70-300mm Field Test

As many of you know, my young son has recently taken to photography with enthusiasm. About a month and a half ago, I bought him a Promaster 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD Macro zoom. This is actually a Tamron lens and the specs for it can be found at:

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/70300_di_a017.asp

His results with it were better than I expected so I finally took it out myself for a test drive.

All shots here at manual focus, manual exposure at ISO 400, f/8, 1/1000s, 300mm, and hand-held. Post processing was with the same settings/scheme that I use with my 300mm prime.

All images uncropped.

Another set of 5 images. Same settings as before (except the last two which are at ISO 640 to maintain the f/8, 1/1000s settings).

I was surprised that this lens can go 1:2 (half life-size) at 300mm with a 3 feet working distance. The first two images here are at those conditions (minimum focus distance, maximum magnification). Again, f/8 at 1/1000s to minimize the effects of camera motion blur and it was really windy.

All 5 images uncropped.


The best part: this lens costs $180.

Thanks for looking. I hope it was helpful.

More proof that great pictures comes from the photographer and not the gear. I'll gladly take your collection of Canon L glass and primes since you will be switching to Promaster.

:D

Thanks for the demo dude!

I have a 70-300 and never really tried the close up stuff. Its nice to know what you can do with different lenses. I always had the misconception that long lenses were for long distances. I never really thought about close up!!:D :D
Thanks again for the "learnins".:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Very nice little tour with that 70-300 Loupey. It certainly acquitted itself well. I had a similar situation a few years ago when I gave my son an old Vivitar 200mm prime that I had pretty well retired. A few weeks latter he started showing me these great images of roses from the arboretum. I couldn't believe the colors and detail he was getting from this lens using it for close in work. Just goes to show us old dogs can learn new tricks sometimes.

Wow Loupey, I would be happy to say I took any of those with my Canon 300mm f/4L!

I had my mind set on buying the Canon 180mm macro as my next lens, and then Payn has to go and post some great images with his Sigma glass... you guys sure don't make choosing a lens easy.

Manacsa - LOL, ok since you asked, look for a box on your doorstep in a few days :wink: Thanks for looking.

Big baldo - since you're getting your extension tubes soon, make sure to try them out with your zoom.

Old Timer - it is interesting how differently we all use even the same/similar equipment. My son is only 12 and I want him to develop his photography independently from my "style". Tough to balance between giving direction and giving instruction :p

So, in general, I think this particular zoom is a good value. Naturally for the money, there are going to be a few shortcomings; but they are fairly minor and could be easily compensated. The manual focus ring is too loose and too touchy and the macro mode is a bit cumbersome to activate/deactivate. Like all zooms of this range, it "grows" a lot during zooming and therefore moves a lot of air. So getting dirt inside the lens will be an issue after some use.

The size/weight is very nice and balances well for hand-held work. Not trying to convince anyone to run out and buy this. But, something like it may be very workable solution for anyone wanting to dabble in nature/wildlife photography.

Here is a size comparison next to my workhorse (300mm).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Copy_Kot

I had my mind set on buying the Canon 180mm macro as my next lens, and then Payn has to go and post some great images with his Sigma glass... you guys sure don't make choosing a lens easy.

---

Before you buy anything else, give your 300mm a good workout with the tubes. I still think it is unbeatable in the field for macros.


So I'm out shooting with this lens when a very nice gentleman sits down next to me with this rig. Talk about a nice setup (400mm f/2.8L IS with 2xTC)!

Hopefully, he will see this thread and add to it with images taken side by side of the same subjects with that rig :)

You make me jealous Loupey with the images you produce from the 70-300 / macro ... I have the tamron version of it and wish I could get that kind of result from it !!!

Ben, that is very kind of you to say. I appreciate it!

This Tamron/Promaster zoom seems more useful for the macro application than the telephoto (IMO). That working distance and 1:2 magnification seems ideal for in-field use. Unfortunately, right now all the blooms are dead from the severe turn in the weather and not much for me to test it on. I spied some items this afternoon so I may try this lenses out again tomorrow morning.

Thanks all for looking.

OK, I did manage to shoot this last set of test images this morning. Very gray and breezy day with the camera hand-held so perhaps not the best sharpness example (shutter speeds 1/250 to 1/350s). All macros here at the closest focusing distance at 300mm (half life size at the imaging sensor).

The robin is about as close as I could ever expect to get to a bird (about 10'). Even at 300mm, you can see that it is tough to get a frame-filling image of a medium sized bird. All 5 images are uncropped.

For a zoom like this withOUT the macro feature, I would recommend to anyone to try out tubes to get macros out of it. However, I would not recommend using any third party teleconverters (1.4x or 2x) as the resolution and speed won't hold up

Still, I plan to take this lens with the 10D on "high risk" trips like the beach, boating, fishing, or for just family trips.


Thanks for looking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Loupey

Still, I plan to take this lens with the 10D on "high risk" trips like the beach, boating, fishing, or for just family trips.

---

You just gave the lens to your son and now you are gonna borrow it for 'high risk' shoots? To be fair, tell your son he can bring those funny looking WHITE lenses with the RED line around it to school for show and tell....."anytime, son!" :D :p :D :p

Once again, nice samples. I wish my old Canon 100-300 USM was working. I'd like to see what I can do with it again.

Why don't you start a blog on your son's photography development. Then, 5 years from now we can see his progress. I'm sure he will be a 'chip of the old block.'

:thumbsup:

Nice, Loupey; I have a Sigma 70-300mm and thats what I've been shooting with the past year, I think its a pretty decent lens myself.
Nice pics with that lens, looks like your son's going to have fun!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by manacsa

You just gave the lens to your son and now you are gonna borrow it for 'high risk' shoots? To be fair, tell your son he can bring those funny looking WHITE lenses with the RED line around it to school for show and tell....."anytime, son!" :D :p :D :p

---

HaHa - no :p

But I can hear him now, "Hey, get your own!" It is nice that we use memory cards now. He and I can both shoot the same equipment and simply use our own cards.

Thank for looking!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by quetzal

Nice pics with that lens, looks like your son's going to have fun!

---

Thanks, quetzal! It is cool to hear him say, "let's go to the park" when the weather is nice. We'll see how far he will want to take this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Copy_Kot

I had my mind set on buying the Canon 180mm macro as my next lens, and then Payn has to go and post some great images with his Sigma glass... you guys sure don't make choosing a lens easy.

---

Well thanks, I really appreciate that. The thing I think Loupey (and I sometimes) try to get across to people is that you don't have to spend a ton to get results. Although, Loupey is far better at proving it :D.

Nice thread Loupey, I was spying some very cheap used lenses after viewing this. Can't help but think what I may get for a few dollars, I've never seen a lens that isn't good for something (except my copy of the sigma 400).

As someone mentioned, it would be nice to watch your son's progression. He has a wonderful role model, and lots of years ahead to refine the craft, surely he will do well.