Love it! Great comparison.

Now I will be cruising for good deals this used Tammy on craigslist. If the price is good, i will jump on it.

The Duque Lens Vibration Chart

All photos at 200 ISO, 50mm and f/4.5

Series: VC On

1. Shutter: 1/8. Focus: Front Subject
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4549567581_64321f9e86_b.jpg

2. Shutter: 1/8. Focus: Middle Subject
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4550205518_8baec9bc20_b.jpg

3. Shutter: 1/10. Focus: Rear Subject
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4549567915_3fa09a7d3c_b.jpg

4. Shutter: 1/8. Focus: Bag
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4549568009_c0f3d45b04_b.jpg

Series: VC Off

1. Shutter: 1/8. Focus: Front Subject
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4550205958_402bc6dd55_b.jpg

2. Shutter: 1/10. Focus: Middle Subject
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4550206144_d3f2876d34_b.jpg

3. Shutter: 1/10. Focus: Rear Subject
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4549568463_cc3d004f93_b.jpg

4. Shutter: 1/8. Focus: Bag
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4550206498_44e0b092f7_b.jpg

Hard to fathom but I did, in fact, mean 8/10 of a second (relevant metadata below). Shooting motionless subjects in low light with this lens will be a piece of cake. Piece of crumb cake!

Camera: Nikon D90
Exposure: 0.8
Aperture: f/13.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

That look good. I don't have any VR lenses, so I am a bit curious about it's usability/usefulness.

anjz, do you mean 1/8s? If that's almost a second that's A+. Even at 1/8s it's really impressive. I have the non-VR version and it's on my camera probably 60% of the time. It's as sharp as the Nikon 17-55 2.8.

NSXType-R said:
Cute kid!

Nice lens, by the way.

Thanks!!

All the image stabilization in the world isn't going to keep my little monkey in focus at a slower shutter speed :) But, here's an image captured at .8 seconds and 50mm and without bracing myself against anything for the shot or even watching my breathing...just a sloppy grab aiming up from the couch. Is it perfect? nope. But I think that such a situation is outside of the bounds of what image stabilization is meant to cope with...so, I give this lens an "A" so far. I'll post a few reasonable-scenario test shots tomorrow.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4548991207_4dfe4e9878_b.jpg

Would you mind repeating the test shots , but with a slower shutter speed.

I see that it's like $630 on Amazon. Hmm... I would rather get a used Nikon to be honest. The price difference isn't that big. The only thing that is quite enticing for me is the VR feature of this lens which the Nikon lacks.

I have been wanting to get a midrange zoom for a while now. But if I would get it, it would be my most used lens. I can't have that. I have the Tokina 11-16mm and the 80-200 2.8. This way I force myself to become better at using ultra wide angle lens to it's full potential. Every now and then I also use the 35mm prime.

Cute kid!

Nice lens, by the way.

Below are some shots of my Macbeth Color Checker Baby. Taken with the Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC on a D90.

All photos at Aperture 2.8 and ISO 800.

VR Off Series
18mm, 1/320, VR off
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4549362926_c08a6f67f0_b.jpg

24mm, 1/250, VR off
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4549362726_8f6b239b67_b.jpg

35mm, 1/250, VR off
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4549362528_a213cc3f87_b.jpg

50mm, 1/200, VR off
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4549362288_8c424fb2ca_b.jpg

VR ON Series
17mm, 1/320, VR ON
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4549362064_7ca94d2449_b.jpg

25mm, 1/250, VR ON
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4548727303_4f94ddda01_b.jpg

35mm, 1/250, VR ON
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4549361618_c7c60f6b7d_b.jpg

50mm, 1/200, VR ON
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4548726919_ae4ab8d709_b.jpg

I'll take some shots and post tomorrow AM. There's no instant override, but you can flip a switch on the lens to place it into manual-focus mode.

anjz said:
Sharp as a tack . Makes my D90 look a little puny but still feels balanced. The build quality also seems nicer than I expected from the reviews.

Nice to hear it. The Nikkor 17-55 2.8 may be a great lens, but it's way too expensive for me. This might be what I'm looking for in the future.

And yes, any samples would be nice. Is there instant manual focus override, or is that a Nikon thing only? I know that the Sigma system is weird.

Sharp as a tack . Makes my D90 look a little puny but still feels balanced. The build quality also seems nicer than I expected from the reviews.

The noise is from a New Technology called "transwarp drive", you might feel a bit tingling and heat in your fingers, but it is otherwise perfectly safe and there is a bit of noise or even a humming sound

Just kidding, actual lots of people have mentioned that this lens is a bit noisy

Hope the lens is sharp and otherwise works great, even my expensive 70-200 2.8VR makes some noise

Pete

I love the quality of the photos so far. I'll take and post some samples if anyone is interested. Just let me know.

Thanks for the advice!

More importantly is, how do you like the quality of the photos with this lens?

I have heard(pun not intended :-) maybe) that the VC of tamron is a bit more noisy compared to VR or IS. Check out the reviews most mention that VC makes a noise.

Normal, VR/IS/OS/VC all makes noise because an element in the lens is moving.

Is is normal for a VC or VR motor to whirl, but it depends on how loud it is.

Just purchased this lens.

Tried it out in the store and didn't notice a constant whirring from the vibration control. Got it home and now hear it all the time when vibration control is activated.

Description of noise: The whir lasts from the 1/2 shutter depression, through the focusing lock and on until about 1/2 a second after I actuate the shutter. Frankly, I expected some clicks, but I did not expect the long whir...it is making me think the VC motor is bad.

Any similar experiences or did I get a bum lens?

Help would be much appreciated.