Tamron SP 150-600mm G2 Review: A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY BEAST

[@BrentHall]

A couple more things of note: 1. The min focus distance for the Canon 100-400 mk ii is actually 0.975m, so that's way better than the Tamron. That was my bad, I grabbed the wrong numbers when editing the video. 2. I think I forgot to mention that the Tamron is is stabilized, but I meant to. It claims up to 4 stops I think, but I found it was more like 2-3 stops at most. It does help, and it is very handy to have, especially for video. Also, did anyone else notice those squirrels running around like crazy in the background?!? lol

[@frostybe3r]

Canon's L 600mm destroys this in image quality...

[@actie-reactie]

@@frostybe3r Yes....it also destroys your wallet.....

[@frostybe3r]

@@actie-reactie That doesn't matter lol, the 100-400 ii is still better than the Tamron or Sigma 600mm in image quality and AF speeds.

[@vladimirivanov6353]

i can`t b3li3v3 it...1m min distanc3>>>>prov3 it,pl3as3!!!

[@acouragefann]

@@frostybe3r It does matter. I'm not expecting a lens I can get for 999€ to perform like a lense that sits at double that price. You wouldn't go on a review of the 400mm mark II and go "lol the mark III destroys this" - of course it's gonna be superior. Otherwise, why would it exist at all, when it costs 4000€ more?

[@brianjordan8990]

I've had my 150-600 G2 for about a year now. I'd say your review is spot on to my experiences over the past year. It's a great lens for $1000-$1200. Not sure I'd pay more than that after using for 12 months. But for the price, it's hard to beat.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks Brian! It's definitely a great value for the price, but I personally want something faster than f/6.3 for most of my wildlife outings.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Hi Brian, I am curious to know your opinion now. How do you feel about the Tamron 100 600 after a 3 year period? Does it hold up to multiple uses and photoshoots?

[@foto-spective]

Chromatic aberration was my concern with the Tamron. Glad to hear you didn't have any issues with it. I'm now swaying more towards getting the Tamron over Sigma. Thank you for such an informative video.

[@DhirajKumar-ss4gq]

In perfect lighting conditions , it gives astonishing results at 450~500 mm.

[@jamesherrick2566]

Excellent! I’ve been trying to decide between the Tamron 150-600 and the Sigma 150-600. This video sealed the deal. It’s Tamron.

[@BrentHall]

Hey thanks James, I'm glad I could help!

[@allisonrae4828]

I worked at a camera store for 5 years - TAMRON 150-600 ALL DAYYYYY LONGGG 😁

[@imSaicat]

Sigma sports is better than it's Contemporary version, Nikon 200-500mm & this Tamron 150-600 G2.

[@jacobl6572]

I agree with all you have said from my experience with the lens. I have gotten excellent results having it for over a year and a half shooting birds and wildlife AFTER I calibrated it with the tap in console. It fixed issues from both back and front focusing from different distances and focal lengths that cannot be corrected with the only one setting adjustment my camera body gives me. The new firmware seemed to help it work better also. Stopped down to f8 it is very sharp, and good contrast. Even better than my older 300 mm f4 Nikkor. The main body being metal and it's 10 ring weather sealing, using it in a splashy kayak, is why I bought it over the 200 - 500mm Nikkor.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks Larry, that's awesome to hear!

[@pauldaley4060]

Brilliant review, Brent, well presented, comprehensive and understandable. Thanks, for that, I ended up buying one. You've just made a new fan in Australia. Cheers for that.

[@BrentHall]

Hey thanks Paul, I really appreciate the kind words! Have fun with the new lens, it's a great one!

[@karyleianawildernesscapes]

I love this lense, especially for the versatility of the focal lengths & how lightweight it is. The price point is awesome for a beginner/hobbyist bird/wildlife shooter. I rented the Nikkor 200-500, along with the Tamron 150-600 g2 & found them comparable. I ultimately went with the Tamron for the added reach on both ends. With that said, if one is going the "pro" route, the Nikkor primes, even the PF line, is probably the route to go. I myself am highly anticipating the arrival of the Nikkor 120-300/f2.8 next year! If it's as great as I think/hope it'll be, that will replace my Tamron.

[@BrentHall]

It's definitely hard to beat for the price. I've seen some great things from that 120-300 lens though! :P

[@beginningballroom]

thanks so much! I have never shot with anything bigger than 300mm (on my Canon 7D Mark II), and I rented the G2 from my local camera shop, Service Photo, for the weekend ($42.50 with tax) and went to a couple of my favorite places: Loch Raven Dam looking for Herons, Geese, Eagles other birds, and Deer. Then out to Conowingo Dam for a day of shooting Eagles. It's a huge learning curve for a novice to beginner photographer, but I shot about 6800 frames, and I'm renting it again this weekend. But, your video has me inspired to buy it when the time is right. Thanks again!

[@BrentHall]

You bet man, I'm glad I could help!

[@RichardBO9]

Thorough and spot-on review. I had this lens. It’s an okay lens. You have to run a high ISO to get the shutter speed up. I traded mine and a couple other lenses for a Canon 400 f4 DO. I prefer more light and working to get closer than the extra 200mm. Photography gear is all about trade offs.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks Richard! I definitely concur.😁 the DO is such a nice lens, and I feel the same, I'd rather have a faster lens than a little more reach at this point.

[@AnimationDunk]

Or a fat stack of money ahah

[@theradarguy]

I just got mine for Christmas. You didn't mention anything about calibration. Since it's a rental is it just set to factory? I just did mine this week and it needed a few tweaks. Thanks for the video.

[@erikvernimmen7737]

Hi, thanks for the interesting and useful review. As a beginner photographer, I started a year ago with a Nikon D5600 with a Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-6.3 lens and a nice Tamron 70-200 f2.8. For nature and wildlife, the 70-300mm is for me too short, I have to crop massively to have nice pics. You mentioned that the body is important. Is this body too light for such a 600mm lens? I know it has a cropped sensor, and this lens is for full-frame bodies, but should I consider it for buying, since I am planning to visit Canada in the summertime for some wildlife photography...? Thanks ahead for your thoughts on this one.

[@BrentHall]

The body size doesn't really bother me personally. I put it on the EOS R, which is a smaller body comparatively speaking, and I felt fine with it. If the D5600 is all you have, then I wouldn't hesitate to use this combo, as glass is always more important, and this is a pretty good lens. With the crop on that body you'd be in the 900mm range, which is a significant upgrade from 450mm, lol.

[@andyjgill5750]

Thanks Brent, I’ve been looking at this lens for a while. But I think my camera body needs updating first, I have a Canon 760d with a Tamron 18-270 which struggles for sharpness at 270. Will up the shutter speed to 1/2000 and ISO 🤞

[@KIMBOproduction]

Squirrels spottet in the background at 11:44 😂🐿 Great video!

[@chrisguli2865]

I have this lens which I've used mainly for nature, birding, etc. It is definitely a "sunny day" lens. Use it on a D7200 currently but want to try it on the D500 someday soon, maybe this summer. Some have complained about the weight but for me I got used to it. Also some complain about the switches not being recessed enough and those that hold it by the barrel may accidentally flip the mode switches - I usually grip the tripod mount so that is not a problem for me. Overall very happy with the AF performance and IQ on the D7200 but it can be a tricky lens to handle especially if you are doing BIF. Some things I would to see on a G3 version if it ever comes out - recessed mode switches, constant f/5 or 5.6 aperture but this will make it a bit heavier, and maybe a white finish barrel...

[@FabrizioZago]

Thanks for the review, I'm interested to test this lens myself. I want to rent it in the new year for some days and giving it a try. I'm not a wildlife photographer, so I don't want to invest in the more expensive lenses for this purpose only, this is why this one makes me curious for a test.

[@BrentHall]

Hey, I'm glad I could help! I definitely fell you on not wanting to spend too much on a big wildlife lens The price and quality of the this lens though, is really hard to beat! But especially with big stuff like this, I always like to rent first so I can see how it feels and performs. It's a big help before a purchase.

[@FabrizioZago]

​@@BrentHall Thanks for the prompt answer! I think that if a regular wildlife photographer is happy with this lens, I can be also happy :-)

[@martinstrauss889]

Hello, Brent, You mentioned a very important point, which is often not mentioned on the other hand. The extremely important condition which plays a very important role about the camera with the low light intensity of these lenses. You point this out very explicitly, this cannot be mentioned often enough to avoid disappointment. I notice this regularly in my forest region. Your report is very good. Many greetings Martin

[@BrentHall]

Thanks for the kind words Martin, I really appreciate it!

[@shadabshaikh8922]

Thank you very much for the review. It was really helpful. Just wanted to know if this lens will perform well on entry level DSLR like Canon 1200D. Looking forward for your valuable input.

[@mct92]

Did you get any wiser on this? Thinking about putting this on an old 450d 😅

[@markborder906]

I have recently acquired the Nikon version of this lens when I upgraded from my entry level Nikon D3200 to a second hand D750. I have tried this lens on the D3200, just to see if it would work. I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked, so I imagine the same would apply to the Canon.

[@waynecampbell4974]

Cheers Brent really good review mate and another sub from down under. I own the Canon 100-400 L ii as well and it is my favorite lens over my other L lenses as I use it for sport and surf photography. I have been tossing up for a couple of years on a 600mm and I think you just sold me. Cheers.

[@BrentHall]

Hey thanks Wayne, I really appreciate that! I'm glad my video helped. :)

[@FrankyboyLegend]

My biggest gripe with this lens is the stabilization. I usually leave it at mode 1, but sometimes a bird moves too fast and I often end up with a blurred shot event at a high shutter speed, so it seems like it does not have panning cancellation built into that mode (which is a shame as some lens out there do this automatically). You're supposed to move it to mode 2, but sometimes I don't have the time to move it back (and it can be easy to forget moving it back to mode 1 after). For still objects I only trust it above 1/320 at 600mm when handheld. It seems to me like the stabilization sometimes adds unintended smearing and softening when shooting multiple handheld shots. There is a fourth mode using the Tap In Console to change mode 1 to "viewfinder priority", which may seem assuring at first as the image is super stable, but it's only recommended for video and still is susceptible to the smearing issue (probably even more than mode 1). I've also noticed the lens seems to misfocus in certain conditions (~20m or so), but it's not always constant and the Tap-in console didn't help much. I actually found it better to microadjust focus with my camera body.

[@BrentHall]

I definitely had better luck with bif when I switched to mode 2. For the most part I kept it in mode 1. I may have experienced some miss focusing with subjects farther away, but I can't be sure it wasn't me and not just the lens. I definitely felt like I always needed to keep the shutter speed pretty high though. In my experience the stabilization on the Tamron wasn't as good as on my 100-400 mk ii, but I expected as much. I didn't really try out mode 3 on the Tamron though.

[@yohandesilva6545]

If you had to choose between the Tamron 150-600 and Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens,what would your pick be?

[@BrentHall]

The Tamron.

[@Pankrat1973]

At full frame, Tamron is a little sharper than Sigma at 6.3, at 7.1 they are the same! On crop they are both soapy at 6.3 and the same at 7.1 and up. This is all at 600mm focal lengths! On other values, Sigma is better!

[@atulatulatul1]

Excellent video..❤️ Could you please let me know how this lens performs with Sony a9ii.. Secondly, this lens for Sony a mount doesn't have VC , so how does it handles the vibration...

[@BrentHall]

Thank you! I've only ever used this on a Canon though, so I can't comment about it's performance on a Sony.

[@MrDAGO1974]

Nice review, Have the lens for 18 months, and enjoy using it. (it's very good, but not super) I think for the price, there is notting more you can expect. Only thing I can't seem to get used to is the zoom direction, which turns opposite to the Canon lenses.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! I definitely agree with you. It's an incredible value for the price, but there are certainly better lenses out there, including the 100-400 mk ii. And yeah, the first time I used my Tamron 70-200 G2, the zoom direction was really messing with me, lol, but I'm pretty used to it now.

[@raylander6329]

Great review, as always; I agree, and I did shoot the Tamron 150-600 with the 5d IV great shots; QUESTION FOR YOU: It is now November 2020, I am getting the Canon R5; Tamron 150-600, or Canon 100-500? Money is not determining factor; weight is, as I did have heart surgery, and trying to keep my backpack really light. Going to Africa again in May 2021 for another once in a lifetime... I am asking you, as I know you now shoot the R5. Thank you, sorry for the lengthy intro.

[@BrentHall]

If money isn't an option, I'd go with the rf 100-500 hands down. It's beyond sharp, and way lighter then the tamron. You could always pick up a TC for it later too, or even the rf 800 down the road, to supplement it.

[@raylander6329]

Thank you Brent Hall for taking the time to reply; will do that!

[@jameslane3846]

Just got this for my Nikon F100, can't wait for it to arrive!

[@BrentHall]

Awesome, have fun with it!

[@myseaeaglechannel2913]

Brent a little off topic, but I have a chance to pick up a 1DS Mark 3 and thinking about getting it for landscape and keeping my 7D for my wildlife shooting. Would love your opinion. Seems like a good chance for me to pick up a full frame at a very fair price.

[@BrentHall]

Idk, that's a pretty old camera, and quite heavy, comparatively speaking. But if it has the specs you want, then sure. Personally, I'd take the RP over that, for just a little bit more (in price). If you're just wanting mostly landscapes then the 1 series (to me) would be a bit overkill in terms of size and weight.

[@myseaeaglechannel2913]

@@BrentHall thanks Brent I’ll look into it.

[@jkennan]

Thanks for a comprehensive and very helpful review. I’ve got the 100-400 mark I which is a little clunky due to its zoom design. I wish it was the Mark ii! The Tamron sounds great and looks to produce fantastic results.

[@BrentHall]

You bet man, I'm glad I could help! I definitely don't miss that zoom design. It'll be a nice upgrade for sure.

[@endlessdrive8421]

I got the Tamron G2, and although I loved it, I was unfortunate enough to get a defective one that failed after 3 outings unfortunately (I know mine is a serious outlier). But once I finally get my refund for my return, I'm highly considering the Canon 100-400 mk.ii because its only $300-400 more, seems exceptionally sharp, holds its value incredibly well AND I can support one of the only local camera stores in my area since they have them in stock. I don't know how much I'll miss the extra 200mm of reach, but what do you think Brent? Will it be a better move to hop over to the Canon lens or will I be ok buying another Tamron?

[@BrentHall]

I do like the Tamron. It's a great value for what it is, but I'd take my canon over it 99% of the time.

[@endlessdrive8421]

@@BrentHall Actually I had one other question, when using the Canon 100-400mm mk.ii do you ever have times when you miss the extra 200mm of reach on the Tamron? or does the sharpness usually counterbalance the 200mm loss via cropping? Since my regional parks are quite active with people, birds in my area tend to be quite far away and I'm always worried I won't be able reach them. I also can't really just walk around off the path either so, I'm limited where I can move physically to get closer.

[@BrentHall]

That depends on a few things. What body do have, and how far away are the average subjects that you'll be photographing? The Canon is sharper than the Tamron, even when cropped in to 600mm (if you can nail focus and have solid techniques), and also the Tamron does get kind of soft at 600mm when the subject is farther away (though that's just physics, every lens does it, just to varying degrees). Also consider things like weight. How much/far are you willing to lug the Tamron around, it's a lot heavier than the Canon. If reach is your biggest concern though, then the extra 200mm is quite nice. The Tamron is only 1/3 stop slower than the canon at full extension, so depending on the camera body you have and how well you can edit, that shouldn't be too much of a deal breaker. It sounds like based on your shooting style and area, that you would be fine with the Tamron. Honestly though, they both good lenses, but they have slightly different uses. The canon (to me) is way more versatile, so I will almost always go for that, but that's because I shoot so much more than just wildlife, and I'm often hiking, biking, kayaking, and rock-climbing to get to my locations and the less gear and weight I have, the better. If you're not doing that kind of stuff, and you just want a solid wildlife lens for walking around your local parks or going to wildlife specific places like Bosque del Apache, Yellowstone, Alaska, etc, and want to save some money, then the Tamron will be great.

[@endlessdrive8421]

@@BrentHall Generally speaking, most of my photography is wildlife/bird photography at my regional parks. Since new housing development has started around the parks, they have become a bit more crowded which is good to see as the parks are getting more funding, but this also means more stress on the birds. This has lead to them being much further into the marshlands than they used to be. The reach was nice when I did have the Tamron especially for the herons which hide really far out from the paths. However, the crowded nature of the parks could also be an argument for versatility since lots of challenges are introduced at unanticipated times (aka: bikes, dog walkers, loud kids, etc...) being able to just move along to the next spot would be easier with the Canon and I could more easily hand hold it when small opportunities arise out of the blue which I found to be very challenging with the Tamron. I'm hoping to rent the 100-400 mk.ii and a 1.4x extender to see how I like it. Thanks again for your input Brent, I really appreciate it!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

I am curious if you still have this Tamron lens and have you used the lens adapter to try it on the R6? How do you like it with the R6 verses your RF 100-500? I am ready for a new big reasonably priced lens. I am still looking forward to the R7. I should just wait and get the R7 with the RF 100-500. My 100-400 is keeping me satisfied.

[@BrentHall]

I don't have the tamron. I actually never owned it, just rented it a few times. I did use it and talk about its performance on the R5 and R6 in my video about the RF 800. I still maintain that's about the best budget lens out there for wildlife, but I'd personally never take it over my new 100-500 (which is my favorite lens of all time now). If you're ready to upgrade camera bodies, I definitely wouldn't wait for an R7. There's no solid proof that it will even happen or a decent timeline for it. The R6 is out, and it's phenomenal, and will be way better than anything you have now. Just my two cents on that. Your 1-4 will go wonderfully with the R6 as well.

[@angelogarciajr5356]

@@BrentHall I appreciate the reply. Thanks. I am set for cameras. The only reason I considered that 150-600 is to use it on my 7D2 or the 5D3 for sports and birds to give the 1-4 a break.. I just wondered how you may have liked it on the R6. I have an R6 and use the 1-4 on it at times. I am babying it keeping the R6 new. I guess what I meant is I think the 100-500 will be my favorite as well, but will just live with the 1-4 until the R7 comes out. Sounds silly when I can just get the 100=500 now and enjoy it on the R6. And already have it. Too many choices lol

[@actie-reactie]

About this lens the most unbiased and realistic review on you tube.... still a litllebit afraid for the sharpness at 600mm....but gonna think about it....my cameras a 5d3 and 90D....subscribed...

[@BrentHall]

Hey thanks Richard, I really appreciate that!

[@GingerPhotographer]

Nice review Brent. I used to own the Sigma 150-600c but traded it in for a 100-400 II and at the time I never had an APS-C camera so I missed the range, paired with a Canon Extender on the 5D Mark IV it's great but lost a stop of light. Now I have the 90D and it's a great paired with the 100-400 II - I must admit I do miss the 150-600 on full frame! Was thinking myself to pick up another 150-600 but not sure about Tamron or Sigma - rumours are the Sigma is sharper on the long end.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks Martin! I've been loving the images you've been putting out with the 90D and 1-4, and of course with the 5D4 and 1-4! I might go rent a 90D to test it out and make a video about that too. My favorite combo has definitely been the 5D4 and 1-4 though, I just love it for so many things! I've never tested the Sigma 150-600 sport, but I have used the contemporary and I feel like (totally un-scientific) the Tamron is better. It's weather-sealed and is way sharper than the version one, and I've had no sharpness issues with it at 600 (at least for what it is) I've also used the Canon 600 f/4 mk ii and it's just disgustingly sharp, so I try not to think about that, lol.

[@GingerPhotographer]

@@BrentHall Thank you sir!! Mine was the contemporary, solid lens honestly! I have no idea why I sold it 😳 - anyways the 90D is a fine camera, images are more noisy which is expected on a crop but once the advanced settings have been dialed in I think it's fine. Problem I have is that I'm spoilt with the output the 5D Mark IV produces, 90D images just do not match up especially at higher iso. You mentioned the 500 f4 v1 in your video, problem is and I've been contemplating picking one up is that since 2017 Canon will not repair it "Discontinued lens" so no way I'm pulling 3k "In Europe" for such a lens.

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, I figured the 90D would be pretty noisy. I sold my 7D2 a while back cause I always ended up grabbing my 5D4 or 1DX2 and then gripping in a bit more. Even with the crop, the images on my full frames always came out better, and I'm in the mind frame where I now prefer a faster lens with a little less reach. I didn't know that about the 500, that's a bummer. You might look into the 400 f/4 DO, or the 300 f/2.8 and tc.

[@rajithodlme]

Hi Brent, how about sigma 50-500mm lens? Any opinion on that?

[@BrentHall]

I've never used that one. I've only tried the Sigma 150-600 C.

[@Dukesy]

I have an RF 100-400 but cant really afford the RF 100-500. I have the 1.4x converter also but struggle with too high ISO. Would the EF 100-400 mk ii be a lot better as originally I was going to get that. I havent really been out in the best weather though and am using a canon R5. Interested to hear your thoughts. I like wildlife and action sports Would really appreciate your advice

[@burnetr1]

Thanks for the video. I have a Canon 6D which is not good for tracking and a 7D Mark ll which is very good tracking but not good in low light..I e got a 70-200 F4L IS and am going to Glacier, Denali, and Yellowstone, do you think the 100-600 would be a good fit or, should I go for the Canon 100-400 which is out of my budget being 8m on social security..... thank you

[@BrentHall]

Depends on what you want out of it. If you're just doing wildlife then I'd say go for the Tamron, but if you like landscapes as well, especially at Glacier and Yellowstone, you might really like the versatility and less weight of the 100-400. If you can't swing the canon 100-400, you should check out the Tamron 100-400, it's amazingly sharp, light, and way cheaper than the canon.

[@marksharman7097]

Great Review Brent. I have a slight dilemma you may be able to help with. I have the 5d mk4 and the 100-400 mk2 which produces as you know some stunning images. I would class myself as an advanced amateur photographer and really enjoy wildlife photography as well as macro. My dilemma is looking for the extra reach from 400mm so I purchased the 1.4x ii converter which gives me the extra reach but seems to be softer at the 400/560 end. I have been looking at the tamron 150-600 G2 for a while but reluctant to purchase as I know how good the 100-400 is and don't want to sell it. My other consideration is the 90D and the crop factor giving me the reach I am looking for and just use this body for wildlife photography and the 5D mk4 for other things, I have read the comments in your thread and not sure what to do now, I welcome your advice.

[@BrentHall]

Hey Mark, so I decided to make a video about this. It's quite long though, but I hope it helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHXcpoN3ZdKZaKs

[@Decoii]

Would you recommend this G2 Lens or a Sigma 150-600 contemporary?

[@BrentHall]

They're both pretty good budget options for dslrs. I haven't used either in more than a few years now though. If you're on a Canon mirrorless body though, I wouldn't recommend either because they just don't perform as well. I'd look at the RF 100-400 or 200-800.

[@talhazia1401]

Amazing review. How do you compare it with Sigma 150-600 mm contemporary version?

[@BrentHall]

Thank you! Personally, I'd rather get the Tamron. It's weather-sealed, and has slightly better optics.

[@arunkkarthick]

Nice & Detailed review . Thanks.

[@BrentHall]

You bet man, thanks for watching!

[@rinohals]

Interesting review 👍I've had the both of the Sigmas and the Tamron G2 and found it a good buy. Sold all of them though, and bought the Canon 100-400 ll. It's crazy sharp😳 I think the minimum focal distance on the Canon 100-400 is just under a meter. 😉

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! I agree, I love my 100-400 mk ii, it's pretty much my favorite lens ever, and I'd never trade it for anything. And yeah, I did see that mfd is 0.975m, but I didn't find that number until after I published the video. :(

[@actie-reactie]

@@BrentHall Lot of people use the canon 100-400 on the 90D site I visit regularly ... and you will probably call me an idiot....but my tamron 100-400 doesnt do less as it goes for image quality....and light....put a weight on it just to keep it down 😁 but Seriously.... bought the tamron in Hongkong for 540 euro.... in the netherlands it costs 840 euro....the canon in the netherlands 2.059 euro....was a no brainer

[@christinenantz9775]

Two Questions if I may. First I love all of my Tamron lens : from 24-70, 70-200, 150-600. Paired with 5Div & EOS R I have micro adjusted all but the 150-600. Question is, do you find the adjustment on this lens to be an accurate adjustment? The other question is what is your main technique in reducing noice in post at the high ISO? Thanks

[@BrentHall]

I've never adjusted any of my tamron lenses. I really should get the TAP console, but I haven't yet. For high iso noise reduction for wildlife, I usually make a stamp visible layer, open it back up in camera raw after the rest of the edits, and do a global noise reduction by at least 40-50% and then open that layer back up in PS and mask it and paint back in the subject, so everything else is nice and noise-less and a little extra blurry. I'm gonna make a new video about it here pretty soon. I think I've done it, or mentioned it in previous videos but I'm not sure, I'have so many up now, lol.

[@christinenantz9775]

Thanks a million for your reply! Yes, both my Tamron 24-70 needed to be adjusted and glad I did. Minor adjustments made on 70-200 and no real need for 15-30 as it is used for sky and landscape. Adjustments on 150-600 I would think may be hard to accomplish as it is so far away from target. Really appreciate the huge tip on the noice reduction. Thanks again and really like your content!

[@tonycapo8015]

Great review Brent, have you every tried the Sigma 150-600mm? If so how does it compare to the Tamron?

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! I have. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that in the video, but I liked the tamron better. It's sharper, better weather sealed, and has less chromatic aberration. That's just my opinion though.

[@fransmagel8234]

please help me decide . if I use it for my Canon EOS R. is it working well ?

[@myseaeaglechannel2913]

Hi Brent, I’m currently in an auction for a canon 100-400 version 2 and hope to use it on my 7D Mark 2. I’m also looking forward to the extra reach due to my crop factor. Any information for me maybe to buffer my expectations... Thanks

[@BrentHall]

you'll get a little bit extra perceived reach with the 7D2, just watch those high ISO levels on that body, they can get ugly. Have fun with it though, that's a solid little wildlife combo!

[@johnandrews1737]

Great review for a great lens for it's price. Have you done the firmware updates on the lens yet? it refines the autofocus as wel as a few other aspects. Good job.

[@BrentHall]

thanks John, I appreciate the kind words! I haven't done any firmware updates with the lens, but that's good to hear.

[@galesaunders4120]

how do you do the updates?

[@davidsjparry]

Hey Brent, have you tried the latest Tamron 100-400 for wildlife photography?

[@BrentHall]

That's also a great lens, especially if you want something a little lighter and really versatile for other types of photography, and it's a lot cheaper than the canon version.

[@davidsjparry]

@@BrentHall Awesome, thanks! Keep up the excellent work :)

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Hi Brent, thank you for sharing this video. It is good to hear your opinion and comparison of the Tamron 150-600 to the Canon 100-400. By the way when are you getting that Canon 500 mm prime lens? lol, I know someone who has that lens. It is out of this world.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks Lonnie! I don't think I'm gonna pick up the old 500 f/4 any time soon. Since filming this video I have switched to all mirrorless cameras (the R5 and R6) so I think I will get that new 800 f/11 and give it a go, and at some point I will probably sell my 100-400 and get the new rf 100-500. Gotta save up quite a few more pennies though...

[@lonnieclemens8028]

@@BrentHall Sounds great!

[@imzaazmi]

Hi if this lens pair with canon R7 with adeptor will it effected the performance?

[@sprayhawk808]

Thanks for this review - answered several of the questions running through my mind. Couple of questions if you don't mind. I am shooting with a 7Dii and 100-400 v2 sometimes with an EF1.4 TCii. If I understand your observations, you see the Tamron as a complimentary lens to the 100-400 in the birding area - yes? Do you have any experience/thoughts on the Tamron 1.4 TC with the 150-600 G2? With lighting being a bigger issue with the 6.3 aperture, would the 1DX be enough better in low light than the 7Dii to be effective? Thank you!

[@BrentHall]

I did a very in-depth review of the new RF 800mm vs the Tamron 150-600 G2, and I have a section of that video where I used and talked about the Tamron with the 1.4x TC. In short, I prefer the RF 800 over the Tamron with the TC for most things, though it does okay if you really need it. A 1DX is much much better in low light than a 7D2, as is a 5D4 or any other full frame camera. I sold my 7D2 in favor of my 5D4 and 1DX2 for that very reason, and a few others.

[@sprayhawk808]

@@BrentHall Thanks for the feedback on the lens/TC. I'll check out that other review. Regarding the bodies - currently the 7D2 is my 'wildlife' lens, a 1Div is my 'sports' lens/backup and I've got an old 5Dii for portrait / last resort - it is worth more than I could sell it for basically. I am looking at possibly going to a 1DX, thinking the 1Div would be the body to remove and the 7Dii becomes the backup lens. Am I thinking about this correctly in your opinion?

[@jimbembinster]

Thanks for this video. One question I have is what is the distance to the birds in these photos. With the longer shots it would be great to know, for example the Chickadee was 40 yards or the Cardinal was 20 yards away. The reason I ask this is I have the first release of the 150/600 lens and at 40 yards or more the photos are so soft they are unusable at 600mm. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, that's the problem with most people wanting to do wildlife photography. They have an unreal expectation of physics. Most of the images in that video were shot with the birds and animals no farther than about 40 ft away from me, and personally, I always try to get even closer. A lot of those images were around 20-30 ft from the subjects. It won't matter if you have the best and biggest 800mm in the world, if your subjects are small birds and animals that are more than about 50 ft away tops, then physics will not be your friend, and you will most likely get soft and slightly out of focus images. When I first got that lens and people were saying it was soft at 600mm, that was likely why--they were usually trying to shoot things that were just too far away and not properly managing their expectations and understanding physics. Unfortunately in wildlife photography, there's just no substitution for getting closer, and that's not always easy for sure. Hope that helps.

[@jimbembinster]

@@BrentHall Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I too always shoot birds as close as possible, so when I tried some long range shots I was disappointed with the out of focus or soft image. I did contact Tamron and basically they said sorry you are having trouble with the lens,we can fix that, send it in for repair. Also nice to hear that a $20k lens has the same problems. Thanks again and I have superscribed to your channel.

[@skalco88]

I own the g2 and the 400 5.6. (my machines are 80d and 5dsr). When shooting in BIF, 50% of the photos are blurred. the times never go below 1/2500, and ONLY if I find myself freehand I always use vc mod 2 (for stationary subjects instead vc 1 or 3). I realized that the biggest problem with this lens is the continuous refresh during the tracking of the subject (the autofocus briefly loses the subject and then hangs it up). This continuous refresh during the chase then inevitably causes problems when you press the shutter button, leaving you with a lot of choppy shots. With the 400 5.6 this HAPPENS MUCH MUCH LESS, because the af is simply better and more reliable. the 400 5.6 can be considered much more "sniper" from this point of view. the g2 hook the subject very quickly, but the real problem is that it is very hard to stay "hooked" during the chase. g2 is good for static animals but not for bif.

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, I've noticed similar performance with the tamron. I think I talked about it a little bit in the video, but I didn't go into that much detail. The focusing is definitely more inconsistent than a native canon lens, but for the price, and the fact that it's a 3rd party company, one should expect performance issues like that when compared to native lenses.

[@skalco88]

@@BrentHall the aspect I am talking about is the most important for an avifauna objective. Honestly I was expecting something more, since it is a modern lens (although not a canon original). the percentage of perfectly focused shots is very low in tracking, because this lens cannot stay attached to the moving subject and loses focus too often. Tamron focused on the other aspects of the lens, unfortunately leaving out the most important one. In all other respects the g2 is a very good target; I wonder if the sigma C in the pursuit is doing better or more or less the same

[@berkaykaanozcan]

hello, is it water resistant? Is it possible to shoot in the rain?

[@Gaiiaat]

Any idea when Tamron 150-600mm G3 will be released?

[@BrentHall]

No clue. I've never even heard that they were doing or thinking about doing that.

[@paulbursey5123]

Hi, great video , love the detail you’ve provided. I’ve been looking at both of these for birds and trying to make a decision . I shot with the r6. Just wondering if you have a option on which lens would work best overall with this body. Thanks

[@BrentHall]

Well the best lens, in my opinion, is the RF 100-55, but it's also stupid expensive. After that I would go with the EF 100-400. Both out perform the Tamron in just about every way. The Tamron is good, don't get me wrong, especially for the price, but the Canon lenses are better.

[@paulbursey5123]

@@BrentHall Thanks Brent.. I appreciate your response. I’m going to go with the canon.

[@rajithodlme]

Hi, how does tamron 150-600 compare with 100-400mm lens

[@cat5e]

I'm planning on making this my next lens purchase. The Nikon F-mount version now has a firmware update for compatability with the FTZ adapter!

[@BrentHall]

That's awesome, have fun with it!

[@yannikflender1473]

Hey mate, did you got the lens? Im planing to buy it for my z mount nikon so maybe we can talk about how it is?

[@cat5e]

@@yannikflender1473 I haven't bought the 150-600mm yet, but the three Tamron lenses I currently own work great. I have the 45mm f/1.8, the 24-70mm G2, and the 70-200mm G2. I get better autofocus performance with these on my Z6 than I did on my DSLR.

[@yannikflender1473]

@@cat5e Ok that's perfect haha, and thanks for the quick response

[@soak000]

Great review. I have a 100-400 II that I absolutely love, especially on the 1DX II body. For greater reach I upgraded to the 90D from the 80D but I am not thrilled with the 90Ds focus tracking capabilities, and not to mention the noise. I am thinking about this lens but for extra reach, did you use a teleconverter (1.4X) with the 1DX II body? Thanks.

[@BrentHall]

Thanks man! I didn't get to try the TC with it, and personally, I probably wouldn't use it even if I had it. The lens did great on my 1DX2 and the extra reach was definitely nice!

[@soak000]

@@BrentHall Any thoughts on using it on the 90D for the extra reach? Or not worth it? Thanks again. I like reviews that cover real life situations (like yours) without a lot of charts and graphs.

[@BrentHall]

@@soak000 I've never used the 90D, but I've heard good things about it, at least for good light situations. At this point in my wildlife photography though, I'd personally rather have a better, cleaner image than a little more reach, so I still prefer just cropping on a full frame. But that's just me. I'd say rent a 90D if you're curious how it would preform for you though.

[@waltertrejo9512]

Hello, I'm a newbie so forgive me if my question sounds silly. if you were to take photos with a 70-200 f2.8, would this lens still be good for taking photos in the zoo of animals or is this lens more for portraits for people?

[@BrentHall]

The 70-200 f/2.8 is a great lens for zoos! I use it a lot for that.

[@LiquidGardener]

I’m a Nikon shooter. Rented this for my D 500 for auto races. Worked very well.

[@georgidrenski2988]

How does it compare to Nikon 200-500?

[@vladepast4936]

I understand you got the lens and you have to believe it is ok but the fact is the Tamron lens is soft at 600mm and it is very soft if a subject is more then 60-90 feet away. If a subject is close then it is not bad, taking pictures of the birds around your feeder, right under your nose, that is what is good for. And that is the end of it...

[@BrentHall]

I just rented the lens, and I certainly didn't "have" to believe anything about it. I agree that it definitely gets softer as the subject gets farther away, though all lenses do that, it's just physics, but yes this one does get noticeably softer quicker, and it's still not as sharp as my 100-400 mk ii, which I still prefer as it's a better lens than the tamron in pretty much every way. I still stand by my opinion that the Tamron is a great lens for the price, and most people, especially people who are just starting out, or just not willing or able to spend more for a "real" wildlife lens will be very happy with its quality.

[@billmastrippolito7132]

@@BrentHall If you fine tune the lens with the tap-in console, it is sharp as at 600mm, I can clearly see blades of grass 400 metres away with mine.

[@BrentHall]

That's awesome! I definitely wish I had the tap console. I should probably get one anyways, seeing as how I own so many other Tamron lenses already, lol.

[@annveilleux5218]

The tap-in console is necessary. Different MFA values depending on distance.

[@michaelwong1921]

Could this lens be used for planespotting?

[@nautversteegen3271]

Should i go the r7 or the 6d m ii for my tamron 150-600g2. They say that the tamron sometimes problems has. What do you think?

[@BrentHall]

Well, the R7 doesn't exist, so I guess I'd go with the one that does.

[@Paul-rp1pu]

Do you think it will perform well on the 32 megapixel Canon 90D crop camera?

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, that combo should do well.

[@RobiRB7]

Brent, najlepša hvala za te informacije in predstavitev. Se nagibam k nakupu tega Tamrona in uporabi na Canon R7... Trenutno imam Canon 100-400 mk2, samo je 400mm premalo. Lep pozdrav! Robert

[@zach_hewitt]

Nice review Brent. I wonder how the 100-400 with a 1.4x or 2x TC would compare to the 150-600mm?

[@BrentHall]

Thanks! The 100-400 mk ii is better in pretty much every way, and I suspect it would still be better even with the 1.4x Tc, though the 2x would slow down the af and drop the iq to less than that of the Tamron at 600, but probably not by much, especially with good light.

[@joyadams507]

Just upgraded from the original to the g2..Nikon mount! Thanks for sharing your information! Very helpful!

[@BrentHall]

That's awesome, I'm glad I could help! I think you'll definitely notice the improvements over the original.

[@RPMac]

Very very good review.....thanks !

[@BrentHall]

You bet, thanks for watching!

[@gauravrajput5897]

Can we use sigma 150-600 contemporary with canon m50 mark ii ?

[@rafapajestka-nalesnychscie8167]

Piękne zdjęcia i film. Super realizacja . Pozdrawiam serdecznie i zapraszam do lasu🌲🌳🌿szczęśliwego Nowego Roku 2022.

[@Ruslan_davudov_photography]

What about EF to RF adapter in front of Canon R10 and this lens...will the autofocus gonna suffer?

[@BrentHall]

That lens will struggle with AF on any canon mirrorless body, but not because of the adapter.

[@scottzorro]

Great review Brent - I have this lens & see from one of your other videos that you have paired it with the canon R5 - how do you find the AF with this combination as have read forum posts stating the AF is mega slow with this combo (am thinking of upgrading to R5 from 7Dii) - any info would be most gratefully received

[@BrentHall]

I have never had any issues with the lens on any of my mirrorless cameras. It's been amazing. I do have the RF 800mm review, where I compare it to the tamron. Is super long, but will worth the watch if you're considering the tamron with the R5.

[@scottzorro]

@@BrentHall - thanks Brent - have already watched that one but can’t remember it detailing much about the comparative AF with each body on the lens (perhaps an idea for a future video? 😉)

[@Stone1108]

Impressive comparison, thanks.

[@BrentHall]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@harshad6489]

Hello sir...!!! Nice review of the lens, I am going to buy this lens in the upcoming future for sports and wildlife photography. Would like to know how does it performs with Canon 90D??

[@BrentHall]

Thank you! I don't know, I've never used the 90D, but I've heard good things about it. I can only say that of the 3 camera bodies I did test this lens on, it was great on all 3.

[@MarkA500]

I just got this lens. I have Rebel T8i. I was hesitant at first, but after I got it, I love it. 📷 #ImABeginner 😅

[@ArcanePath360]

Very useful, thanks.

[@BrentHall]

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!

[@soak000]

I was getting sharp image at 600, but recently it hasn't. I have it paired with 90D. I am noticing a huge drop in IQ and this is only 3 months old. My Canon 100-400 II (no comparison) produces far superior results. Any thoughts on what I could do? How's Tamron when it comes to customer service? I tried micro adjusting but no change. Thanks.

[@BrentHall]

That's really odd. I've never tried a 90D, so i can't speak for that. Have you tried the tap console? I've also never used their customer service, but I've never heard anything bad about it.

[@soak000]

@@BrentHall I contacted Tamron customer service and after a few back and forth, and some controlled test of a photo of a stop sign, they agreed that it was soft and it needs to go in for service. I am used to Canon lenses and this is my first non-Canon purchase. I hope its behavior doesn't repeat itself. Thanks for your reply.

[@njbmods]

Awesome review man.. Hit the nail on so many questions i had. Im waiting for my G2 to arrive next week! Cant wait, great stuff mate! 👌

[@BrentHall]

Thanks man. I'm glad I could help!

[@waynesmithphoto]

Thanks for this

[@deniseoldridge7518]

Love your video on the 150-600 lens. Would you recommend this with a 7d mark ii body? I have the 7d now.

[@BrentHall]

I think it would pair very well with the 7D2.

[@deniseoldridge7518]

@@BrentHall thank you! Just have to save some money. Btw...I am a small person. Would I be able to hand hold with both? I do have the older version of canon 100-400. It is somewhat heavy. Thank you for getting back to me.

[@BrentHall]

@@deniseoldridge7518 I don't know, it depends on a lot of things I guess, like how are your shoulders, back, and neck? Mine are all broken and very wrecked from the navy and it's getting harder for me to hold heavier things, but I still manage alright with the tamron, especially on a smaller camera body, and especially if I pay attention to how I carry it. Using a cotton carrier system has been pretty beneficial for me. Overall though, to me personally, the tamron is not nearly as heavy as the big whites I've used in the past, and is only marginally heavier than my 100-400 mk ii . My wife is 5'1" and 95 lbs and she can deal with the tamron alright, but she's also in pretty good shape, so it really just depends on what you consider "heavy" is.

[@deniseoldridge7518]

@@BrentHall I am 5' 1" also. My shoulders and back are ok. Do have some problems with my neck. But tolerable. I really don't like using a tripod. I think I will rent both lens and body and try it out. Btw... I too love lens rentals 👍

[@iraidx]

very informative video! thank you

[@BrentHall]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@cleverclogsbecky]

What would it be like on a Canon 90D ?

[@ajhernandez300]

Best review I seen on KZbin by far!!!

[@BrentHall]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!

[@traveltidbit3568]

I have a " Canon EOS 70D " dslr and I want to buy a new "Tamron SP 150-600mm f / 5-6.3D VC USD GG ". But in the future I will replace my camera body with a Canon Mirrorless body. then may I use the same lens for both of them ?

[@BrentHall]

Yes you can use ef lens on the rf mount, you will just need an adapter.

[@traveltidbit3568]

@@BrentHall but is the there any image quality issues ?

[@myseaeaglechannel2913]

Hi Brent, I have a Canon 7D Mk ll......any opinion on this lens for that body? Thanks

[@BrentHall]

It'll do very well on the 7D2. Just watch your iso levels. That camera doesn't handle too high of isos very well.

[@rvallure9513]

@@BrentHall yes definite seems like a daytime lens for sure

[@HeroShotz]

Wow have yoi done a vid with this lens vs the rf f11s ?

[@BrentHall]

Yes I have.

[@josephcole3187]

I was tossing around the possibility of this or the sigma contemporary...thoughts?

[@BrentHall]

I mentioned it in the video. I have only used the sigma very briefly a couple of times, but from my limited experience with it, I still prefer the Tamron. To me it's sharper and weather-sealed, and I think still a little bit cheaper.

[@josephcole3187]

Brent Hall sorry i was editing while listening thanks, and i think your right the weather seal alone is worth it thanks man 🤙🏻

[@BrentHall]

No worries man, good luck with it!

[@assumptiongomes3427]

Thanks just got one

[@im_a_gallivanter7903]

Sir, I'm thinking of using this lens in my Canon750D, Do u have any other lens suggestions for me in this budget

[@BrentHall]

Depends on what you want to photograph. All the SP and G2 lenses in tamron's line up are great, and affordable.

[@EnigMagnum]

i want to use it with crop bodies like 800d and 80d...what's your thought on that?

[@rafoolima]

The 80d camera has a better quality of frames and mega pixels than the 800d camera which is for beginners.

[@EnigMagnum]

@@rafoolima i know those stuff... i want to know how this lens performs on a crop body

[@robertcolby7588]

Would you recommend this lens on a canon 90d ?

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, I think that combo would be fine.

[@markmcdonough9748]

If you don't own either, which would you buy?

[@BrentHall]

So this video is pretty old now and I don't remember exactly what I said, but I'm going to assume you're talking about the Tamron and the Canon EF 1-4 mk ii, in which case I would say "It depends." If you are on a dslr, then the tamron is still a solid and affordable option, albeit a lot heavier. If you are on a Canon mirrorless, then I no longer recommend 3rd party AF lenses because they're becoming increasingly incompatible with the AF. So in the RF world I would recommend the RF100-400 for ultra budget and portability, or the EF 100-400 mk ii for a better version. The RF 100-500 is now my favorite lens ever, but it's stupid expensive.

[@lucasbarker3664]

I was just wondering, do you think this lens would be good on a canon 80d or 90d? I want to start wildlife photography and have been thinking about the lenses and cameras to get.

[@BrentHall]

Yeah, it should do just fine, though it will be a 240-960 on those bodies since they are aps-c.

[@lucasbarker3664]

Oh ok, thank you for replying. Do you think other lenses would do Better on those bodies for wildlife?

[@BrentHall]

It really depends on a lot of things, like your budget, and how much weight do you feel like carrying around. I think the Tamron is a great lens for the price. A 100-400mm is also a really great focal range, and is much lighter and more portable, but with less reach, so it's really up to your needs on what you're willing to deal with and sacrifice.

[@lucasbarker3664]

Ok I’ll think about that thank you for taking the time to reply.

[@rildn7]

I just bought this lens for a Canon T7, not one sharp pic past 10 ft 😩

[@bellavita4475]

Hello to you . I ordered a sony a7mk3 and I have a tamron 150600mm sp di usd for sony A mount that I had put on a sony alpha a65 slt. Do you think the adapter ring The EA3 is used? Because the tamron has the AF motorization function. thank you in advance ;)

[@BrentHall]

I have no idea, I've never used a Sony and know nothing about them or their adapters unfortunately.

[@annveilleux5218]

The EA3 is the one

[@vercohandel9818]

i own this this lens. I am enjoying using it. It is versatile and lightweight compared to telephoto primes. A bit soft on long end at f/6.3 but i can fix it at post or if I shoot in broad daylight I set to f/8. That improves IQ. We as photographer, work around the limitation and produce maximum results. It is always nice to have telephoto primes with f/4 aperture but I cant justify the price just for hobby. And they are heavy and transport would be a problem especially when taking commercial airlines.

[@dofstad909]

Have you been able to test it on the R5/R6?

[@BrentHall]

Not yet. But I'm gonna try to rent it again here soon, and then I definitely will!.

[@cheg753]

Really useful review

[@BrentHall]

Thank you, I'm glad it helped!

[@RylansAmazingPhotography]

Awesome video Brent I just made a video on the Nikkor 200-500 and I love it I'm sure this is a beast lens too keep up the great work!

[@BrentHall]

Many thanks! That's definitely a great lens too.

[@saabvanderlinden9214]

200-500 mm better?

[@arttafil6792]

ANY Tamron SP series lens is a good lens. Always have been, always will be.

[@BrentHall]

I've definitely been happy with the other SP lenses I have too! Tamron is really improving. :)

[@arttafil6792]

Brent Hall, I’ve been using Tamron SP series lenses since the 60’s when they first brought them out.

[@vladognyanov467]

i have canon 1300d but i am nikon costumer and Now i dream to have Canon 100 400mm This is the best lens...for bird i use Sigma 150 600mm C...

[@ahmedtawfik2630]

Does the canon 1dx mk ii similar to *canon 1dx mk iii* or it have small differences?

[@BrentHall]

It has some pretty significant upgrades from what I've seen. I haven't used one though.