Tamron announced the development of its 60th anniversary model, the SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD, belonging to the company’s telephoto zoom line-up. Its highlights are image stabilization and an ultrasonic auto-focus drive.

The lens has been produced for Nikon DLSR cameras, Sony and Canon mounts will follow. It can be used with both full- and sub-frame digital cameras; on the latter its focal length range will be equal to 109-465mm.

The lens’s construction combines 17 elements in 12 groups including XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) and LD glass elements for advanced aberration correction. As a result, the lens delivers sharp contrast and better descriptive performance throughout the entire zoom range.

The lens also uses new BBAR (Broad-Band Anti Reflection) multilayer coatings that reduce reflection in the lens elements. Tamron also applies internal surface coatings on lens elements to make images sharper.

It is the first Tamron lens to feature a USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) AF drive motor. It ensures fast precise and noiseless focusing. The technology incorporates an elaborate mechanism based on two ultrasonic vibrations and deflective traveling waves formed by them to rotate the focusing ring.

The SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 also boasts Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization for hand-held photography. It gives you the possibility to shoot at shutter speeds four stops slower that it would be otherwise and ensures blur-free images in low-lit conditions.

Other benefits of this lens include internal focusing system for convenient usages of filters, and full time manual focus for you to make adjustments on the fly.

Tamron SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD - Specifications:

• Focal Length: 70-300mm
• Diagonal Angle of View: 34° 21′-8° 15′
• Maximum Aperture: F/4 – 5.6
• Minimum Aperture: F/32-45
• Lens Construction: 17 Elements/12 Groups
• 9 Diaphragm Blades
• Minimum Focus: 1.5m (59.1in.)
• Maximum Magnification: 1:4 (at f = 300mm: MFD 1.5m)
• Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD)AF Motor
• Image Stabilization
• Filter Thread: 62mm
• Weight: 765g(27.0oz.)
• Diameter 81.5mm / 3.2 in
• Length 142.7mm / 5.3 in
• Compatible Mounts: Canon, Nikon, Sony

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro is a standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR photography. It features constant maximum aperture f/2.8 and is compact and lightweight as well offering excellent portability.

The lens meets the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras. It’s Digitally Integrated Design (Di) that makes it compact and gives a feeling of an ordinary standard zoom lens. But due to other factors it can be placed this in the category of professional lenses by Tamron. The fast constant aperture will also broaden your photographic horizons.

This high-end consumer lens incorporates such an optical system that minimizes well peripheral light fall-off. It incorporates LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements that reduce various aberrations. It also makes an efficient use of XR (extra refractive index) glass.

The 28-78mm uses Internal Focusing system, which allows the usage of 67mm filters and polarizers. The Zoom Lock feature, in its turn, prevents unwanted “zoom creepeng” when carrying the lens. Other features include a minimum focusing distance of 13 inches, 75-degree angle of view and a rotation-type zoom.

Overall, the lens feels solid and well made with a metal lens mount. Its front element does not rotate during focusing or zooming.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Lens – Specifications:

• Focal Length: 28-75mm
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 14 groups
• 7 Diaphragm Blades
• Maximum Aperture: F/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: F/32
• Minimum Focusing Distance: 13 inches
• Auto-Focus, Manual-Focus
• Angle of View: 75 Degrees
• Zooming type: Rotary Zoom System
• Internal Focusing
• Filter Diameter: 67mm
• Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:3.9 (at 75mm)
• Accessories: Lens Hood
• Mount: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony
• Dimensions: 2.9 inches (Diameter) and 3.6 inches (Length)
• Weight: 18 Ounces

What’s new: SLRgear posted a full review of this lens!

Tamron have announced the new versatile SP 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC that covers the very popular 26-78mm focal length range (in full-frame 35mm format). Its wide aperture provides practical advantages in low-light shooting.

This high-speed, high-definition f/2.8 standard zoom lens features Vibration Compensation (VC) image stabilization mechanism for extended hand-held shooting possibilities even in low-light conditions. This helps the new lens deliver impressive sharpness and contrast over its entire focal range.

Its maximum aperture of  f/2.8 it produces beautiful images enhanced by shallow depth of-field, and smooth, natural transitions in out-of-focus areas of the image.

The lens’s optical system uses special glass for multiple elements: XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass for advanced correction of optical aberrations, three compound aspheric elements, and two LD (low dispersion) lens elements to make effective corrections for chromatic aberrations.

To reduce ghosting and flare, the latest BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) multi-layer coatings are used. In addition, internal surface coatings have been applied to all cemented surfaces, for sharpness, optimum color reproduction performance and excellent color balance.

The SP 17-50mm has beautiful exterior design and a flower-shaped hood is provided as a standard accessory to block light rays coming in from outside the borders of the image area ensuring clear and flare-free performance.

The lens is designes specially for Canon and Nikon APS-C sized dSLR cameras.

Lens Reviews:

Slrgear.com:
The lens is not bad with regard to sharpness, just not as good as the non-VC (Vibration Control) version, leading potential buyers to decide how badly they need Vibration Control.

Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC – Specifications:

• Focal Distance: 17-50mm
• Maximum Aperture: F/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: F/32
• 7 Diaphragm Blades
• Angle of View (diagonal): 78°45 ′- 31°11 ′
• Lens Construction: 19 elements, 14 groups
• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.29m (11.4 in)
• Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:4.8
• Filter Thread: 72mm
• Zoom Lock Mechanism
• Length: 94.5mm (3.7 in)
• Diameter: 79.6mm (3.13 in)
• Weight: 570g (20.15 oz)
• Standard Accessories: Flower-shaped Lens Hood
• Compatible Mounts: Canon and Nikon (with built-in AF motor)

Press Release