Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD lens released
The Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD lens was supposed to be announced at Photokina but it was delayed in the last moment. As previously rumors indicated, the lens is much smaller than its predecessor (the new version is on the left).
The price is $649 and it will be available for Nikon and Canon mounts on December 20th, 2010 (in Japan). A Sony version of the lens will be released at a later date.
Full details after the break:
The new lens features a Piezo Drive (PZD):
Ultrasonic motors are divided into two categories depending on the principle that generates the energy to move the drive: traveling wave motors and standing wave motors. Traveling wave motors include the ring type ultrasonic motor used in the recently launched 70-300mm F/4-5.6 VC USD as well as other lenses, but this lens employs a newer technology, the PZD (Piezo Drive), which functions on the standing wave principle.
A standing wave ultrasonic motor utilizes high-frequency voltage to extend and turn the piezoelectric (piezoceramic) element, thus moving the entire element in a standing wave movement. The metal tip is the contact point of the element to the rotor, and moves in an elliptic motion from the swiveling motion of the moving element, and the friction from this motion turns the rotor. Standing wave ultrasonic motors have the distinct advantage of being smaller than their traveling wave counterparts, and therefore allow a more compact SLR lens size.
New VC mechanism (moving coil method)"
Tamron's original VC image stabilization mechanism utilized a moving magnet system whereby a heavy magnet was positioned near the moving VC lens element. In the new VC unit the positions of the magnet and the coil are reversed, because of this the VC optical lens element is attached to the coil. The new VC mechanism employs a moving coil mechanism with a lightweight coil, and the lighter coil reduces the load on the drive system. Thus, the lighter, more compact new VC unit contributes to the lens's overall light weight and compact size.
Image sample: 39mm (equivalent to 60mm), f/5.6, 1/3200, ISO500, WB: daylight, handheld:
MTF charts:
Specifications:
| Model | B008 |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 18-270mm |
| Maximum aperture | F/3.5-6.3 |
| Angle of view (diagonal) | 75° 33'-5° 55' |
| Lens construction | 16 elements, 13 groups |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.49m (19.3 in) |
| Maximum magnification ratio | 1:3.8 (at f = 270mm: MFD 0.49m) |
| Filter size | φ62mm |
| Length | 88mm¹, ² (3.5 in) |
| Entire Length | 96.4mm¹, ³ (3.8 in) |
| Diameter | φ74.4mm (2.9 in) |
| Weight | 450g¹ (15.9 oz) |
| No. of diaphragm blades | 7 |
| Minimum aperture | F/22-40 |
| Standard accessories | Flower-shaped lens hood |
| Compatible mounts | Canon, Nikon, Sony |
Source: Tamron