satisfactory quality / unbeatable price

After I (60mm Macro 18mm-55mm VR, VR 40mm Macro) am quite happy with my previous three original Nikon lenses I wanted for rarely required of me large telephoto now set another lens for my D-5100 yet. I first thought of the 55mm-200mm Nikkor or to the 55mm Nikkor 300mm. By chance I came across the Tamron lens, and as I often do macro shots of plants and insects, I thought why not the pseudo-macro function (1: 2) take and still cover a nice big telephoto.

1. Quality / haptics of the lens:
Made in China is on it - but heavy, very solid-looking design. Gumming good grip, weight high. No rattling good fit on the camera. Overall very good impression.

2. Handling:
The lens is heavy and very long in the extended state. The camera is therefore the harness top-heavy and the lens hanging down. The switch to Macro and AF / MF go beautifully crisp and nothing stuck. The focus adjustment and the zoom adjusting ring are a little stiff but still in the frame.

3. First impressions when photographing sample:
One must be aware that the lens does not support vibration retardant (VR) and at maximum magnification an effective focal length of 450mm applied. That's not to make 100 reasonable course under normal weather conditions ISO. I (in bad weather) therefore raised in my first recordings the ISO value to 400 and the images with hook arm or elbow in mind. 1/250 second shot. Autofocus has placed at normal distances (from 20m) or more away fast and good sharp. But in the macro range it is relatively slow and the sound is quite loud, but not uncomfortable. The focus in the macro range is a bit difficult at 300mm, if you can not support it or the object moves (grass in the wind, etc.) with tripod or in calm weather is no problem. The images are consistently sharp and colors are good and harmonious. Only the depth of field is required by the fast shutter speed is not large. Here one has to rely on macro shooting on good external conditions.

4. Price performance:
The twice as expensive Nikon lens in some areas is weaker compared to the more the lens is clear. On the other hand you have for 120, - EUR here a lens that good pictures both in the short telephoto range (70mm), and in the telephoto setting (up ca.180mm) and yet provides satisfactory images up to 300mm. There is also free a pseudo macro with 1: 2, which allows by cutting to make beautiful big close-ups, if the weather and other equipment (tripod, flash) are suitable. If I with my best of the sharpness forth lens (60mm Nikkor 1: 2.8) the images comparisons made with aperture 32, is there then of course, already a significant difference to see. But as a macro costs up alone without the Tele functions already 5 times.

5. Overall rating:
For me, highly recommended for those who have a low budget, who want to bring home with an additional lens sometimes in the zoo or in nature in fine weather a few interesting pictures. For more demanding amateurs, I would rather recommend a stabilized Nikkor, which is to get for about twice the price (but plastic).
For serious photographers or professionals an objective is in this price class probably anyway not in question. Therefore 5 stars.

A tip: My first impression was that the picture quality in the central region was slightly better than in the fully extended state. Many times, perhaps enough also 200mm or 250mm and a slight subsequent enlargement.