Tamron 28-300mm Zoom For Full Frame Camera

The one lens that I have been pining for is a good "all-in-one" lens. I have a Canon 18-200mm lens that I use on my Canon 60D crop sensor camera, and I love it, but it is a crop sensor lens and won't work on my newer Canon 6D full frame camera. I quickly discovered that there was virtually nothing available (until recently) like it for full frame cameras.

I don't expect an "all-in-one" lens to perform like my "L" glass lenses, and for specific shots and situations, I wouldn't think of using one. But there are times, like on vacation, where I just want to travel light while still having more capability than my compact G1X MarkII can give me. I got all excited last year when I heard that Tamron was coming out with a 28-300mm zoom for full frame cameras. It finally came out as model A020, and I held off buying it until I could study some reviews from users, but it suddenly disappeared from the market place (especially the Canon version). I waited for it to reappear, having heard that it was so popular that Tamron couldn't make them fast enough. After a while, I called Tamron and they said they would be available in a few weeks, but they never showed up. I couldn't get a straight story anywhere and there were still no alternatives to Tamron for this kind of lens. Then, recently, I saw that Tamron was showing another 28-300mm lens, model A010, that appeared to be a little larger than the original lens and had a platinum band around it instead of the original gold band. It was also about $100 more than the model A020. I waited a while to see the reviews and they were pretty good, so I finally bit the bullet and ordered the lens. http://tamron-usa.com/lenses/prod/28300_vcpzd.asp#ad-image-0

The Apparently Defunct Model A020                            The New Model A010
 

I haven't had much time to play with the new "all-in-one" Tamron yet, but the initial photos I took with it are promising.  I used it at a family outing, so the photos are personal family pictures that I don't wish to post on the internet, but when I get a chance to use the lens a bit more, I will post some photos taken with it so you can see the results.

On Sept. 8 I went to Hartford, CT where Tamron was holding a Tailgate Tour event and I had an opportunity to talk to a couple of Tamron reps. I asked what happened with the A020 28-300mm lens, but they either didn't know, or wouldn't tell the story, but I would guess that the original lens had some major flaw in it and they stopped making them. It took them some time to redesign the flaw out of the lens and reissue it, but I finally have my "all-in-one" lens for full my full frame camera. I have not had a chance to really put it through its paces yet, but when I do, I will post my opinion along with some photos taken with it. It won't replace my "L" glass lenses, but it will probably save my back on my next vacation.

Canon G1X Mark II

I decided that I wanted to buy a good compact camera to carry for instances where I didn't want to carry my big DSLR. I made a list of what I wanted in  the compact camera and then I started to look for cameras that fit my list. Frankly, there weren't any. I found that, as in life, I would need to make compromises and figure out which features were the most important to me.

Here is my basic list;

1. Picture quality - Since I wanted this camera so as not to miss good photos, I felt that the IQ was the most important thing to me. If I just wanted snapshots, I would not want a compact camera and would just use my cell phone.
2. Features - I wanted the basic features of a DSLR so I could control my photos and get the image I wanted. This included being able to shoot in RAW.
3. Fast lens - I wanted to be able to use as low an ISO as possible to maximize the quality of the photos.
4. Small and light - I wanted something that is easy to carry with no extra equipment needed that I couldn't carry in my pocket.
5. Good zoom lens - I wanted the best lens I could get with the widest angle to the longest zoom.

Price, while a consideration, was not initially thrown into the mix until I found specific cameras to compare.

Here's what I found;

1. Picture quality - The Canon G1X Mark II has the largest sensor of any camera in the class. AT 12.8 megapixels, it is not at the top of the list, but it is near it. But the actual sensor is almost twice as large as the other cameras in its class. Megapixels don't tell the whole story when it comes to IQ. The size of the pixel also counts and, in  a 12.8 megapixel camera with larger pixels on a sensor twice the size of the competition, the IQ would have to be better.
2. Features - The G1X has all the features I wanted, and then some. It has Wi-Fi built in, shoots Raw, JPEG or both together, is fully functional with manual operation, aperture priority mode, shutter speed priority mode and of course full automatic and the other specialty modes available in most cameras today. It has an LCD screen that folds out upwards for taking pictures at a low angle, but also can fold out downwards for taking photos from overhead. One thing that I was adamant about was having a view finder. Most of the cameras now come with only an LCD screen. I hate composing photos on an LCD screen in most situations. The G1X MII has an optional (about $250) viewfinder that mounts on the camera's hot shoe. 
3. Fast lens - The G1X MII has a lens that goes from f-2 to f-3.9. The few cameras that had faster lenses were barely any faster. The fastest lens in the class was an f-1.8.
4. Small and Light - The G1X MII isn't a pocket camera, but it is small enough and light enough to carry all day without any strain.
5. Good Zoom Lens - This is the one place where I really had to accept some trade offs. The G1X MII lens is a 24-120mm. The 24mm is fine, but the 120mm is not as powerful as I would have liked. However, my "walk around" lens on my Canon 6D has been a 24-105mm f4, so I am used to finding ways to compensate for the short focal length.

Photo taken with Canon G1X MarkII. Photo is not retouched at all, other than rotating it for viewing. It was 3:17 PM, storm clouds were rolling in and I was facing west. Shot at 18.4mm (not taking crop factor into consideration), 1/50 sec;   f/16;   ISO 100 Evaluative Metering.

The G1X MII was $799.00 and the view finder was $250.00, putting the package at $1,050.00, well above any of the other cameras I looked at. However, after much consideration I realized that it was easily the best camera in its class and it would give me the picture quality I wanted. I could have bought something for several hundred dollars (or more) less expensive, but I know I would have regretted saving the money at the expense of picture quality and functionality. As much as I hated spending that much more money, I am happy with what I got for the money and don't have regrets about making that decision.

Manfroto Monopod Follow-up

Now that I've had a chance to play with my Manfrotto 685B Neotec Monopod Deluxe a little more, I have to tell you that, overall, I like it. The ease and speed of set up and break down, as well as the adjusting while you are shooting is what makes this monopod, along with it being a really solid base even for heavy, longer lenses, is what makes this monopod. However, on the minus side, it is too long and too heavy to want to use for traveling where a compact size might matter. It is also too heavy to use as a walking stick when you are hiking and the handgrip is too big and not comfortable for use as a walking stick.  It's too bad that Manfroto didn't add another section to the unit to make it shorted when it is compacted, and a better hand grip. But it is a great monopod for places where you don't need to carry it too far and can't use a tripod. It is a great monopod for shooting sports events, like football, where you need a long lens, can't run up and down the sidelines with a tripod, and the speed of adjustment allows you to get shots that you might miss with a monopod where you have to fiddle with section after section to set up your shot.

Overall, I rate the monopod as an A+ for specific situations, but you will want something else for hiking or use as an all around monopod.