Tamron Announce Two New Feature Rich Premium Primes

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by Tim FokSeptember 7^th, 2015

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Tamron has announced a new pair of high quality image stabilized primes. The Tamron SP 35mm and 45mm mark the companies first venture into this category of lenses, providing competition to the incredibly popular Sigma Global Vision line.

Tamron are known for their affordably priced, feature rich zoom lenses. The 17-50mm f/2.8 VC (Vibration Control) and 24-70mm f/2.8 VC are popular budget choice lenses for video shooters using APS-C and full frame cameras respectively. The latter a particularly interesting number as there is no other direct replacement for it (both Canon, Nikon and Sigma standard zoom lenses offer Image Stabilization or a fast f/2.8 aperture, not both).

Whilst Tamron has offered much in certain departments it has lacked in others. Build quality has always been a downside when comparing to other lenses, and short focus throws make them tough for video shooters. The new SP (Super Performance) prime pair look to make some changes, offering up a first for Tamron in the high quality fixed focal length sector (ignoring their current macro lenses).

Looking at the spec of the two in detail:

The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD and Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD are full frame lenses (signified by Di in their titles) so compatible on both photography full frame and APS-C/Super35mm sensor formats, VC as above standards for Vibration Control (Tamrons version of Image Stabilization).

USD refers to the Ultrasonic Silent Drive motor system that’ll please mostly stills shooters but for us video guys it means that lenses offer full time manual focus (even in AF mode) plus the potential to work with video auto focus systems like Canons Dual Pixel AF.

One Low Dispersion element, one extra Low Dispersion element, and two aspherical elements help to control a variety of aberrations and distortions for consistent and even illumination and sharpness, as well as reduced color fringing, and eBAND and BBAR coatings work to suppress flare and ghosting for increased contrast and color fidelity.

You’d be please to know that both prime lenses feature a moisture-resistant construction, complete with rubber seal on the back on the lens and fluorine coated front element.

Here are the specifications for both lenses:

Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

Focal Length: Fixed 45mm
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Format Compatibility: 35mm/APS-C
Angle of View: 52° 21′
Minimum Object Distance: 0.29m (11.4 in)
Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:3.4
Elements/Groups: 10/8
Aperture Diaphragm:  9 Rounded blades
Image Stabilization: Yes
Autofocus: Ultra Silent Drive
Filter Thread Front: 67 mm
Dimensions (DxL) Approx: 3.17 x 3.60″ (80.4 x 91.4 mm)
Weight: 1.2 lb (544.31 g)

Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

Focal Length: Fixed 35mm
Maximum Aperture: f/1.8
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Format Compatibility: 35mm/APS-C
Angle of View: 63° 26′
Minimum Object Distance: 0.2m (7.9 in)
Maximum Reproduction Ratio 1:2.5
Elements/Groups: 10/9
Aperture Diaphragm:  9 Rounded blades
Image Stabilization: Yes
Autofocus: Ultra Silent Drive
Filter Thread Front: 67 mm
Dimensions (DxL) Approx: 3.17 x 3.20″ (80.4 x 81.3 mm)
Weight: 16.9 oz (479.12 g)

It’s clear by the aesthetic design of these two lenses that Tamron has gone after the same target audience as Sigma with their Global Vision Line (particularly the Art series primes). This is great news for budget video shooters as there are now even more options in this department.

The fact that these are newly designed Super Performance primes hopefully means that these are a grade or two above Tamrons other lines in terms of build quality. Sigma did an exceptional job with stating the premium status of their Global Vision Line, this could be a similar move from Tamron but in an even more cost effective price bracket.

Coming in at around $600 each, these lenses come in competitively priced yet offering important features like a fast f/1.8 aperture, Vibration Control and weather sealing.

via/ CanonRumors