[IanCD]

Hello.

I'm new to DSLR photography, after using a Lumix FZ5 for 5 years. Before that I had a Ricoh KR-10 with 2 zoom lenses, a Vivitar Series 1 28-105 and a Tokina AT-X 50-250, and a single Pentax 135mm prime.

Thanks to Klaus and Markus for the lens tests, and to both of you and to many contributors to these forums - I've learned a lot here over the last few months. Reviews and forum contributions here and on a couple other sites helped me decide on my initial DSLR kit (Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 16-85mm + Tamron 70-300 SP) and to earmark lenses I'd like to get next. I compared a Pentax K-5, which felt great, but the anti-aliasing thread here, wider range of lenses available for Nikon and some of the D7000 features led me to go for it.

I've only had the new kit two weeks and although very happy with it, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to use it yet. It's also taken me a while to get set up how I think I want it (complicated..?!).

I particularly haven't used the Tamron much, but from initial impressions I'm wondering whether my copy is as good as others have found it. Unlike Markus's experience, reported in the thread about this lens, I'm not getting overexposure - if anything it underexposes compared to the 16-85. What I'm wondering about is the sharpness of my lens... although I am aware I probably haven't given it a fair trial yet...

The first question I have is how do I make some trial shots available to ask people's opinions on? I see that the upload file limit here is 500K. If I wanted people to be able to see the Raw files, do I need to open a Flickr account and upload them to that..? Or some alternative?

Ian

[Brightcolours]

I'm not at all interested in RAW files. One can't see them, and it makes little sense to have to develop them in some RAW converter just to see "sharpness".

What you should/could do is post an image normally downsampled, and state whether you applied any sharpening before or after the resizing. And then you can post a 100% crop of the area that should be in focus.

[mst]

[quote name='IanCD' timestamp='1295139375' post='5560']

I've only had the new kit two weeks and although very happy with it, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to use it yet. It's also taken me a while to get set up how I think I want it (complicated..?!). [/quote]



Since you'e new to DSLRs, you will probably change the setup a few more times <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



[quote name='IanCD' timestamp='1295139375' post='5560']

I particularly haven't used the Tamron much, but from initial impressions I'm wondering whether my copy is as good as others have found it. Unlike Markus's experience, reported in the thread about this lens, I'm not getting overexposure - if anything it underexposes compared to the 16-85. What I'm wondering about is the sharpness of my lens... although I am aware I probably haven't given it a fair trial yet... [/quote]



Make sure that you use fast enough shutter speeds with such a long lens. Also, be aware that with longer lenses, DOF is rather thin (even stopped down). A slight misfocus easily leeds to lack of sharpness.



I've read from many users who experienced underexposure with this lens. So, I must assume my sample is out of specs and needs to be serviced? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



[quote name='IanCD' timestamp='1295139375' post='5560']

If I wanted people to be able to see the Raw files, do I need to open a Flickr account and upload them to that..? Or some alternative?

[/quote]



You could either use web space somewhere or one of the many image hosting sites (flickr, smugmug, pbase, etc.). However, because of the size, it's not a good idea to publish raw files, better develop full size images from your NEFs and publish those.



-- Markus

[IanCD]

Thanks Markus, that's really helpful.

Yes, no doubt I will change settings again... probably many times..!

One really puzzling thing for me was having to reverse the indicators, so the exposure scale went -....0....+ instead of the other way round (where do scales run +...0...- ?), then getting the dials so rotation changes exposure compensation in same (logical) direction.

I'm not sure the result is particularly intuitive for aperture and shutter settings though, even if it IS logical (turn dial to right to increase aperture or length of exposure)

I took the camera to work today as it was such a bright clear day here and managed to grab 15 minutes to take a few shots between meetings... just importing now... and yes, I'm finding it hard to hold still - took some with VC and some without, but keeping shutter speed above 1/500 for most of them.

Ok, just uploaded 7 shots to Flickr, here: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48138858@N06/?saved=1"]My link[/url]

Absolutely no pretence at composition / artistry. JPEGs as processed in-camera (STD) - I haven't worked out settings & how to save as JPEG in Camera Raw yet. Is the metadata available through flickr, or do I need to add that (to the descriptions)?



Ah, ok, I see I have to crop the images at 100% to 1024 x 768 max, and I do need to add exposure details. I'll do that another time.

Thanks again,

Ian

[IanCD]

I've replaced those with resized images and 100% crops from them. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48138858@N06/?donelayout=1"]Here[/url]

The crops look out of focus to me, but I don't know whether that's just what I should expect, or if they aren't as good as they should be whether that's my technique or does indicate that the lens isn't as sharp as it should be.

All taken at 300mm, with Vibration Control on. JPEG processing in-camera, Nikon STD Picture control, default settings.

Ian

[IanCD]

Apologies for repeating myself...



The images I've uploaded don't seem as sharp to me as full-size sample images in reviews of other (comparable) lenses here.



I don't know whether this is:

1. my technique - out of focus or still shaking (f8 at 1/640, with VC?)
   
   
2. my expectations - that's the quality the lens produces.
   
   
3. my copy of the lens is not as good as others' - and not as good as it should be.
   
   

1. With VC and autofocus, if this is the case, how would I improve..? As well as using high shutter speed, I also held the camera against some railings to take the pictures of the church. Is f8 still giving too narrow a depth of field, making it possible to get focus wrong?



2. From what other people have said about this lens, I'd be surprised if this is the case.



3. If this is likely, what other tests should I do to verify? Is there anything I can do about it? When would this be classed a fault?



Ian