What's the difference between these two lens?
OK I found these two lens, but the only thing I can tell the difference between them is the price. Help please?
Tamron 70-300mm A17:
http://www.bestbuy.com/...&cp=1&lp=5
And the Tamron 7-300mm A005:
The focal length is the same of course so I'd say the difference has to be in the quality of the glass.
Lens grinding is a pretty exact science and the better the glass the better your results.
The A17 model is your basic plastic 70-300 cheapie lens.
The A05 model steps up with a built in image stabilizer and focus motor so the lens will auto focus with the baby Nikon bodies.
Think of the A17 model as the Nikon G model, and the A05 as the Nikon AF-S VR model.
Almost the same all right. Probably same glass but different motors. They'd AF on any Nikon dSLR but the more expensive one has a faster and quieter AF motor. Add to that VR technology and you get the same lens at a higher price. The more expensive one is an "Anniversary Edition" from Tamron so they may be trying to cook up something to elevate their standards. Normally, it would be a hard choice for me. The cheaper one does macro but VR in the more expensive one would make telephoto shots considerable sharper. Good thing I'm not into Nikon. I'd do away with VR lenses and use some other methods for macro.