Kevin,
I've used 2 of the Tamron 28-200mm. The first was labeled 171D (if I remember right), I bought it off ebay for around $50, and the second is a 571D, bought from KEH for about $60. I got rid of the first when the outer element got some play in it and it turned into a soft focus lens. The second has held up alot better. I've used it just as a general use lens but I try to keep it between 50mm and 150mm, before that it's got too much distortion and after that its too soft. Autofocus is rather slow in low light and the contrast sucks 90% of the time.
I still have it around because it fits a gap in my lens selection. I suppose it would be a great lens to take on vacation (if you're just taking snap shots) since you wouldn't have to carry another lens to get a good range.
Here's an shot from the lens:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=9177736&size=o
This was shot with an *Ist D, at 200mm F/5.6. You can tell that its plenty soft at the long end.
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/Guy/tamron28200.html - This page talks about the differences between the different versions but it doesn't mention anything before the 571D version, I think there were 2 before that.
Joseph Tainter wrote:
I just purchased a second *istD and it came with an in the box Tamron AF 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical (if) Is it worth keeping or worth eBaying it?
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Kevin, I have not used this. Probably some list members have. I believe, though, that Tamron has brought out different models of this, with newer ones being better performers. Older ones, from what I have read, weren't so good. You might want to determine which version you have. If this was bundled with a D, it may be old stock that someone was trying to move.
You know, of course, that zooms with this great a range are not as good as zooms with a more conservative range.
Joe
