Tamron to show development model of fast, stabilized ultra-wide zoom lens at Photokina
posted Friday, September 12, 2014 at 2:13 AM EST
Every time the biennial Photokina tradeshow in Germany rolls around, alongside the selection of brand-new products, there are invariably some prototypes and development concepts on display, giving us an idea of where manufacturers will be taking us in the not-too-distant future. This year, lens maker Tamron has an example which it says is the first of its kind.
Describing the achievement its new lens will set requires quite a bit of description, but it's nonetheless a very interesting optic. The Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD（Model A012）is, says the company, the world's first fast-aperture, ultra-wide angle stabilized zoom lens compatible with full-frame digital SLRs, as of September 11, 2014. No planned pricing or availability information has yet been disclosed, but the new lens's rather complex formula has been detailed.
The optical design features 18 elements in 13 groups, of which there are several low-dispersion elements and one expanded glass molded aspherical element, plus two different coating types -- broad-band anti reflection and extended bandwidth & angular-dependency coatings, respectively. For the first time in a Tamron lens, the front element is also fluorine-coated to repel dirt and water, and as well as Tamron's Vibration Compensation stabilization system, Ultrasonic Silent Drive autofocus tech is also included.
The net result of all this, says Tamron, is a lens with good control over geometric distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations, "outstanding" image quality from corner to corner, and low levels of flare or ghosting. A nine-bladed, rounded aperture diaphragm is said to provide a near-circular aperture for attractive bokeh, and the high-torque AF drive is said to be both fast and extremely quiet. Full-time manual focus is also provided without the need to first disable autofocus.
The lens will come bundled with SILKYPIX Developer Studio for Tamron software, and will focus down to 11 inches (0.28m) for a maximum magnification of 1:5. Canon, Nikon and Sony-mount versions are planned with a maximum diameter of 3.9 inches (98.4mm), a length of 5.7 inches (145mm) in Canon mount, and a length of 5.6 inches (143mm) in Nikon mount. Weight is said to be 2.4 pounds (1.1kg), and no filter threads are provided due to the built-in petal hood and protruding front element. Push-fit front and rear caps will be included in the product bundle.
You can expect to hear more details on our news page whenever the lens nears market availability!