Nikon 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 or Tamron 28-105mm 2.8 ???

I'm in the market for a new general purpose lens & can't decide between the
Nikon or Tamron. I've heard really good things about the Nikon but I like
the constant aperture of the Tamron. Feedback appreciated.

-thanks
James

 

The Tamron in question is not particulalry sharp, and has a lot of
distortion. (-3.4 to 4.7%)

The Nikon in question is rated sharper, and the distortion is much less
than that of the cited Tamron. (-2.7 to 1.85%)

If you tend to use low speed films, and you are not over concerned with
sharpness and slight field distortion, the Tamron is appealing. Try
before you buy to be sure of comaptibility.

Alan.

 

I'm in the market for a new general purpose lens & can't decide between
the

Tamron are junk and you get what you pay for, considering the money you will
not get a better all purpose zoom than the Nikon 28-105 AFD- be in no doubt.

 

So how do you explain the fact that so many Nikon lenses are made
under contract for Nikon by ...

.... Tamron?

The 70-300mm G and AF-D Nikkors are made by ... Tamron. All the kit
28-80mm and latest 28-100mm Nikkors are made by ... Tamron. The
28-200mm Nikkor is made by ... Tamron.

And the 28-105mm AF-D Nikkor you so admire?

Made by ...

.... Tamron.

And it's a great lens, like some other Tamron-made lenses that are
sold as Nikkors, Canon EF, SMC Pentax FA, etc., etc.

The truth is that there are good and bad Nikkors, good and bad Canon
EFs, good and bad Tamrons. To state that any of these brands are all
good or all bad is ignorant nonsense (the worst kind).

 

So how do you explain the fact that so many Nikon lenses are made

The same reason why a lot of junk is made in china, cheap labour costs and a
fatter profit margin for corporates that is all.

Can you prove it ? I don't think so.

nonsense (the worst kind).

Remind you of your behaviour with regard to Sigma products then Tony ?

 

I don't need to.

 

Can you prove it ? I don't think so.

Ah, just like your photography mate.

 

Those lenses you cited, some of them anyway (the 70-300s for certain) were
*designed* by Tamron but are built by Nikon.

Tamron makes some good lenses (I own a 28/2.5 manual focus and the AF
28-105/2.8 LD) but also some terrible ones (the 90-300/4.5-5.6 AF was very
disappointing; my 75-300/4.5-5.6 Nikkor is worlds better).

Jim

 

They are all made by Tamron in a Tamron factory.

The 75-300mm Nikkor was not made by Tamron. It was made by Nikon.

 

Yes, exactly. You're beginning to catch on.

;-)

 

They are all made by Tamron in a Tamron factory.

Claims are easy to make, but if you can't back them up they ain't worth
shit.
So Tony, put up or shut up- your choice.

 

They aren't claims. They are statements of fact.

You are welcome to disprove them. If you question them, you must have
some knowledge that they are incorrect. So please present it here for
the benefit of your many fans.

See above.

;-)

 

They aren't claims. They are statements of fact.

I cannot disprove a claim that has no proven basis in fact, that's a neat
little trick, trying to turn the emphasis on to me for a claim that you
simply cannot back up.

 

In what country does Tamron manufacture their lenses?

 

They aren't claims. They are statements of fact.

It is a neat trick. And not at all unexpected.

 

I have no need to back it up. I know it it be true, and that's good
enough for me.

 

I have no need to back it up. I know it it be true, and that's good

Tony, I'm glad your satisfied with yourself. Don't ever let the small matter
of proof get in the way of your claims.

 

You don't always get what you pay for... the Tamron 28-105 f2.8 is, contrary
to Mr. Kewfi's rather hasty knee-jerk reaction, quite a bit more expensive
than the Nikkor- I say is, I think was is more appropriate as Tamron seem to
have discontinued it, and given how popular their 28-75mm f2.8 Di lens is
i'm not surprised. The 28-105 still manages to hold its value secondhand
though, given that it is unique as a wide aperture 28-105mm zoom. I was
quite unhappy with the Tamron 35-105 f2.8 (a rather similar lens by all
accounts) as it distorted visibly, was soft at the long end, was excessively
heavy and gave a rather flat, lifeless colour rendition; whereas I know a
Nikon 28-105 user who wouldn't trade it.

The way I see it, fast aperture zoom lenses are quite unneccessary- it is
merely convenience, and the fact that the majority of the best zooms are
large aperture types, that keeps the market for such lenses alive. Of
course, i'm sure there's a degree of "showing off" to it too.

 

Well, I looked into this a while ago. Here's what I found:

When I asked Nikon in which factory in my 70-300 was made, they
replied that all Nikkor lenses from China are made in the same
factory.

According to this page, one Nikon lens factory in China is in Hang
Zhou and is a joint venture of Nikon and Asia-Optic:
http://www.asia-optical.com.tw/eng/e-profile/e_p_history.htm


Tamron's Chinese plant is in Guangdong province in the city of Foshan.
Nikon also has a factory in Guangdong provice, but in Dong-Guan City.

Draw your own conclusions.

 

I have nothing to prove to you.