Tamron vs Canon

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Tamron vs Canon

Canon 24-70/2.8 L compared to Tamron 28-75/2.8 on the Canon EOS 1 Ds

This is a direct comparison of the Canon prestige mid-range fast zoom lens, and the new Tamron XR DI, especially designed for digital photography. The images were shot inside Roskilde Cathedral, using daylight through the cathedral windows. Overcast and extremely dull, this nordic winter light is a serious challenge for a photographer. Evidently the lenses aren´t centered identically, and the focal lenght of 50 mm seems wider on the Tamron lens, but since I don´t have any measuring instruments I couldn´t tell which lens is correctly centered. While the Canon lens is built like a tank, the Tamron build is not poor, and seems to function as fast and equally silent (The Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 is audible however, compared to the silent Canon lenses.) The size/weight difference is considerable, in favor of Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8. Surprisingly, at less than half price of the Canon lens, the Tamron comes out with better contrast at full aperture. The Tamron lens seems "warmer". I could have adjusted this in the raw processing software, but chose not to, in order to display the color difference you would experience using lenses from both manufacturers alongside eachother. Which tone is more pleasing is a matter of taste I guess. I used the same raw processing procedure for all the first 8 images, without color tint, and set to 3800 kelvin, calibrated from the first Canon image.

Not appreciating that the cheaper lens came out best at full aperture, I decided to make the test again next day, this time trying to frame more accurately, to get an idea about the difference in actual focal lenght, and later when I processed the images, I chose to calibrate the raw processing to the Tamron lens, at 4000 kelvin, making a slight adjustment for magenta, making it as pleasing as possible to my eye, taking the existing light in consideration, only 1,5 hour before sunset on a dull winter day. Again examining the images at full aperture, it´s a fact that contrast is better in the Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 at the full lens opening, but only slightly. Colours seem a bit more saturated in Tamron XR DI. Whichever is more "neutral" is a scientific discussion I don´t want to get into. Both lenses produce extremely satisfying results. Test object is the beautifully carved alabast/marble figurines on the sides of the magnificent sarcophagus of Queen Margrethe 1, who unified all of Scandinavia in the 13th century, and who is laid to rest in a choir behind the altar of the Unesco World Heritage, Roskilde Cathedral, from the 12th century. Between the two tests are some of the medieval wood carvings flanking the altar and the sarcophagus. The rest of the images are from the altar, and the other royal burial chambers surrounding the Cathedral. Most of them are shot with the excellent Tamron XR DI 180/3.5. Unfortunately I didn´t have the similar Canon lens available for comparison. Finishing up the archive, there are a few images shot outside with Tamron XR DI 180/3.5. Inside images are shot on tripod at 100 iso, outside, hand held at 400 iso. To see the full sized 11 mp image, click on Original, at the bottom of the image that comes up after you click the thumbnail.

Date(s): January 31, 2004. Album by Jens Otto Nielsen. 1 - 39 of 39 Total. 4524 Visits.

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Hi Jere, sorry for the late reply, but I haven´t looked at this archive for more than a year. I bought the Tamron 28-75/2.8 after this test, mainly because it´s better and more compact than most other zooms I have ever tried. There´s no doubt that the Canon 24-70/2.8 L is more durable and more environmentally sealed, and it´s actually also better shooting directly against the light. E.g. at a concert where you might have spotlights shining directly into your lens. However as long as you don´t have that extreme situation, I find the Tamron lens is hard to beat. Personally I don´t miss the extreme wide which is the popular demand, because I don´t care for the perspective deformation which comes with the usual 18 to this and that which has become the "normal" zoom for APS sensor reflex cameras. Although the Canon lens is one of the toughest built, I can say the Tamron is not a bad build either. Just a few days after I bought it, I tried on a new strap and it slipped out of the lug in the left side of the camera, so the camera dropped from about 1,4 metres onto my wooden floor, hitting it directly on tip of the lower petal of the sunshade. I thought for sure the lens as well as my EOS 350 was done for, but to my great surprise only the sunshade was cracked. Nothing whatsoever happened to the lens or camera. I didn´t even bother to order a new sunshade. A bit of gaffer tape fixed it. Call me a cheap skate if you like :-D
- Jens Otto Nielsen, Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:25PM

Hi,

Quite intresting test you have here. I have looked through quite a few these 24-70L vs 28-75 tests, but all of them have had different results. What i would liked to see here how both lenses compares throught entire range from 28-70 at 2.8. Just intrested in these tests, because i have few months to decide which one to buy. Build, weather sealing, focus speed, and accuracy are things why i would choose Canon over Tamron, but if Canon is worse wide open than Tamron i will have to consider again is those other things worth paying extra 1000€.
- Jere Keskiaho | http://rele.pp.saunalahti.fi, Fri, 24 Mar 2006 2:56AM

enlarge 226KB, 1024x681 1 E47S2994 ca 50 28 Canon EF 24-70 L F1:2.8/50 mm	enlarge 227KB, 1024x681 2 E47S3000 ta 50 28 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:2.8/50 mm
enlarge 237KB, 1024x681 3 E47S2996 ca 50 40 Canon EF 24-70/2.8 L F1:4.0/50 mm	enlarge 240KB, 1024x681 4 E47S3001 ta 50 40 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:4.0/50 mm
enlarge 239KB, 1024x681 5 E47S2997 ca 50 56 Canon EF 24-70/2.8 L F1:5,6/50mm	enlarge 240KB, 1024x681 6 E47S3002 ta 50 56 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:5.6/50mm
enlarge 242KB, 1024x681 7 E47S2998 ca 50 80 Canon EF 24-70/2.8 L F1:8.0/50 mm	enlarge 239KB, 1024x681 8 E47S3003 ta 50 80 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:8.0
enlarge 196KB, 1024x681 9 E47S3045 75 11 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:11/75 mm	enlarge 208KB, 1024x681 10 E47S3047 75 11 Tamron XR DI 75/2.8 F1:11/75 mm
enlarge 213KB, 1024x681 11 E47S3048 75 11 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:22/75 mm	enlarge 198KB, 1024x681 12 E47S3051 75 11 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:22/75 mm
enlarge 233KB, 1024x681 13 E47S3064 ta 60 28 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:2.8/60 mm	enlarge 233KB, 1024x681 14 E47S3072 ca 57 28 Canon 24-70/2,8 L F1:2.8/57 mm
enlarge 249KB, 1024x681 15 E47S3066 ta 60 56 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:5.6/60 mm	enlarge 247KB, 1024x681 16 E47S3074 ca 57 56 Canon 24-70/2.8 L F1:5.6/57 mm
enlarge 245KB, 1024x681 17 E47S3068 ta 60 11 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2,8 F1:11/60 mm	enlarge 248KB, 1024x681 18 E47S3076 ca 57 11 Canon 24-70/2.8 L F1:11/57 mm
enlarge 238KB, 1024x681 19 E47S3070 ta 60 22 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2,8 F1:22/60 mm	enlarge 239KB, 1024x681 20 E47S3078 ca 57 22 Canon 24-70/2.8 L F1:22/57 mm
enlarge 255KB, 1024x681 21 E47S3053 56 22 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:22/56 mm	enlarge 267KB, 681x1024 22 E47S3054 75 22 Tamron XR DI 28-75/2.8 F1:22/75 mm
enlarge 234KB, 681x1024 23 E47S3057 180 22 Tamron XR DI 180/3,5 F1:22	enlarge 92KB, 681x1024 24 E47S3013 ta 180 35 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:3.5
enlarge 101KB, 681x1024 25 E47S3018 ta 180 11 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:11	enlarge 112KB, 681x1024 26 E47S3021 ta 180 32 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:32
enlarge 88KB, 681x1024 27 E47S3022 ta 180 35 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:3.5	enlarge 120KB, 681x1024 28 E47S3028 ta 180 32 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:32
enlarge 179KB, 1023x893 29 E47S3032 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:32	enlarge 144KB, 1024x681 30 E47S3033 ta 180 32 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:32
enlarge 205KB, 1024x681 31 E47S3042 ta 180 32 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:32	enlarge 211KB, 681x1024 32 E47S3080 180 22 Tamron XR DI 180/3,5 F1:22
enlarge 211KB, 681x1024 33 E47S3081 180 22 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:22	enlarge 189KB, 681x1024 34 E47S3082 180 22 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:22
enlarge 144KB, 681x1024 35 E47S3086 180 50 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:5.0	enlarge 128KB, 1024x681 36 E47S3092 180 50 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:5.0
enlarge 85KB, 681x1024 37 E47S3093 180 45 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:4.5	enlarge 176KB, 1024x681 38 E47S3099 180 63 Tamron XR DI 180/3.5 F1:6.3
enlarge 195KB, 681x1024 39 E47S3102 180 56 Tamron XR DI 180/3,5 F1:5.6