After months of researching, saving and trading in old equipment, I was able to cobble enough money together to buy the Tamron 150-600 telephoto zoom lens. It arrived on Monday and I have been able to take it out a few times and I am impressed. I probably could never save up for a Canon prime 500 or 600 lens or justify spending that kind of money so I was praying that this Tamron would be an answer for me. I have it paired with the Canon 7dMark II.
All wildlife and bird photographers want more reach. You always want to get closer and fill the frame with your subject. Birds especially are challenging as they are so small in the frame if you don’t get close enough.
This morning I tried it out on one of the tiniest of birds I know, the Bushtit, and I am very happy with the results. These birds are so small and fast moving that to get a good photo of them is very difficult or at least I have always found it so. They are lively little things and flock in large noisy social groups and I think I have several good photos here that demonstrate how sharp this lens is. All of these were taken at 600mm.
I took a pretty good photo of a Mountain Bluebird sitting on a bird house yesterday also at 600mm. I don’t see any softness with these photos at 600mm. The Mourning dove was on my fence in the backyard and was also taken at 600mm hand held.
I took this in flight photo of a Northern Harrier which is not sharp but that was operator error. The Tamron is so light at just over 4 pounds that you can hand hold it for bird in flight photos. Someone let me take some photos with their Canon 600mm prime once and I think without a tripod I could not take any photos at all.
Can’t wait to take this new lens up to Klamath and on a Sage Grouse trip I have planned for next month.
Northern Desert Photography 
Wonderful, have fun. Looks great.
Thank you Boeta. 🙂
Alison, these photo are incredible. I love that little bushtit. We don’t have them here. By the way, are these edited, or are they the originals. Just curious. I always edit mine whether they need it or not. LOL I was impressed, too, that the images could be so sharp at the 600mm range. I am at 600mm most of the time in my photos. I also like the lack of noise at the higher ISOs. You nailed the exposures on these. The IQ of thes Mark IIs is spot on.
Thanks Bob! Of course I had some help from a friend as far as camera adjustments paired with this lens. 😉 I followed your advice on the settings. Yes, they are edited. Cropped and sharpened and a little exposure adjustment. That is pretty much standard for me with all photos. I feel all my photos need some editing. Just thrilled with the lens overall. Thanks for helping me decide on buying it. Looking at your great photos really pushed me to pull the trigger. So sorry you don’t have the bushtit. They commonly my little companions as I make my way through the sagebrush.
You do an excellent job of editing. I am thrilled that you took my advice on the settings. They may not be a permanent thing for you, but it gives you a start. Personally, I am always tinkering with settings to find ways to improve. This Mark II is the most exciting camera I have ever owned, and the lens makes it even more so.
Thank you for the compliment on editing Bob. I do enjoy it. Is there anything quite so fun as sitting at the computer and finding out what you have captured and what you can do with it? Very addicting. I agree with you about the camera. It is an amazing tool.
Lovely shots Alison. The last 3 in particular are my warm and fuzzy favorites. Good luck with your new gear – your timing is perfect, with spring just around the corner!(?)
Thanks Nick. I think it is going to be the perfect lens for photographing the Sage Grouse at the lek. Hope to be able to post some photos of that in a few weeks. Wishing you a warm spring soon! 🙂
Wonderful photos. That lens is on my “wish list.”
Thank you Tux. Since I know you like to take great bird photos I hope you are able to get this lens soon. It will not disappoint. 🙂
Pictures are very crisp and clear! Looks like a good lens:) I am in the search for one myself – my pictures definitely does not turn out as crisp as these at full zoom.
Thank you Inger. I wish you luck acquiring a lens that works for you. Sometimes this seems like a never ending quest. 🙂 You should have some reach with the type of wildlife you have access to. Don’t want to be too close to a grizzly. 😉
Lovely photos,,, lovely birdies,,,,, so glad you were able to get this lens…. on my wish list…
Thanks Sally. You will not be disappointed with the lens. I hope you can get it soon. 🙂
This is a very good lens indeed – great photo’s for a friendly price too! Do you also shoot by holding this one in your hand?
Fabulous photo’s by the way 🙂
Thanks Maurice. 🙂 On the Bushtit and Bluebird photos, I used a tripod. Yes the price on this lens is very user friendly.
So cute!
Thank you. They are one of the cutest birds. 🙂
Wow! What amazing details you have captured there: you can actually see the individual hairs (should I say feathers?) on the birds bodies. This post has inspired me to borrow my son’s zoom lens and have a goo at photographing the birds in my garden. Great job! 🙂
Yes this lens is very sharp even at the long end. Good luck with bird photography in your garden. 🙂
I was pleased to read your post and look at the really good pictures you made with that lens. I guess you deserved it and I will be looking forward to all the images, as usual, you post. but now long shots with that fun lens…
Thank you John. I am looking forward to sharing them. Glad you stopped in and saw the culmination of part of the joy of photography… endless research and the quest for the perfect tool for the job. 🙂
Nice images
Thank you. Excited to see what this an enable me to do over time.