Balko Photo

Mr. Morio Ono, President of Tamron Co., Ltd., has announced the successful development of the AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO zoom lens, a high power zoom lens designed for SLR cameras with full-size format(Model A20), now equipped with a Vibration Compensation (VC) mechanism.

The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC is the ultimate high power zoom lens that covers everything from wide-angle to telephoto and macro. Tamron has incorporated a Vibration Compensator, an anti-shake mechanism developed by Tamron, into the highly versatile zoom lens.

The new AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO zoom lens offers the convenience, comfort and versatility of a high power zoom lens and the capability to reduce hand-shake blur on SLR cameras using either APS-C size or full size format imagers. When the AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC is used with a full size format SLR camera, it covers the tremendous focal length range from 28mm in wide angle to 300mm ultra telephoto. When mounted on a DSLR with an APS-C sized imager, the lens covers a 43mm wide angle to 465mm equivalent ultra telephoto* (full size format equivalent, in a diagonal angle of view of 5°20′).

Release dates: For Canon - August 29th / For Nikon - by the end of 2007-order at Adorama

MAIN FEATURES

1. VC (Vibration Compensation) Mechanism Reduces Hand-shake
The proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism developed by Tamron features a triaxial configuration using three pairs of driving coils and slide balls around the compensator group of the lens’ optical system. Since the compensator lenses are supported with rolling friction of the balls, the response performance is enhanced and the construction is simple, which results in the compactness of the lens. The lens incorporate a highly accurate gyro sensor for detecting hand-shake, which, combined with a 32-bit RISC CPU, offers comfortable anti-vibration effects.

2. Outstanding Design Realizing High Zoom Power, VC Mechanism and Compactness
The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.5 XR Di VC integrates optical technologies that Tamron has accumulated as the pioneer and leader of high power zoom lenses in order to realize the desired compactness even while incorporating the VC mechanism. The optical system uses a number of lens elements made from special optical glass materials including XR (high refraction index) glass elements, GM (glass-molded aspherical lens) elements, hybrid aspherical elements, LD (low dispersion) glass elements to compensate for on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations and AD (anomalous dispersion) glass element. The lens offers high contrast, high resolution performance and flatness of the image field as a one-does-it-all zoom lens designed to match the characteristics of DSLR cameras.

3. Revolutionary MFD of 0.49m (19.3″) throughout the Zoom Range Provides 1:3 Macro Magnification Ratio
The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD MACRO boasts an MFD (minimum focusing distance) of 0.49m (19.3″) over the entire zoom range, a top-class closing focusing capability among high power zoom lenses for full-size format SLR cameras, which provides the remarkable maximum macro magnification ratio of 1:3 at the 300mm telephoto end.

4. Internal Surface Coatings Minimize Ghosting and Flare
Through the use of “Internal Surface Coatings” (i.e., multiple-layer coatings on cemented surfaces of plural elements) and multiple-layer coatings to prevent reflections from lens surfaces, ghosting and flare due to reflections that occur when light enters through the front element as well as reflections caused by the imager itself in the mirror box are reduced to the absolute minimum.

5. Ultra-high Zoom Power, yet Lightweight and Compact Design Thanks to New Mechanical Devices
Tamron has reviewed the roles that respective barrel parts play in order to achieve the high power, compactness and light weight. As a result, dimensional increases are confined to a mere 17.8mm (0.7″) in overall length and about 5mm(0.2″) in diameter, when compared with the existing AF28-300mm (Model A061), despite the incorporation of the VC mechanism.

6. Zoom Lock Mechanism for Enhanced Portability
The zoom lock prevents unwanted barrel extension when carrying the lens/camera combination over the shoulder.

7. Flower-shaped Lens Hood
A flower-shaped lens hood is included as a standard accessory. The special hood provides optimum shading of superfluous light rays that enter from the rectangular frame outside the image field.

* values given are for Nikon AF-D cameras.
* The cosmetic design and specs are subject to change without notice.

UPDATE ON DELAYS

Please be informed that we are now ready to re-launch AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC for Canon of which the release has been postponed as announced on August 24th.

For Canon (IN JAPAN) — October 26, 2007
For Nikon — early spring of 2008
[Tamron]

pre-order at Adorama

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* “Di (Digitally Integrated design)-II” is the designation Tamron puts on lenses designed for exclusive use with digital (APS-C size) SLR cameras, featuring optical systems optimized to meet the performance characteristics of digital cameras.

* “Di-II” lenses cannot be used with digital SLR cameras using image sensors that are larger than that of an APS-C size imager, or with 35mm film SLR cameras.

Some casual shooting and print examinations show this to be a fine performer. Even a critical user will not be dissatisfied with the Tamron’s day-to-day performance, especially when stopped down at least 1 stop from wide open – as is the case with most lenses.

If you’re looking for an ultra-wide zoom for your 1.5x or 1.6x lens factor DSLR then I can recommend the Tamron SP 11-18 f/4.5-5.6 Di II LD to you. The price is attractive and the lens is capable of producing high quality images. If you are the owner of a Canon D30, D60 or 10D, and therefore unable to use the Canon 10-22mm lens without performing warranty destroying surgery, the new Tamron provides an attraction option. [luminous-landscape]

Tamron SP AF11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) is a Tamron “Di (II)” lens. Di (II) lenses are designed with digital SLRs in mind and Tamron say that they have higher resolution, better control of flare and ghosting, less light fall-off and lower chromatic aberration than earlier designs.

Solidly constructed with a low reflectivity black finish and rubberized zoom and focus controls … Focus speed is pretty good. … The zoom cannot be locked, but I saw no “creep” at any focal length … the Tamron 11-18 is pretty good wide open at f5.6 (much better than the Canon) and even slightly better at f8. [bob atkins]

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These rebates run until December 31, 2007

$10.00 — SP AF17-50 F/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D
$10.00 — AF17-35 F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D, Pentax/Samsung
$30.00 — SP AF24-135 F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D, Pentax/Samsung
$10.00 — SP AF28-75 F/2.8 Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D, Pentax/Samsung
$30.00 — SP AF200-500 F/5-6.3 Di LD (IF) for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D
$50.00 — AF11-18 Di II for Canon,Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D.
$90.00 — SP AF90 Di 1:1 Macro for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D, Pentax/Samsung.
$100.00 — SP AF14 F/2.8 Aspherical (IF) for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D, Pentax/Samsung
$500.00 — SP AF300 F/2.8 LD (IF) for Canon, Sony/Maxxum, Nikon-D

Rebate Form: http://www.tamron.com/lenses/rebates.asp

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Tamron ’s 18-250mm is in the middle here with Canon’s 17-85 on the left and Canon’s 70-300 on the right.

The main selling point here is the 13.9x, wide range zoom (28-400mm lens in 35mm format). It’s a dream lens for the person who loves wide and telephoto all in one (like me!). Small and light (3.3″ long x 2.9″ diameter / 15 ounces), this is a great lens for travel or a whole day out.

It is also termed a “macro” and while not a true macro lens, it can focus down to 45cm at all focal length settings and gives a 1:3.5 magnification ratio.

This is not a Canon L lens, so we have to make some concessions to have such a wide range at such a low price as well.

On Vignetting: on a Canon 20D there is some vignetting at 18mm / f3.5, but this is greatly improved at f5.6. (so just stop down). At 50mm focal length, f4.5 there is barely any vignetting and at 5.6 it is gone. Wide open at 250mm (f6.3), vignetting increases a little, but again - stopping down to f8 improves it a lot.

On Distortion: Like most wide zooms, there is some visible distortion at 18mm, but this disappears at 28mm. Basically, unless your image contains a lot of parallel straight lines, it will not be noticeable.

On Image Quality: stopping down is the key with this lens. Center sharpness at 18mm is good throughout, but the edges are best at f8. At 50mm, the lens compares to Canon’s 17-85 IS USM. That’s pretty good. Moving on to 135mm, center sharpness is still good, but quality drops sharply by the time you get to the corners. Here the heavier and more expensive Canon EF 70-300/4-5.6 IS USM does a lot better. At 250mm, the differences between the Tamron and Canon 70-300 are less noticeable, but the Canon still is better. Of course, you need two Canon lenses (costing #1000+) to cover the range of this one Tamron.

“We tend not to expect much from “vacation” zooms, so were pleasantly surprised by the Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical IF Macro AF. It maintained good center sharpness across its entire focal length range, softness in the corners was average to better than average, and things flattened out nicely when we stopped it down just a bit. Other optical characteristics are in line with the rest of the field, and its build quality was quite good for its price range. All in all, a very nice lens, a great lens to bring, if you’re bringing only one!” [SLR Gear]

In PopPhoto tests, SQF data came in at Excellent for all focal lengths. In DxO Analyzer 2.0 tests, there was Visible barrel distortion at 18mm (0.72%) and Slight pincushion distortion at 35mm, 100mm, and 250mm (0.18%, 0.22%, and 0.16%, respectively). These numbers, though, are also noticeably better than the older 18-200mm.

Conclusion: it is always difficult to stick such a wide optical range into a small and lightweight physical package. Something has to give as shown by vignetting (not such a big problem) to Image Quality (a bigger problem). If you are not planning on printing out poster-sized prints, then this may be a great lens for you.

Costing $500, the Tamron 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 isn’t cheap, but it does include a lens hood and a standard 6-year warranty. BUY at Adorama.

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