It's been a long time since I have posted anything on my blog. But that's because i have been out taking pictures and keeping busy with Instagram. ig:@monkifoto About a year ago I purchased one the best lenses in my collection. That was the Tamron SP 70-200MM F/2.8 DI VC USD . In December I took a 6 day trip to Los Angeles. In my entire life i have never gotten around to visiting this place. I had imagined this great metropolis and i wanted to see it. My significant other and I, decided to go spend the Christmas vacation visiting southern California and to see as much as we can and see her family.
On December 22nd landed in LAX at 1pm, and we got our rental and we were off to the races. First stop, Santa Monica. It's very close. We drove up and down the coast and ended up spending a good part of the day at Pacific Park and Santa Monica Pier. Really fun place.
We walked around Santa Monica for an hour and came back to the pier right in time for the sunset. Let me tell you this was a crazy sun set. I have never seen anything this red and strong.
One of the folks on the beach was telling us that the sunsets in CA are so amazing due to the smog in the air. I don't know what to believe. I believe i'm too lazy right now to do the research and will forget to finish this post.While we were having this romantic amazing time, watching the sunset... more exactly me running around taking photos and my girlfriend helping me or snapping photos with her iPhone, something bad happened. My amazing wonderful Tamron stopped focusing. I'm not sure what happened. I think dust may have gotten in the lens and jammed the focusing system. I wasn't using my usual Manfrotto 290
tripod which was in the car and the car was parked too far away, i would miss the sunset by the time i got back. So i was shooting hand held and towards the end I ended up using my Manfrotto Mini Tripod
which i carry in my bag all the time. This probably how sand got in my lens. I was too close to the ground and the wind was blowing, i was almost in the water.
For the rest of the trip i was forced to shoot in manual mode. It really wasn't a problem the Nikon D610 makes it easy to get perfect focus in manual mode, and this was a great opportunity for me to learn to manual focus properly. For the rest of the trip I took about 1600 photos. Some with this lens some even with my new Kenko 2.0X PRO 300 Teleconverter 
which is exactly the same as Tamron SP Auto Focus 2x Pro Teleconverter 
. These teleconvertors, offer auto focus, just not with the Tamron 70-200. I don't know why, it works with all my other lenses. I digress.I got home on the 27th, and the first thing I did, was to call them and made sure that my lens qualified for the 6 years warranty. On the 28th my lens was off to Tamron for repair.. after spending $87 for regular shipping at the UPS store to insure the lens for $1600, and having it packaged properly.
I purchased the lens used from Midwest Photo Exchange store on Amazon. When i bought the lens I didn't know about the fact that Tamron only offers warranty for lenses purchased through authorized dealers. I was very relieved to find out the MPEX was one of the dealers.Tamron sent me an email as soon as they received my lens and they promised 3 days return. Sure enough 3 days later my lens was in the mail on the way to my house after it was thoroughly cleaned and inspected. I was very happy to have my baby back.
I am so happy with this lens and the service that Tamron Provided, that I sold my Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro
and decided to purchase the Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC 
.The sigma is a FANTASTIC lens for the price. I just want to have the VC.
In conclusion. Buy Tamron. Their lenses are amazing. As good if not better than Nikon in certain aspects. The price is better and who can argue with 6 years warranty.
Thank you Tamron
If you are wondering why my photos look so faded, its not because of the lens. I just like this look. It's a washed out faded/ filmish look to them. Personal preference.
