The Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO (Model A20N II) is a high power zoom lens compatible with 35mm full-size SLR cameras from Nikon with a built-in AF motor and featuring Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism.
Tamron’s AF28-300mm VC zoom lens has been highly evaluated by many photographers the world over since the introduction of the lens in October 2007, as a compact and high power zoom lens providing stabilized viewfinder images. The lens covers an angle of view equivalent to that of a 465mm ultra telephoto lens when mounted on a digital SLR camera equipped with an APS-C size image sensor. The ultra telephoto range is one where Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism exhibits its compensation performance to the maximum extent. The lens enables the user to enjoy ultra telephotography with amazingly stabilized viewfinder images. The lens covers an angle of view equivalent to 43mm at its wideangle end, allowing the user to respond to a wider variety of scenes than tele-zoom lenses in the 70-300mm class do.
The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC (IF) MACRO (Model A20N II) is a compact and high power zoom lens that can be used as a standard zoom lens. It allows not only the users of conventional 35mm film SLR cameras but also owners of digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C sized image sensors to enjoy comfortable SLR photography of up to 465mm-equivalent ultra telephoto without hand shake.
1. High-power zoom lens allowing comfortable ultra telephotography with stabilized viewfinder images
The lens covers everything from 28mm wideangle to 300mm ultra telephoto when mounted on a 35mm full-size film SLR camera and a range of angles of view equivalent to 43mm wideangle to 465mm ultra telephoto* (diagonal angle of view of 5°20’) when used with a digital SLR camera. Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism exhibits its power particularly in ultra telephotography, allowing the user to expand his/her photographic creativity while enjoying the world of ultra telephotography.
* When mounted on a digital SLR camera equipped an APS-C sized image sensor, converted to 35mm format (Tamron’s conversion value is 1.55x)
2. Tamron’s VC mechanism compensates for hand shake
Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism employs a "three-coil" system that is designed to let three coils drive a compensator lens electromagnetically via three steel balls built in the mechanism. Since the compensator lens is supported with rolling frictions of the steel balls, follow-up performance is enhanced while the simple construction realizes the compactness of the mechanism itself. A highly accurate gyro sensor built in the mechanism to detect hand shake delivers comfortable hand-shake compensation performance in combination with a 32-bit RISC CPU.
3. High power, yet features the VC mechanism and outstanding optical design
The AF28-300mm Di VC zoom lens is a product Tamron has developed by integrating advanced optical design technology Tamron has accumulated as the pioneer in high power zoom lenses, in order to strike an ideal balance between a vibration compensation mechanism and compactness. The optical system uses XR (high refractive index) glass elements, a GM (glass molded aspherical) element, hybrid aspherical elements, an LD (low dispersion) glass element and an AD (abnormal dispersion) glass element. The optical design designed to provide high definition and contrast performance as well as flatness of the field enables you to respond a wide variety of photographic scenes, as a lens designed by eyeing characteristics of digital SLR cameras.
4. Minimum focus distance of 0.49m over the entire zoom range for 1:3 maximum magnification ratio
The AF28-300mm Di VC sports the minimum focus distance of 0.49m over the entire zoom range, the top class capability among high power zoom lenses compatible with 35mm full-size SLR cameras. The maximum magnification ratio of 1:3 at the 300mm telephoto end is also the top class capability.
5. Internal surface coatings for thoroughly suppressing ghosting and flare
Tamron employed multi-layer coatings on lens elements for reducing reflections on lens surfaces as well as internal surface coatings (coatings on cemented surfaces of lens elements) in order to minimize reflections from the imager itself within the mirror box, a problem inherent to digital SLR cameras.
6. High power, yet lightweight and compact, thanks to inventive mechanical design
In designing the lens, Tamron thoroughly reviewed roles of respective barrel components in order to make it as compact as possible. As a result, the increase in the overall length of the new model is confined to 17.8mm and 5mm in the maximum diameter compared to the conventional AF28-300mm (Model A061), despite the VC mechanism now incorporated.
7. Zoom lock mechanism for convenience in carrying the outfit
The lens has a built-in zoom lock mechanism to prevent sliding fall of its barrel when the outfit is carried around.
8. Flower-shaped lens hood as a standard accessory
The lens is supplied with a flower-shaped lens hood as a standard accessory designed to efficiently cut harmful light entering from angles other than intended angles at four corners of the frame in order to ensure clear descriptive performance.