Guest Blog #2 Our second guest comes from Australia’s leading animal
photographer Alex Cearns who took the time out to review two Tamron lenses; the
Tamron 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens and Tamron 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens. Alex is
the Global Ambassador for Tamron’s Super Performance Series Lenses and uses
Tamron Lenses in her work daily.
Tamron Lens Review
By Alex
Cearns
THE TEST SHOOT
Photographing animals outdoors
and in a studio setting means I need versatile, fast and sharp lenses that
enable me to get in close and capture detail in a split second. As the Tamron Super Performance Series
Ambassador I was very keen to trial their new prime lens models, both with
additional new lens features - the 35mm 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens and 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens. My animal subjects are always moving and I need my equipment to respond
immediately when I see an action or expression I want to capture. If I miss the
shot, the opportunity to take it might not present itself again.
Since I spend most of my time in the studio I decided to do a studio shoot
with my dogs Pip and Pixel, to test the 35mm and 45mm lenses. The general rule
of pet photography is that your own pets are the hardest to photograph as the
photographer doesn’t have a novelty factor and your own expectations of what
your pet will and won’t do differs to those placed on a dog you haven’t met
before. So in short, this was going to
be a challenge!
My main go to studio lens is the Tamron 24-70mm but I was keen to break out of my comfort zone for this trial and test five main areas of both lenses which play a combined role in my resulting images.
My main go to studio lens is the Tamron 24-70mm but I was keen to break out of my comfort zone for this trial and test five main areas of both lenses which play a combined role in my resulting images.
My 5 factors of consideration were;
·
how close I could get to my subjects (focal
distance)
·
focussing speed
·
vibration compensation
·
lens build/weight
·
lens motor noise
HOW CLOSE I COULD GET TO MY
SUBJECTS
With a depth of field starting at f1.8 for both lenses they are extremely
fast in low light. During my test I shot handheld at f13, my usual studio depth
of field, and was physically able to get the lens very close to my dog
subjects, closer than I expected in fact. The lenses almost have a macro feel
to them, given I was around an inch or two from my subject and I was able to
capture every minute detail as a result. The image quality was maintained
whether I was in close or shooting wide and in my experience; few non-macro
lenses have the same up-close capabilities. Being able to move right in on the
subject will come in handy when I’m photographing insects and small animals, or
when I want to get emphasise part of a larger animal, such as the pattern on
their nose, or their eyes.
FOCUSSING SPEED
When using a prime lens, you have
to physically move to zoom in. As both dogs were moving for most of their photo
session I felt this would be one of the greatest lens tests, pushing them to
see if they could focus fast enough for me to capture the shots I wanted. I
wasn’t disappointed. Both lenses were able to adapt to focussing through short
changes in distance on a subject moving at speed. When working with a live
subject, even the slightest movement can cause an image to blur. The 35mm and
45mm both performed exceptionally well at all distances, and the images were
pin sharp thanks to the fast locking focus.
VIBRATION COMPENSATION
The incorporation of vibration
compensation (VC) into the Tamron 35mm and 45mm lenses is a game changer. It
identifies even the slightest camera shake and adjusts accordingly. Not only
can you shoot more images in low light thanks to the aperture of f1.8 the VC
adds to the versatility of the lens. You can now shoot at smaller apertures
(like f13) or at slower shutter speeds and continue to handhold the lens/camera
with VC activated, alleviating the need for a tripod. When I’m constantly
chasing a subject around through the viewfinder and moving my hands, VC ensures
a crisp result when I press the shutter button.
LENS BUILD/WEIGHT
I shoot handheld, without a
tripod and the first thing I noticed was that both lenses are comfortable to
hold. They are similar in size and weight, with the 45mm slightly heavier of
the lenses. Neither is clunky, yet they have a solid feel to them. Both lenses
are built tough, with an all-aluminium metal exterior and weather sealing
around the camera mount and focussing ring. This additional sealing his will
come in handy when I’m photographing wildlife outdoors, protecting the lenses
from moisture. The front lens element has an added fluorine coat to repel
water, fingerprints, and smudges, enabling for easier cleaning of the lens
surface. This is a great feature given the amount of dog nose smudge marks and
drooly licks my lenses have to endure.
LENS MOTOR NOISE
My dog clients are very aware of every noise in the studio, from the
fan, to the lights, to the lens motor drive. I photograph many nervous dogs,
and any sound can be a distraction to them, or cause them to startle. I need
lenses with a silent motor, and the Tamron 35mm and 45mm both deliver on this
with silent focus, making them super quiet. This helps put my subjects at ease,
enabling me to get the shots I need for my clients.
CONCLUSION
Both lenses were a dream to use. I can see them appealing to all types
of photographers – wedding, landscape, portrait and architectural especially.
VC is an excellent feature, allowing photographers to really push these lenses
in different lighting conditions. The 45mm, being only 5mm off a 50mm, will
give the current 50mm lenses a run for their money.
These images were captured
handheld, at ISO 100, 1/200th sec and f13 with 35mm and 45mm Tamron
lenses on a Canon 1DX camera body.
Alex Cearns of “Houndstooth Studio by
Alex Cearns”
ABOUT ALEX CEARNS
Alex Cearns is one of Australia’s leading animal photographers and the Creative Director of Houndstooth Studio. Her images have won numerous awards and have been published widely in Australian and international print and online media, in books, magazines, campaigns, and even in an Australia Post stamp collection. Inspired by the joy of working with animals, Alex’s philanthropy and passionate advocacy for animal rescue has earned her high regard among Australia’s population of animal lovers. She has published three books with Penguin Books Australia and her 4th book will be published with Harper Collins in New York in late 2016. Alex is the Global Ambassador for Tamron’s Super Performance Series Lenses and uses Tamron Lenses in her work daily.
