Tamron's SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Lens: Versatile and Fun!

By Chamira Young

There's nothing like upgrading a lens and seeing how it can revolutionize your work. I recall the first time I decided to do my first lens upgrade years ago, and couldn't believe I hadn't done it sooner! The quality of my work instantly skyrocketed, especially as I tested and became familiar with my new equipment.

Speaking of testing and becoming familiar with new glass, today's post is going to demonstrate how versatile and fun Tamron's SP 15-30mm F/2.8 lens is. A great piece of glass is a powerful asset to any photographer's repertoire, and when it comes to high quality glass, Tamron walks the walk. I decided to embark on a journey to see how flexible this lens could be while still maintaining high-level quality. Spoiler alert: I was not disappointed in the least! From up close portraits to panoramic shots, this lens is great for a variety of situations.

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Portraits
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The first thing I used it for was a high school senior portrait session. The setting was a Michigan overcast afternoon with rain threatening at any moment. The lens was sensitive enough to grab sharp photos, and all I needed was a little extra fill light for the shadows falling across my subject's face. 

​I also decided to try out an up-close portrait of yours truly, as it was time to update my self-portrait. For this shot, I was indoors against a black backdrop, with the shades drawn and just one key light in order to give it a dramatic flair.  I used Westcott's Ice Light 2, which was perfect for the challenge and so efficient in a situation like this. After some creative editing in Photoshop, I was quite happy with the result.

​Nature

Next, I couldn't resist heading down to my favorite local park, hopping on my kick scooter, and grabbing some fun nature shots. ​I absolutely love the level of both foreground to background sharpness the lens was able to capture.
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Panoramas

Finally, I wanted to really push the envelope in terms of how large of an object I could capture, so grabbing a shot of a local freighter crawling by was the logical decision. This behemoth felt like it was practically on top of me, and yet the lens allowed me to capture it in its entirety. As for the bridge behind it, I managed to capture a solid chunk of the structure.

All in all, it was fun getting out in a wide range of situations and seeing what this baby could do! Tamron never compromises on quality, and their SP 15-30mm F/2.8 lens is a great addition to many photographers' arsenals.

​By the way, if you're going to be attending ClickCon in Chicago, be sure to visit the Tamron booth August 5-6 and check them out for yourselves!

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