Tamron 100-400mm
Full-Frame DI VC USD (2017-)
Sample Images Intro Format Compatibility
Specs USA Version Performance Compared
Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 DI VC USD (67mm filters, 39.9 oz./1,132g, 4.9'/1.5m close focus, about $699). bigger. I got my Canon version (shown here) at B&H. I'd get the Nikon version at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama for Nikon or for Canon or at Amazon for Nikon or for Canon. A tripod collar (not shown) is optional.
This all-content, junk-free websites biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Tamron does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. Get yours only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
July 2019 Sony Sony Lenses Zeiss Nikon Canon Fuji LEICA All Reviews
NEW: Best 100-400mm Lenses Compared.
Nikon 80-400mm VR FX (check price)
Canon 100-400mm L IS II (check price)
Sony 100-400mm FE GM OSS (check price)
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
All these images are from NORMAL JPGs; no CR2 RAW files, FINE or SUPERFINE JPGs were used.
2018 Mercedes AMG GLE 63S, 21 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 125mm, f/10 at 1/30 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original file.
2018 Mercedes AMG GLE 63S, 21 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 125mm, f/11 at 1/40 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original file.
Palm, California Desert, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 100mm at f/7.1 at 1/250 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or camera-original © file.
Palm, California Desert, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 100mm at f/11 at 1/125 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © file.
Introduction
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This Image-Stabilized Tamron 100-400mm does pretty much the same thing as the professional Canon 100-400mm L IS II (check price) or Nikon 80-400mm VR FX (check price) for less than half the price.
What you lose is mechanical quality and in-camera lens corrections, but for a thousand dollars or more back in your pocket, this is a great lens that takes pretty much the same pictures.
This Tamron not only costs much less, it focuses closer than the Nikon lens does, and weighs much less than either the Nikon or Canon.
I shoot every day for a living so mechanical quality and all the little things mean a lot more to me than price, so of course I own the magnificent Canon 100-400mm L IS II, but if you're reading this review I know that you worry about price, so yes, by all means get this lens. I'd look at this lens even more strongly if I shot Nikon; Nikon's 80-400mm VR costs even more than the Canon 100-400mm and isn't as good! Nikon cameras can correct chromatic aberration from this Tamron lens which Canon cannot, so this lens is even better on Nikon than it is on Canon.
Feel free to read the rest of this review, but for all practical purposes this lens takes the same pictures as the Canon or Nikon lenses, with the gotcha that there are no lens profiles so you'll have no option for automatic in-camera distortion correction, and on Canon only there will be no correction of lateral color fringes or corner falloff (Nikons correct lateral color and falloff with any lens, no profile needed).
Look at my Sample Images; they're super-sharp. If an extra thousand dollars or more in your pocket matters to you, by all means consider this lens instead of the Canon or Nikon lens. What you lose isn't so much picture quality as the potential for the camera you buy ten years from now not working with this lens, but if you're considering this lens today you're probably not worried about ten or twenty years from now. Even the reviews at Amazon love it.
Just grab the genuine mechanical focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override.
Good
Only a fraction of the price of Canon or Nikon's similar lenses.
Sharp.
Instant manual-focus override.
Close focus.
Fast and nearly silent autofocus.
Stabilization.
Bad
Made in China.
Missing
No lens profiles for in-camera corrections. Nikons can correct any lens for lateral chromatic aberrations and falloff without a profile, but Canon can't correct these without a profile. No camera can correct this lens' distortion without a profile — and neither Canon nor Nikon are going to offer profiles for a Tamron lens.
Format
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
This is a full frame lens, and I'm reviewing it as such.
It works great on APS-C cameras, on which you may make the usual inferences.
Compatibility
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
Caution
No camera maker authorizes Tamron to make lenses for their cameras, and no camera maker authorizes you to use this lens on their cameras. If it doesn't work, talk to Tamron, not to Nikon or Canon.
While it seems very compatible, there is always the potential that something won't work on your camera, especially in the future as newer camera models come out.
No worries, so long as you get yours from an authorized source you can return it for a full cash refund if you don't love it or it doesn't work on your camera when you get your lens.
Canon
It should work flawlessly on every Canon DSLR and every Canon 35mm autofocus (EOS) camera ever made since 1987.
It should work on Canon's mirrorless EOS-M cameras, but only if you use the EOS-M adapter.
Nikon
This Tamron 100-400 has a new electronic diaphragm which won't work on Nikon models introduced before about 2007.
It should work perfectly on all FX Nikons, and should work well on DX Nikon models introduced since about 2007.
It won't work properly on older DSLRs or any 35mm Nikon; they won't be able to work with the electronic diaphragm and will only shoot wide-open. If you don't mind shooting wide-open, go ahead and shoot it on older cameras if you like. Even on a 1959 Nikon F you can focus and zoom manually and shoot wide open.
YES: As of July 2018, electronic diaphragm lenses should work only on the:
D5, D4, D4s, D3, D3s, D3P, D3x, Df,
D850, D810, D800/e, D750, D700, D610, D600,
D5600, D5500, D5300, D5200, D5100, D5000,
Nikon 1 J1, J2, J3, J4 with FT-1, Nikon 1 V1, V2, V3 with FT-1, and Nikon 1 S1, S2 with FT-1.
NO: Electronic diaphragm lenses lenses will not work on the
D100, D200, D90, D80, D70 series,
D60, D50, D40 series, or the D3000, and will not work on any 35mm camera. The diaphragm will stay wide-open, which may or may not be a problem for you. In the case of tele lenses this isn't much of a problem because we usually shoot long lenses wide-open, in which case these lenses are compatible with everything.
See Nikon Lens Compatibility for more. Honestly half of Nikon's current catalog of lenses won't work on half their new cameras today, so I don't know that this lens will have any more problems than any other Nikon lens. Just be sure to buy only from an approved source so you'll have the option of a 100% cash refund return if it just doesn't work on your camera. Nikon isn't Canon that takes one sentence to say "Compatible with everything since 1987;" Nikon is a patchwork of shame when it comes to compatibility.
Sony
There is no Sony version. I have no idea how well using an adapter with the Canon version of this Tamron will work on Sony; you're really asking for trouble.
For Sony, get the excellent Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 GM OSS or Sony FE 70-300mm G FE OSS instead.
This Tamron is a DSLR lens not optimized for mirrorless cameras as are the Sony lenses.
Specifications
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
Name
Tamron calls this the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD:
Di: Works on digital cameras - so?
VC: Vibration control (Image Stabilization).
USD: Ultrasonic Silent Drive autofocus motor.
Also has:
∅67: 67mm filter thread.
Optics
Tamron 100-400mm internal construction. LD low-dispersion elements. bigger.
17 elements in 11 groups.
3 LD Low Dispersion elements, which help reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
No aspherical elements.
No high refractive-index elements.
Fluorine front coating to resist dirt and smudges.
eBAND multicoating.
Pumper zoom; front moves out as zoomed longer.
Coverage
Nikon: FX and DX (digital cameras only).
Canon: Full-Frame, 35mm film and APS-C.
Diaphragm
9 rounded blades.
Stops down to f/32-45.
Focal Length
100 ~ 400mm.
When used on a Nikon DX camera, it sees the same angles of view as a 150 ~ 600mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.
When used on a Canon APS-C camera, it sees the same angle of view as a 160 ~ 640mm lens sees when used on a full-frame or 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angles of View
Full Frame
24.4º ～ 6.2º diagonal.
APS-C
15.9º ～ 4.0º diagonal.
Autofocus
Internal focus.
No external movement as focused, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Focus Scale
Yes.
Infinity Focus Stop
No.
Depth of Field Scale
No.
Reproduction Ratio Scale
No.
Infrared Focus Indices
No.
Close Focus
4.9 feet (1.5 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:3.6 (0.28 ×).
Image Stabilizer
Rated 4 stops improvement.
Filters
Plastic 67 mm filter thread.
Hood
HA035 plastic bayonet hood included:
Tamron HA035 plastic bayonet hood for 100-400mm. bigger.
Case
None.
Tripod Collar
Metal tripod collar (optional and not shown) has Arca-Swiss grooves in it.
Size
Nikon
3.4" maximum diameter × 7.7" extension from flange.
86.2 mm maximum diameter × 196.5 mm extension from flange.
Canon
3.4" maximum diameter × 7.8" extension from flange.
86.2 mm maximum diameter × 199 mm extension from flange.
Weight
39.935 oz. (1,132.2g) actual measured weight, Canon.
39.3 oz. (1,115 g) specified for Nikon.
40.0 oz. (1,135 g) specified for Canon.
Quality
MADE IN CHINA.
Tamron shamefully hides MADE IN CHINA in thin little tiny letters while deceptively putting DESIGNED IN JAPAN in big thick letters.
Released
16 November 2017.
Tamron's Model Numbers
Canon: AFA035C-700.
Nikon: AFA035N-700.
Price, USA
$699, July 2019.
$799, July 2018.
Tamron 100-400mm box. bigger.
Getting a Legal USA Version
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
This section applies in the USA only.
In the USA, be sure the serial number on your lens (in tiny black-on-black numbers on the bottom of the zoom ring) matches the serial number on the top of the box and on the warranty papers inside the box, and be sure your box has this six-year USA hologram sticker:
Tamron USA hologram sticker. bigger.
If not, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can't take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-USA versions have no warranty in the USA, and you won't even be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!
If a gray market version saves you $400 it may be worth it, but for $200 or less I wouldn't risk having no warranty or support.
Always be sure to check your box while you can still return it, or just don't buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you'll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed.
Get yours from the same places I do and you won't have a problem, but if you take the risk of getting yours elsewhere, be sure to check everything while you still can return it.
Performance
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus
Breathing Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics
Eyeblow Filters Flare & Ghosts
Focal Lengths, actual Lateral Color Fringes
Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics
Sharpness Stabilization Sunstars
Overall
The Tamron 100-400/4.5-6.3 is an excellent performer. Its smaller, lighter and much less expensive than the real Canon or Nikon lenses and works almost as well.
It's sharp, has fast, quiet autofocus and has great image stabilization.
While each of the Nikon 80-400mm VR FX and Canon 100-400mm L IS II outperform this Tamron lens under close inspection in most ways, the end photographs look the same, so if money matters this is a great choice.
Autofocus
Autofocus is fast and sure. No problems here. It's nearly silent, too.
While not as instantaneous as Nikon or Canon and it sometimes might hunt just a little, you'd never notice this unless you already owned the other lenses as I do.
Manual Focus
Manual focus is easy.
Slide the real mechanical focus ring with a fingertip at any time for instant manual-focus override.
Focus Breathing
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
I don't see any focus breathing from this Tamron, which is excellent.
Bokeh
Bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is fair to good. Backgrounds are usually soft and reasonably smooth.
Bush, California desert, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 400mm at f/6.3 at 1/320 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or full-resolution.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at 400mm at f/6.3 and get as close as possible.
Distortion
No camera can correct this lens' distortion automatically because no Nikon and no Canon camera have a lens profile for this lens.
If it bothers you, you can correct it in Photoshop's Lens Distortion tool.
Ergonomics
Tamron 100-400mm. bigger.
This Tamron is as good as Nikon or Canon here. It's smaller and lighter, and zoom and focus work as well.
Zoom takes two fingers.
The worst thing is that the feet and meter distance scales are both in the same tiny gray digits. They aren't easy to read, and meters and feet look the same: feet aren't in bright yellow or green as on Nikon or Canon.
Eyeblow
Air pumps in or out of the back of the lens as zoomed.
There can be eyeblow and dirt and dust can get sucked in and out as you zoom.
Filters, use with
There's no need for thin filters. I can use several regular 67mm filters without vignetting on full frame.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.
Flare & Ghosts
This lens is very resistant to ghosting. It is very hard to get any ghosts.
Actual Focal Lengths
Better than many modern zooms, this Tamron lens tends to keep its full 400mm focal length even at close focus distances. Therefore it gets great macro magnifications even at its 5'/1.5m close-focus distance.
Lateral Color Fringes
There are few lateral color fringes as shot on my Canon, which can't correct for any.
Nikon cameras should correct what little are there completely.
Lens Corrections
Nikon
Nikons correct automatically for lateral color fringes (chromatic aberration). No lens profile is needed for this on Nikon.
Nikons cannot correct for distortion because they require a lens profile, which doesn't exist for this off-brand lens.
Canon
Canon has no lens profile for this lens, and obviously isn't going to be writing one for this off brand lens.
Therefore there is no correction for falloff (peripheral illumination), lateral color fringes (chromatic aberration), distortion or diffraction on any Canon camera.
Macro
This lens focuses very closely:
Red Hibiscus, California Desert, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 400mm at f/6.3 at 1/250 hand-held at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file. Wide-open at 400mm this close there is only a vapor-thin plane actually in focus; this is basic physics.
Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 400mm at close-focus distance at f/6.3 at 1/250 hand-held at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file.
It's very sharp shot wide open as I'm showing here. Camera motion is the biggest detractor:
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 29 × 43" (2.4 × 3.6 feet or 0.75 × 1.1 meters).
If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 58 × 87" (4.8 × 7.2 feet or 1.5 × 2.2 meters)!
Mechanical Quality
Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 DI VC USD. bigger.
This is a mostly plastic made-in-China lens, typical for its price.
Hood
Plastic bayonet, included.
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Plastic.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Plastic.
Front Barrel
Plastic.
Zoom Ring
Rubber-covered plastic.
Zoom Ring Lock
Plastic.
Serial Number
Laser engraved in black-on-black on the bottom of the zoom ring.
Mid Barrel
Plastic.
Focus Ring
Plastic.
Rear Barrel
Section with focus distance window: plastic.
Identity
Printed around barrel near focus window, both in white on top and in gray on the bottom.
Internals
Plastic and metal.
The internal zoom barrels seem like magnesium alloy.
Dirt Gasket at Mount
Yes.
Mount
Dull chromed metal.
Markings
Paint.
Serial Number
Laser engraved in black-on-black on the bottom of the zoom ring (not the barrel).
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Minor to moderate clattering.
Made in
China.
Sharpness
The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer.
This Tamron isn't quite as sharp as the Nikon and Canon lenses that cost two and three times as much if you look at laboratory images from a 50MP camera at 100% on your monitor, but you'll never see these slight differences in actual pictures of real-world three-dimensional subjects where everything is never in perfect focus. In actual shooting, this lens looks great.
Palm, California Desert, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 100mm at f/7.1 at 1/250 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or camera-original © file.
Palm, California Desert, 10 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 100mm at f/11 at 1/125 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger, full resolution or camera-original © file.
Tamron 100-400mm claimed MTF at 100mm at f/4.5, sagittal (solid) and meridional (dotted). bigger.
Tamron 100-400mm MTF at 400mm at f/6.3, sagittal (solid) and meridional (dotted). bigger.
Image Stabilization
Image Stabilization (IS or Vibration Reduction (VR)) works great. The image locks down in my finder, and I can get ultra-sharp shots hand-held at much slower speeds than I'd expect, so all is good.
It's trivial to get sharp shots hand-held at 1/30 at 125mm, and much slower as well:
2018 Mercedes AMG GLE 63S, 21 May 2018. Canon 5DS/R, Tamron 100-400mm at 125mm, f/10 at 1/30 hand-held at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original file.
Sunstars
It's rounded 9-blade diaphragm makes pretty good 18-pointed sunstars at most smaller apertures on brilliant points of light.
Click any to enlarge:
Compared
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
NEW: Best 100-400mm Lenses Compared.
This Tamron performs 90% as well as Nikon, Canon or Sony's lenses for a fraction of the price.
If you shoot every day you'll appreciate the subtle conveniences and qualities of the camera-brand pro lenses, but the pictures will be almost identical — and this Tamron focuses closer than the Nikon and weighs less than any of the others.
If money matters, this Tamron is a great choice. See also Is It Worth It. It's 90% of the lens for only 32% - 43% of the price.
Usage
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 DI VC USD. bigger.
VC MODE 1 / 2 / OFF
This selects the Image Stabilization mode.
Mode 1, the top position, is the usual setting. It stabilizes your photos, as well as your viewfinder image. I always use this.
Mode 2 is for panning.
Use Mode 1, unless you are panning (use Mode 2) or making long time exposures on a tripod (OFF). It's usually better to leave it in Mode 1 when on a tripod with exposures shorter than one second; try your setup and see.
AF / LIMIT / MF
This selects auto (AF) or manual focus (MF), as well as the focus limiter.
Always leave it at AF, at which setting you can move the focus ring at any time for instant override.
LIMIT prevents the lens from focusing to closer distances. Use this only if your AF system is getting confused and racking in and out looking for subjects that you know are at relatively long distances.
Set it to MF if you want to lock it in manual focus.
Recommendations
Top Sample Images Intro Format
Compatibility Specs USA Version
Overall
This Tamron lens works as well as the best from Nikon and Canon. While it isn't as well made as the Canon, the pictures are the same from all these lenses for normal photography, and this Tamron costs but a fraction of anything else.
For normal photos of sports, concerts, recitals, portraits, automobiles, surveillance, the Moon, landscapes and birds and the usual things we do with a 100-400mm lens, this lens is a bargain if price matters.
Tripod Collar
You will need to buy the optional tripod collar to use this on a tripod. Otherwise it's too long and heavy for it to feel comfortable bolting your camera to the tripod with this lens on it.
For Nikon
Tamron's own rear cap is awful. Leave it in the box and get a real Nikon rear cap for about $5. Tamron's front cap is OK.
The Nikon 80-400mm VR FX costs almost triple what this Tamron does. The Nikon lens is a little better overall, but it can't focus as close. The Tamron gets much closer for macro since it really does stay at 400mm at close distances and is also lighter. Real-world picture quality is the same.
There's no way the Nikon lens is worth the price if you have to ask; just get this Tamron which takes the same pictures. I don't care about the 80-100mm difference in zoom range, but I do care that this Tamron focuses closer. If you're the guy who looks at every RAW image blown up to 100% or otherwise deserves the best of everything regardless of price then get the Nikon, but for great pictures, both lenses do the same thing.
See also Is It Worth It.
I'd get the Nikon version of this Tamron at B&H, at Adorama or at Amazon.
For Canon
Tamron's own rear cap is awful. Leave it in the box and get a real Canon rear cap for about $7. Tamron's front cap is OK.
The choice isn't as clear with Canon because the state-of-the-art and fully professional all-metal Canon 100-400mm L IS II only costs $1,899 as I write this. While the pictures are similar, the Canon lens is built to last a lifetime, focuses instantly versus simply quickly, and focuses twice as close. Even if the pictures are usually the same, for twice the price the Canon is twice as nice, if you value nice equipment over simply nice pictures.
If you deserve the best and don't worry about price, of course get the Canon 100-400mm L IS II. I've owned my Canon 100-400 since 2014 and love it to death. I'm obviously very successful at what I do and my revenues are such that the price of lenses, which last me for a decade or more, don't matter if they give me even the slightest competitive advantage. When I license an image it's always for more than the price of this lens; I'm not some blogger or YouTuber who just talks and has no portfolio to show for it; my two most recent clients are Merck Pharmaceuticals and McDonald's.
For normal people (the ones reading this review and for whom the price of equipment does matter), this Tamron is a great buy since the pictures are 95% the same for less than half the price. If money matters and you aren't shooting every day, by all means this Tamron is a perfectly good lens.
See also Is It Worth It.
I got my Canon version of this Tamron at B&H. I'd also get the Canon version at Adorama or at Amazon.
For Sony
Don't mess with adapters to use the Nikon or Canon version on Sony; the genuine Sony 100-400mm GM OSS or Sony FE 70-300mm G FE OSS lenses will have better optics optimized for mirrorless cameras, as well as much faster autofocus also optimized to the new breed of Sony cameras. This Tamron is an old-guard DSLR lens, not a mirrorless lens.
Either of the Sony lenses are better made, and the Sony FE 70-300mm G FE OSS costs the same as this Tamron with a good adapter.
Either Sony lens will work much better on a Sony camera than another lens adapted to it.
Filters & Protection
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap. I only use a cap when I throw this in my bag, otherwise I leave a clear protective filter on my lens at all times so I'm ready to shoot instantly.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 67mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the B+W 67mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Helping those who help us
I got my Canon version (shown here) at B&H. I'd get the Nikon version at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama for Nikon or for Canon or at Amazon for Nikon or for Canon. A tripod collar (not shown) is optional.
This all-content, junk-free websites biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
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Thanks for reading!
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.