Tamron 17-50 test shots

This isn't troubleshooting as such, but it certainly doesn't belong in "your photos". I just bought a Tamron 17-50, and wanted to post some of the test shots to make sure that it's OK focuswise. The traditional chart test was 'inconclusive': it seemed to FF pretty badly (ie the +80mm mark on the chart was in focus) at 17mm, but the setup wasn't ideal so I'm not going to send the lens back on the basis of that test. I'll post some test shots of real subjects (well, mainly brick walls actually) for now, and post some more reliable charts if I get a chance to redo them. Only PP on these (aside from whatever Lightroom does by default) is for underexposure - oh and they've been resized because I was losing the will to live waiting for the full size ones to upload!


http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/tamron17-50...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/tamron17-50...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/tamron17-50...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb159/Carzor_Stelatis/Photography/tamron17-50...

EDIT: Never mind, I managed to get a chart test set up properly, which has given me the answer

Mine needs the lens adjust on the K-7. Most other lenses are fine. Tim, you and me all have similar issues with the lens, but once adjusted the results seem pretty good.

The problem is that it's (more or less) fine at other focal lengths but inaccurate at 17mm. It's going back tomorrow because I don't see it as being fixable with microadjust, unfortunately.

Being widest, more things will be in focus at 17mm, also there is slight barrel distortion at 17mm. Is it something that appears on tests but will be inconsequential in real life? (just asking, your money, your choice).

You have other lenses for critical close 17mm range , 10-20 and you have 2 macro.

Hi chaps

What I first got mine I tested for FF and BF as well. I also found major FF across all focal lengths, I believe it required a +8 adjustment. Even after the adjustment I saw small differences in the amount of FF at different focal lengths. From memory the 17mm test would have benefitted from +9, but if I did that then all focal lengths from around 20-50mm would be off. I left it at +8 and I haven't noticed any problems since.

I also have barrel with mine at 17mm. I rarely correct for it, apart from with architectural shots. It's much easier now that Lightroom 3 has the profile for this lens.

Mine also has a soft spot at the top edge of the frame. It's only visible at f2.8, and it's a small spot approximately 10% of width and height of the full frame. That part is usually sky so I very rarely even notice it. I found it my first tests with a resolution chart, but since then the only time I have noticed it in real life shooting was in one handheld night shot of some city buildings.