The Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A007) was announced in February 2012, just one day before the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Its headline feature is indicated by the 'VC' in its name, which stands for 'Vibration Control'; it's the first and only optically-stabilized fast normal zoom for full frame cameras. As befits a premium SLR lens it also includes an ultrasonic-type autofocus motor for fast and silent focusing, and as an added bonus it features a degree of weathersealing (Tamron uses the term 'drip proof'). Put together, this makes it the highest-specified 24-70mm lens currently on the market. Show To achieve this feat, Tamron has employed an exotic optical formula that makes extensive use of special elements. It includes three Low Dispersion (LD) glass elements, two Extra Refractive Index (XR) glass elements, three glass molded aspheric elements, and one hybrid aspherical element in its 17 element / 12 group design. A 9-bladed aperture diaphragm uses curved blades for the attractive rendition of out-of-focus backgrounds. As usual for Tamron the lens is available in versions for Canon, Nikon and Sony SLRs. The latter doesn't include optical stabilization, relying instead on the camera body's built-in sensor-shift stabilization, and drops the 'VC' from its name as a result. But in all other respects it's identical, including the same optical design. What's perhaps most impressive about the 24-70mm F2.8 VC, though, is its price. At around $1300/£800 it's significantly cheaper than Canon, Nikon and Sony's own 24-70mm F2.8 lenses, although it's rather more expensive than Sigma's older, unstabilized model. You could be forgiven for thinking this is too good to be true - on paper it looks like a steal. So the question is: how well does it work in practical use? Read on to find out. Headline features
Angle of viewThe pictures below illustrate the angle of view on Canon full frame and APS-C cameras (taken from our standard position):  Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD specificationsPrice • $1300 (US) • £810 (UK) Date introduced February 2012 Maximum format size 35mm full frame Focal length 24-70mm 35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C) 38-112mm Diagonal Angle of view • 84-34º (full frame) • 61-23º (1.5x APS-C) Maximum aperture F2.8 Minimum aperture F22 Lens Construction • 17 elements / 12 groups • 3 LD (Low Dispersion) elements • 2 XR (Extra Refractive Index) elements • 3 glass molded aspheric elements • 1 hybrid aspherical element Number of diaphragm blades 9, rounded Minimum focus 0.38m Maximum magnification 0.2x AF motor type • Ring-type Ultrasonic Drive motor • Full-time manual focus Zoom method Rotary, extending Focus method Internal Image stabilization • Yes (not available on Sony mount version) Filter thread • 82mm • Does not rotate on focus Supplied accessories* • Front and rear caps • Petal-type Hood HA007 • Soft lens case Weight 845 g (29.1 oz) Dimensions 88.2 mm diameter x 116.9 mm length (3.5 x 4.6 in) Available Mounts Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony Alpha * Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area You may also likeMore about gear in this articleTamron has announced a competition for US-based customers, who are encouraged to submit 8-14 images with a travel theme. Prizes for the winner include having his or her work featured on Tamron's website and in its newsletter, as well as the opportunity to pick up a shiny new SP 15-30mm F/2.8, 24-70mm F/2.8 or 70-200mm F/2.8. Learn more Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been looking into how lenses score on specific cameras, and their latest round-up takes a look at Sony's 24MP full frame flagship, the SLT-A99. The article covers 22 lenses, including both current models from the likes of Sony, Sigma and Zeiss, and some older Konica Minolta optics. They've published a number of reviews of new Sony-mount lenses alongside, including the 300mm F2.8 G II SSM telephoto and the Tamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di USD, plus the ZEISS Touits for NEX cameras. Click through for the links. Just posted: Our review of the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD. In our latest lens review produced in collaboration with DxOMark, we look at Tamron's fast standard zoom for full frame cameras - the first in its class to include optical stabilisation. With its Ultrasonic Drive focus motor and drip-proof construction, it looks like a very tempting option for full frame shooters, especially as it costs rather less than its counterparts from Canon, Nikon or Sony. But is this all too good to be true? Click through to read our review and find out. Just Posted: Our samples gallery from the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD. The company's latest fast maximum aperture, stabilized standard zoom was announced back in February, but really comes into its own with the recent announcements of more affordable full-frame bodies from Canon and Nikon. We've put together a gallery of images shot in a variety of situations with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III to give a taste for what it can do. Tamron has announced a 24-70mm F2.8 zoom for full frame cameras that features inbuilt optical stabilisation - a first in this class of lens. The SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD, to give it its full name, also incorporates an Ultrasonic Silent Drive motor for autofocus, which allows full-time manual focus. The lens is moisture-resistant and features a circular aperture diaphragm for the attractive rendition of background blur. It will be produced in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts, with price and availability to be confirmed at a later date. Latest sample galleriesLatest in-depth reviewsThe Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of Fujifilm's classically-styled large sensor compact. A 40MP X-Trans sensor, in-body stabilization and 6.2K video are among the updates. The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon's mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review. This $250 electronic lens adapter is perfect for Nikon Z-mount curious Sony shooters — shhh, we won’t tell anyone. Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that's now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos. OM Digital Solutions has updated its flagship high speed camera just two years after launch. The latest version includes more memory and some performance and handling tweaks. Latest buying guidesIf you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites. What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best. 'What's the best mirrorless camera?' We're glad you asked. What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out. Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder. |
