While reporting on my personal testing of camera equipment is rare, boredom creates "strange bed fellows". I had loaned my Canon 400 zoom to one of my sons for use on the coast work for a bit of time. After talking to another photographer about Tamron products (used in the past), I decided to have a new Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens to me as well as the 1.4 and 2x tele-converters shipped to me to see if they will be worthy of being in my base stable of lenses. Usually I prefer the fastest lens for field use since I only shoot in natural light conditions. Even though the 150-600 has a 5.0 to 6.3 rating, when combined with my Canon EOS 5D Mark III body's excellent ISO high speeds I felt the slow glass would be compensated by the %D and worth testing.

When I am in the field I snap photographs free-handed without monopod or tripod since both get in the way for quick shots.....therefore weight is an issue and the 150-600 is a tad lighter then my 300/2.8 and thus might be a good substitute (or back-up) for my Canon 600mm set-up.

This afternoon I had the opportunity to test the Tamron on fairly close-up work with just the lens being connected to my now stripped 5D is missing her dedicated 400 Zoom. The subject were insects. A few of the photos are displayed at full frame and then a cropped photo to exam the detail quality of the 150-600. (Please note when I go a field I carry light amounts of equipment as well as seeking, as they say, "targets of opportunity to supplement the main objective". So use of a large lens for detail work in lieu of the macro lens is important for 8 hrs in the field.

Tomorrow or the next day the Tamron 150-600 will be tested for long shots and then the 1.4 and 2X with comparison with my normal Canon set-ups. So far the 150-600 is doing a good job since my goal is to document as much detail as possible for my or other entities records. With luck this specific lens will be an asset during the migratory season. Please see 1.4 test and 2.0 test.

Concluding this review I have found that within my equipment the Tamron 150-600 connected to my D5 weighs right at 10 lbs. 14 oz. and my go to Canon 300mm/2.8 connected to the same camera body weighs 11 lbs. 10 oz. The Tamron is slightly longer dispersing the weight somewhat (but can be a nuisance in thick woods) and the Canon is much shorter for tight areas but feels denser in weight at times. (Both lens had their lens shields attached.) One personal small issue with the Tamron versus Canon is the fact that the Canon 300mm has a place to attach a sling for caring it when you travel. The Tamron relies on the lens to be supported by the mount on the camera body. When doing a walkabout the weight of both should be supported by the heavier of the two (body and lens) to protect the mounting bracket that joins both as a total unit for DSLR arrangements. Hopefully Tamron will modify the lenses tube or develop a sling designed to relieve weight pressures when "toting" the rig for outdoor free hand shooting.