello Tony, please can you give me some urgent advice! I cannot decide between the Tamron 24-70 or the 70-200. Each are in my budget at the moment but not both. My primary focus will be studio photography of newborn babies and couple pics standing in front a white screen. My studio will have 3-4 meters of movement. I also want to shoot outdoor stuff like weddings and sports. Which one would you pick for my current situation? Thank you!
from the video the nikon looked a little sharper at f8. the nikon looks really of at 2.8 did you guys check the af for front or back focus? how's the af on the tamron?
So.....no final conclusion as to whether it is worth the extra $1000 to go with Nikon's native 24-70?
I have the Tamron 18-270mm lens. It never leaves my D 40. I am think of a wide angle lens. And it is tough. Can you do a comparison between Tamron, Sigma or something else. I think remember you saying how sharp the Sigma was even compare to the Canon.. My wide angle would be a 10- 24 mm What do you suggest?
Need that Outro-music! Wanna listen to it all day long :D
Tony & Chelsea, first of all, thanks for your work. I am wondering if Is it there any way to have a comparition between the old Tamron 24-70 vs the newest Nikon 24-70 VRii as well and a comparision between the old tamron 24-70 vs the newst G2? It isn't been easy for me to finding a quality stuff like this video you guys made. Thanks for sharing with us!
What do you think about the nre Nikon 24-70 with VR ? I'd like to see this test done again with all 3 of those lenses when the Nikon VR version is released.
Hi I'm planning to buy one of the lens between Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD and Tokina Fx 24-70mm f2.8 for my Nikon D610. Nikon Fx 24-70mm f2.8 VR is bit too expensive for me. I want a better image quality but VC/VR is equally important for me. I'm a casual photographer and use my camera mainly for travel photography. Currently most of my shots are landscape and some are portraits. I read the DXOMark review on these lens - tokina was rated better for it's sharpness/image quality but lacks vibration control. VC will be useful in the low light/slow shutter condition and videography. I'm not sure how good VC in this Tamron lens. Both lens has consistent wide aperture to take Bokeh and can help me to carry less lens for travel photography. Initially I wanted to buy tokina because reviews says that it has better image sharpness. But it lacks VC so I'm confused. Photography is my hobby but I've a plan to take it to another level. I need suggestions on how much impact these lenses can make on my in camera photo outcome.
tony is there anyway you could do a cheatsheet for the math for the crop sensor cameras aperture and focal range please?
What would you recommend for taking photos of drifting, distance ranging from 5-20 meters? Need good light, fast auto focus and affordable.
tksEngen Oh, the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 is probably the best choice.
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the great video, I really enjoyed it. Just a question: I have a D7000 and I also have the Nikon lens 50 1.8 and I was planning to get either Nikon 24-70 or Tamron 24-70. I need it for portrait and landscape also. What do you recommend me to get?
Focus breathing with Tamron: I think you are a little unfair to them, when Tamron has an explicit class of lenses which use their "Internal Focusing" to eliminate focus breathing. If a lense from Tamron has [IF] or Internal Focusing they should be free of focus breathing, all other lenses will should have some focus breathing (I guess).
Hi Tony, what camera did you use for the video in this video? The video is super sharp...
Tony help me, I have 1000 dollars for a 24-70mm f2.8 lens and I can get an old Canon 24-70mm l but not a mark ii in that focal length, also I could do a sigma or take on in that focal length. so which one should I get for fashion photography
Hey Tony. I'm wondering by you mentioning ”there is no significant difference”, while shooting continuous between lenses. Which one focused better? There was some difference right or was there no difference at all? Well did Nikon beat out Tamron or vice versa? What kind of percent?
robert paxton I mean, there was no statistically significant difference. Focusing speed and accuracy seems to be exactly the same.
We tested the D810 vs D610 at the same time, using the same methodology, and did see a statistically significant and predictable difference. So I feel like the test would have shown a difference if there was one.
Tony Northrup Thanks for the clarification and the effort that you are doing! You all are great.
Could you repeat those same test with the camera is attached to a tripod so the human element of hand shake is removed
On Tamron not advertising focal length reduction at closest focus, doesn't Nikon do the same thing? The 70-200 is only 130ish mm at close focus.
I'm looking to get a 24-70mm lens for my D810 in the near future. Have you done a comparison between this Tamron 24-70 with VC and the newest version of the Nikon 24-70 with VR? Price difference is $1,299 for the Tamron compared to $2,400 for the Nikon.
Hey, I didnt know you two were married! Thats so cool! :D
Tony, there is ONE huge problem in this review, you have not tested the sharpness on the long end. I would like to see if the tamrom is sharper than the nikon at 70mm wide open and stopped down.
Ricardo Vaz Wide open, the Tamron was sharper at the wide and long end. Stopped down they both looked great.
Thank you for all yours great review and information, your videos are really helpful for a beginner photographer like i, i have a nikon camera D3200 which coming with 18-55mm kit Lens but i'm not a happy with the image quality and sharpness, i decided to upgrade my lens.
I'm looking for something between 18-300 or 18-200mm max 800€ which lens your recommend for me? Thankyou
i'm looking for a lens that can be zoom for a very far distance and wondering either Nikon 18-300mm or Tamron 16-300mm. for Nikon D5300
The weight and missing vr are really serious detriments to the nikon, of course. But the image quality is still way superior, imo. You need to push up the ISO when you have to go under 1/20 or so to solve that. Which isn't a problem, since the lense easily manages ISO levels up to 2000-3000 without serious quality loss.
Just bought the How to Create SDP e-book! Thanks for putting out quality information!
***** Thanks, Andrew!
I just got a tamron 24-70, and was hoping it would be bit of an all around lens that I could still shoot stars with. Shoot? yes. Wide open without flaring (aka coma) on the brighter stars? No. I should have checked some images on flickr a little closer...
So you mean your starshots were not as good as you hoped for and more worse than it could be with Nikon lens?
Almost. I tried the Tamron on a Canon 6D the coma (smudged stars in the corners) at f/2.8 was pretty disappointing as I had sold my tokina 16-28mm to help pay for the tamron. So I'm not comparing to the nikon 24-70, just commenting on the tamron. I'm back to using a samyang 14mm for stars, wanting something like a sigma 24-105 for walkaround, and waiting to see what tamron's 15-30 (I think that's the range) will be like wide open.
Hi Tony &Chelsea, Great review! I have watched most of your videos and learnt a lot for them. Than you for revealing secrets that manufacturers don't reveal. I could not find any reviews from you on the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8. Though an old lens, it is still quite popular and a lot cheaper alternative to the 24-70mm lenses that cost dear. Could you please do a review on Tamron 28-75mm F2.8?
I'm going to purchase a D810 I will probably take more landscape pictures an pictures of the grand kids so I was wondering if the Nikon or the tamron 24-70. 2.8. VR Witch would be the best lens
Hi Tony and Chelsea
I really want to get some lenses for my photography. I really want the 24-70 mm and 70-200 mm at 2.8 lenses and a 24 mm at 1.4 or 1.8 (should i get this 24 mm?). I don't want to spend the money on a name brand if i don't have to. Which is best for shooting with Nikon equipment. At the moment i shoot with a Nikon D5000. I also have a 35 mm DX at 1.8 and a 50 mm at 1.4. Please help me out and thank you very much.
Thanks for this video, I have a question.
I am upgrading to a D750 from a D7000, I would like to start doing portraits for money. I have a Nikon 50mm 1.4D and a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 OS and was thinking about buying either a Nikon 85mm 1.8G or this Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 VC - wondering which you might suggest Nikon 85mm or Tamron 24-70mm for portraits (I sold my Nikon DX 17-55mm 2.8 lens so leaning towards the Tamron for the wide angle because I take landscape photos for fun).
I did some more research and for the sake of anyone with the same question, I'll put my findings.
If you want to take portraits for money on a Nikon full frame camera, and your priority is the price/quality ratio - the Nikon 85mm 1.8G (beats the Sigma and Samyang 85mm 1.4's decisively) is a must have over this Tamron. I gotta start thinking about my future clients - I can’t walk in there without the Nikon 85mm and expect them to pay for reduced sharpness and transmission through the lens.
I also found out the D750 doesn't have an internal focusing motor so my 50mm 1.4D needs to go. So in my bag is/will be my Sigma 70-200mm OS (because I got it for so cheap, but Tamron 70-200 VC is sharper) and a Nikon 85mm 1.8G. I’ll have to save up and get a good full frame wide angle so I can do my hobby.
D750 has an internal focusing motor so your Nikon 50 1.4D should work fine.
Joshua Photara what lenses are you using now for portraits? I'm on the exact same boat currently. I'm looking at 85mm lenses (prime) and 70-200mm or around there. I just bought a D810. I switched over from Canon to Nikon. Thank you in advance!
I"m not a pro but I would definitely own a 85MM lenses. I have the Nikon 85MM 1.8 and it is Extremely sharp! This is my go to lenses for portraits. The 70-200MM is also a great lense for portraits and if you have the money i would go for the 70-200 if you need that zoom but i'm a Prime person. I own both 50 and 85 Prime lenses. The Tamron 24-70 I use it more for outdoors group shooting.
which would i buy Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED or tamron 70-300mm i am confused
What about the tokina 24-70 released in 2015? Have you tested it?
When are you trying to G2? Seems a hell of a lens...