This weekend, my main summer user lens died. Tamron 70-300 lens with macro function.
Actually, it still works, in that it can focus (autofocus still works) and I can take pictures with it, but the zoom has gone. It stuck, and then released so that you can turn the zoom ring but the lens does not extend or recede, so I have a fixed zoom lens. There's a nasty little rattling inside as if something has broken off. The lens has had hard use for the last 2 years and I probably bashed it on something today.
For summer, this has been my go-to lens, and most of the pictures in my photostream have been taken with it, so it isn't a bad lens. Yes, it is a bit cheap, hates low light, and dislikes several pictures being taken in quick succession, but it works and did what I wanted it to do. The again, other lenses may be better.
So, given I have a budget of about £150, tops, and these can be had for about £90, do I buy another one, buy a different lens in the same price range, or save up and buy something else, but miss out on shots in the meantime? I run a Canon EOS 1100D a.k.a. the Canon rebel T3. I used the macro function quite a lot on this lens, and a proper macro lens is already on my wish list but is out of my budget for now.
In the mean time, I've seen a few youtube videos that suggest this is a know issue with the lens, and taking it apart and removing debris from the gear mechanism is doable. I think I will give this a go, as repair is not realistic given how cheap the lens is. The lens has had hard use for two years, so I have had my money's worth, on the whole.
What do people think?
Actually, it still works, in that it can focus (autofocus still works) and I can take pictures with it, but the zoom has gone. It stuck, and then released so that you can turn the zoom ring but the lens does not extend or recede, so I have a fixed zoom lens. There's a nasty little rattling inside as if something has broken off. The lens has had hard use for the last 2 years and I probably bashed it on something today.
For summer, this has been my go-to lens, and most of the pictures in my photostream have been taken with it, so it isn't a bad lens. Yes, it is a bit cheap, hates low light, and dislikes several pictures being taken in quick succession, but it works and did what I wanted it to do. The again, other lenses may be better.
So, given I have a budget of about £150, tops, and these can be had for about £90, do I buy another one, buy a different lens in the same price range, or save up and buy something else, but miss out on shots in the meantime? I run a Canon EOS 1100D a.k.a. the Canon rebel T3. I used the macro function quite a lot on this lens, and a proper macro lens is already on my wish list but is out of my budget for now.
In the mean time, I've seen a few youtube videos that suggest this is a know issue with the lens, and taking it apart and removing debris from the gear mechanism is doable. I think I will give this a go, as repair is not realistic given how cheap the lens is. The lens has had hard use for two years, so I have had my money's worth, on the whole.
What do people think?
