Comments for Blog.UK.StoreSoho.com http://blog.uk.storesoho.com UK Store Blog Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:33:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Tamron – AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC LD Aspheric Macro Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR by customer http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/comment-page-1/#comment-1646 customer Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:33:14 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/#comment-1646 I purchased the Tamron only a few weeks ago. I have not done everything with it that I would like to. Here are my preliminary findings. <br /> <br />a. The zoom is not as fast as the Canon's kit lens. I thought this would be a major issue, but it turns out to be quite liveable. Most indoor shots still capture the moment. Much better than Non-DSLR performance on that. <br />b. The kids Nativity play brought out the best in the lens. With the normal flash I ould take good portraits uop to about 10-15 meteres in a very dimly lit hall. About 30% of the opictures were out of focus. Much better than I feared. At those distances the red-eye will be more of a pronlem with the pop-up flash because the flash will appear very close to the lens. <br />c. If you forget to unlock the lens you will just take pictures at widest zoom. You can just unlock when you need to. <br /> <br /> <br />I have always loved the "walkaround" lenses because they are so versatile. This is a lovely combination to take shots under most circumstances of an acceptable up to very good quality. <br /> Rating: 4 / 5 I bought the Tamron only a few weeks ago. I have not done everything with it that I want to. Here are my preliminary findings.

a. The zoom is not as quick as the List’s kit lens. I thought this would be a foremost issue, but it turns out to be quite liveable. Most indoor shots still capture the second. Much surpass than Non-DSLR performance on that.

b. The kids Nativity play brought out the best in the lens. With the normal sparkle I ould take excellent portraits uop to about 10-15 meteres in a very dimly lit hall. About 30% of the opictures were out of focus. Much surpass than I feared. At those distances the red-eye will be more of a pronlem with the pop-up sparkle because the sparkle will appear very close to the lens.

c. If you forget to unlock the lens you will just take cinema at widest zoom. You can just unlock when you need to.

I have always loved the “walkaround” lenses because they are so versatile. This is a lovely combination to take shots under most circumstances of an acceptable up to very excellent feature.

Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Tamron – AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC LD Aspheric Macro Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR by Dr. G. S. Pyne http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/comment-page-1/#comment-1645 Dr. G. S. Pyne Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:40:05 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/#comment-1645 I have used this lens with my Nikon D70 for about a month and taken about 200 photos with it. <br />The optical performance has surpassed my expectations. The lens is generally very sharp and only slightly soft at the corners at maximum telephoto (270mm) and full aperture (f6.3). Many photographers may not notice this unless they look carefully. At the other end of the scale (18mm) there is some barrel distortion which should be correctable in photoshop (though I have not done this). Also I think I see slight vignetting (I guess half a stop) at 18mm, but this may be due to the uv filter I use. Again, no serious problem. <br />However, there are handling issues. The most annoying is that autofocus does not always "confirm", even in good light, which means that the shutter will not fire as expected. This happens about 10-15% of the time and could be a show-stopper for some. The solution is to switch quickly to manual focus after the autofocus has done its best. I believe that this autofocus issue is worse if the camera battery is at less than half charge. Combined with a rather average focusing speed and mediocre handling this means that I would not recommend this lens for action/sports photography. <br />Another lesser handling problem is that the zoom control is not smooth and is distinctly stiffer in the mid-range (70mm to 130mm approx.) than at the ends. This is irritating and reminds me that I did not buy a Rolls Royce (or even a Nikon). <br />The lens is also prone to "zoom creep" - in other words it opens under its own weight while being carried. I don't find this a problem as there is a lock which keeps the lens at 18mm. <br />The vibration control (anti camera-shake)works very well and I can handhold 270mm telephoto at 1/100 sec., or possibly better. You can't do this with the Nikon equivalent lens as it doesn't go to 270mm! <br />Overall I am satisfied with this lens and it fulfills its all-purpose function well. <br /> Rating: 4 / 5 I have used this lens with my Nikon D70 for about a month and taken about 200 photos with it.

The optical performance has surpassed my expectations. The lens is commonly very sharp and only slightly soft at the corners at maximum telephoto (270mm) and full gap (f6.3). Many photographers may not notice this unless they look carefully. At the other end of the scale (18mm) there is some barrel distortion which should be correctable in photoshop (though I have not done this). Also I reckon I see affront vignetting (I guess half a stop) at 18mm, but this may be due to the uv filter I use. Again, no serious conundrum.

Though, there are handling issues. The most annoying is that autofocus does not always “confirm”, even in excellent light, which means that the shutter will not fire as expected. This happens about 10-15% of the time and could be a show-stopper for some. The solution is to switch quickly to manual focus after the autofocus has done its best. I believe that this autofocus issue is worse if the camera battery is at less than half charge. Combined with a rather average focusing speed and mediocre handling this means that I would not recommend this lens for action/sports photography.

Another lesser handling conundrum is that the zoom control is not smooth and is distinctly stiffer in the mid-range (70mm to 130mm approx.) than at the ends. This is irritating and reminds me that I did not buy a Rolls Royce (or even a Nikon).

The lens is also prone to “zoom creep” – in other words it opens under its own weight while being carried. I don’t find this a conundrum as there is a lock which keeps the lens at 18mm.

The vibration control (anti camera-shake)works very well and I can handhold 270mm telephoto at 1/100 sec., or possibly surpass. You can’t do this with the Nikon equivalent lens as it doesn’t go to 270mm!

Overall I am satisfied with this lens and it fulfills its all-purpose function well.

Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Tamron – AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC LD Aspheric Macro Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR by N. Ellis http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/comment-page-1/#comment-1644 N. Ellis Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:54:00 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/#comment-1644 I've only had this lens for a week so this is only a quick review as need to use more and so far its pretty good,saying that my kit lens for my eos 40d(canon 17-85mm)is slightly better made than the tamron the zooms more smooth and the manual focusing rings tighter and more smooth in operation,that said it takes a lovely photo and the tamron came with lens hood which the canon did'nt recommend Rating: 4 / 5 I’ve only had this lens for a week so this is only a quick assess as need to use more and so far its pretty excellent,saying that my kit lens for my eos 40d(list 17-85mm)is slightly surpass made than the tamron the zooms more smooth and the manual focusing rings tighter and more smooth in operation,that said it takes a lovely photo and the tamron came with lens hood which the list did’nt recommend
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Tamron – AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC LD Aspheric Macro Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR by Darius Zdanauskas http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/comment-page-1/#comment-1643 Darius Zdanauskas Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:28:33 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/#comment-1643 This was my first lense when I bought D300, so I had nothing to compare it with. So I kind of ignored massive zoom creep, poor weather sealing (went to a beach once - big mistake), slow and loud autofocus, huge distortion at both focal ends, shaky vibration reduction. This is a daylight lense - forget about using it in a dim light, you simply won't be able to autofocus (I haven't met anyone using manual focus on this type of consumer lense). The biggest minus is its autofocus, I can't stress enough how bad it is. I've checked about 3 of them, so it's not just 1 poor copy. <br /> <br />However, it has good zoom range for your casual travel photos and nice image quality at smaller apertures (F/11 being the sharpest). But if you're serious about photography get yourself few primes - 50mm 1.4 (or 1.8) or 35mm 1.8, and start saving to invest in a proper zoom lense like 17-55mm for DX, or 24-70mm for FX, and a long zoom (70-300mm for cheapskates, 70-200mm for the loaded). Throw in a wide angle lense and you're sorted. Rating: 3 / 5 This was my first lense when I bought D300, so I had nothing to compare it with. So I kind of ignored massive zoom creep, poor weather sealing (went to a beach once – huge mistake), slow and loud autofocus, huge distortion at both focal ends, shaky vibration reduction. This is a daylight lense – forget about using it in a dim light, you simply won’t be able to autofocus (I haven’t met anyone using manual focus on this type of consumer lense). The largest minus is its autofocus, I can’t stress enough how terrible it is. I’ve checked about 3 of them, so it’s not just 1 poor copy.

Though, it has excellent zoom range for your casual journey photos and nice image feature at smaller apertures (F/11 being the sharpest). But if you’re serious about photography get physically few primes – 50mm 1.4 (or 1.8) or 35mm 1.8, and start saving to invest in a proper zoom lense like 17-55mm for DX, or 24-70mm for FX, and a long zoom (70-300mm for cheapskates, 70-200mm for the loaded). Throw in a wide angle lense and you’re sorted.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> Comment on Tamron – AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II VC LD Aspheric Macro Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR by Mr. J. Boote http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/comment-page-1/#comment-1642 Mr. J. Boote Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:29:52 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/tamron-af-18-270mm-f3-5-6-3-di-ii-vc-ld-aspheric-macro-zoom-lens-for-nikon-digital-slr/#comment-1642 I purchased this lens on the strength of its very favorable reviews online and also in many photo magazines, I used this lens in comparison to my Canon EOS 7D kit lens the EF-S 18-135mm, can I save you people wasting your time with this lens, in back to back real life tests, the Canon kit lens wipes the floor with the Tamron, in every way, no I did not get a duff lens I had it checked out, thankfully I purchased this from Jessops, where I shall always return for their no quibble 30 day exchange policy, they may not be the cheapest, but they are worth paying that little extra for, the same goes for lenses I suppose. <br />I am just mad about the rubbish people print and write about online and in the photo mags, I hope you found this short review(not review factual true information) useful. <br />Thanks for checking this review out, I may of saved you time and money. Rating: 1 / 5 I bought this lens on the strength of its very favorable reviews online and also in many photo magazines, I used this lens in comparison to my List EOS 7D kit lens the EF-S 18-135mm, can I save you people wasting your time with this lens, in back to back real life tests, the List kit lens wipes the floor with the Tamron, in every way, no I did not get a duff lens I had it checked out, thankfully I bought this from Jessops, where I shall always return for their no quibble 30 day exchange plot, they may not be the cheapest, but they are worth paying that small extra for, the same goes for lenses I suppose.

I am just mad about the rubbish people print and write about online and in the photo mags, I hope you found this small assess(not assess factual right information) useful.

Thanks for checking this assess out, I may of saved you time and cash.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Essays on the Great Depression by Ulrik Jungersen Walther http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/essays-on-the-great-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-1641 Ulrik Jungersen Walther Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:19:59 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/essays-on-the-great-depression/#comment-1641 There is no way that I can criticize this book. Bernanke is the Governor of the Federal Reserve and I am not, which there are good reasons for. <br /> <br />However, this book is his PhD thesis on the Great Depression of 1929 - 1934. Hence it is written as such and is relatively theoretical. Personally, unless you have a university background in economics, I would skip this book. <br /> <br />If you are interested in economics, by all means do give it a go. The book is extremely interesting in as much as it attempts to explain the causes of the Great Depression. Most economists are taught, teach and write about equilibia. Bernanke has chosen to write about a disequilibrium, which is much more challenging and even more interesting. Rating: 5 / 5 There is no way that I can criticize this book. Bernanke is the Governor of the Federal Reserve and I am not, which there are excellent reasons for.

Though, this book is his PhD thesis on the Fantastic Depression of 1929 – 1934. Hence it is written as such and is relatively theoretical. Personally, unless you have a university background in economics, I would skip this book.

If you are interested in economics, by all means do give it a go. The book is extremely fascinating in as much as it attempts to clarify the causes of the Fantastic Depression. Most economists are taught, teach and write about equilibia. Bernanke has chosen to write about a disequilibrium, which is much more challenging and even more fascinating.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Essays on the Great Depression by D. P. Jacob http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/essays-on-the-great-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-1640 D. P. Jacob Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:18:31 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/essays-on-the-great-depression/#comment-1640 I bought this book in an attempt to balance up the various conspiracy theories currently surrounding the Federal Reserve. The reviewer above is quite right and although I'm fairly well read I found this to be extremely hard work. Unless you understand banker jargon you have to spend ages decoding each paragraph, sometimes each sentence, and in the end you aren't much wiser. <br />It's very hard for me to rate this book but I have only given it three stars because of sentences like the following one. 'Absent implausibly large differences in marginal spending propensities among the groups, it was suggested, pure redistributions should have no significant macro-economic effects.' <br />It took me about an hour to get that and I still don't think it is a correct sentence. There is no virtue in obscurity, unless of course you are a banker, as we now all realise. Rating: 3 / 5 I bought this book in an attempt to balance up the various conspiracy theories now surrounding the Federal Reserve. The reviewer above is quite right and although I’m honestly well read I found this to be extremely hard work. Unless you know banker jargon you have to spend ages decoding each paragraph, sometimes each sentence, and in the end you aren’t much wiser.

It’s very hard for me to rate this book but I have only given it three stars because of sentences like the subsequent one. ‘Absent implausibly large differences in marginal spending propensities among the groups, it was not compulsory, pure redistributions should have no significant macro-fiscal effects.’

It took me about an hour to get that and I still don’t reckon it is a right sentence. There is no virtue in obscurity, unless of course you are a banker, as we now all realise.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> Comment on Olympus RM-UC1 USB Remote Cable Control for E510/E410/E400 and SP560uz/SP570uz by Happy snapper http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/olympus-rm-uc1-usb-remote-cable-control-for-e510e410e400-and-sp560uzsp570uz/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Happy snapper Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:21:37 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/olympus-rm-uc1-usb-remote-cable-control-for-e510e410e400-and-sp560uzsp570uz/#comment-1639 I am an Olympus camera fan, so felt confident purchasing this gadget which has improved the quality of my images. Neat,light and easy to pack ready for action. Rating: 5 / 5 I am an Olympus camera fan, so felt confident purchasing this gadget which has improved the feature of my images. Clean,light and simple to pack ready for action.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Nature’s Playground: Activities, Crafts and Games to Encourage Children to get Outdoors: Activities, Crafts and Games to Encourage Your Children to Enjoy the Great Outdoors by skibabe http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/natures-playground-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-children-to-get-outdoors-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-your-children-to-enjoy-the-great-outdoors/comment-page-1/#comment-1638 skibabe Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:34:03 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/natures-playground-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-children-to-get-outdoors-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-your-children-to-enjoy-the-great-outdoors/#comment-1638 This book was spot on for my requirements - it has great readability and the photographs are very clear. Some super ideas that took me back to being a child again! Rating: 5 / 5 This book was spot on for my supplies – it has fantastic readability and the photographs are very clear. Some super thoughts that took me back to being a child again!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Nature’s Playground: Activities, Crafts and Games to Encourage Children to get Outdoors: Activities, Crafts and Games to Encourage Your Children to Enjoy the Great Outdoors by *x Book Love Bug x* http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/natures-playground-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-children-to-get-outdoors-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-your-children-to-enjoy-the-great-outdoors/comment-page-1/#comment-1637 *x Book Love Bug x* Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:00:25 +0000 http://blog.uk.storesoho.com/natures-playground-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-children-to-get-outdoors-activities-crafts-and-games-to-encourage-your-children-to-enjoy-the-great-outdoors/#comment-1637 A lovely book full of ideas to get everbody outdoors. Most of the ideas can be done with either an idividual child or a group of 20. Great if your wanting to plan a birthday party with a difference or a teacher looking for inspired activities related to geography, science, d&t etc. A wonderful book you can dip in and out of all year round. Rating: 5 / 5 A lovely book full of thoughts to get everbody outdoors. Most of the thoughts can be done with either an idividual child or a group of 20. Fantastic if your wanting to plot a birthday have fun with a difference or a teacher looking for inspired actions related to geography, science, d&t etc. A wonderful book you can dip in and out of all year round.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]>