Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD Lens
September 13, 2012
Tamron Co., Ltd.
Tamron announces the redesign of their legendary 90mm Macro lens, equipped with VC (Vibration Compensation)*1 and USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)*2
September 13, 2012, Saitama, Japan-Tamron Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Morio Ono / Headquarters: Saitama City), a leading manufacturer of optical equipment, announced the development of a next generation 90mm Macro lens for full-size SLR cameras. The lens features completely redesigned optics, a proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation)*1, and USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)*2.
Date of Launch (in Japan): SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F004) for Canon, Nikon and Sony*3 - Due to be launched within 2012
Product Features
- Tamron has updated their legendary 90mm Macro lens with a new, state-of-the-art optical design. The lens, reborn for the age of digital photography, offers VC (Vibration Compensation)*1 and USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)*2.
- Adopting a state-of-the-art optical design and a rounded diaphragm*4, this lens carries on the long tradition of Tamron's 90mm Macro lens in delivering spectacular blur effects. Two XLD*5 (Extra Low Dispersion) glasses and one LD (Low Dispersion) element reduce chromatic aberrations, yielding sharp images and outstanding resolution.
- Tamron's newly developed eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating*6 delivers a dramatic improvement in antireflection performance-significantly reducing flare and ghosting for clearer, crisper images.
- The VC (Vibration Compensation)*1 image stabilization mechanism reduces camera shake to deliver sharp images.*7
- Features USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)*2 to power a speedy AF drive together with a continuous manual focus mechanism.
- Incorporates IF (Internal Focus) system, which focuses by moving only the internal lens group, rather than the front lens elements. The overall length of the lens therefore does not change when focusing, thus ensuring a broad working distance.
- Moisture-resistant construction helps prevent moisture from penetrating the lens.
*1 VC (Vibration Compensation) is Tamron's proprietary image stabilization mechanism.
*2 USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) is Tamron's proprietary ultrasonic motor drive.
*3 The Sony mount does not include VC, as Sony digital SLR bodies include image stabilization functionality. The Sony lens is designated as "SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 USD".
*4 This rounded diaphragm retains a nearly circular shape even when taken two stops down from its fully open state.
*5 The XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) glass is made from specialized high-grade glass, which offers greater chromatic aberration correction properties than LD (Low Dispersion) elements.
*6 The eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating is a new nanotechnology-based coating technique developed by Tamron to reduce unwanted reflection.
*7 From 3m, the benefits of VC (Vibration Compensation) gradually decrease as the focus distance becomes closer.
Specifications
Model: F004 Focal length: 90mm Maximum aperture: F/2.8 Angle of view (diagonal): 27゜02' < with full-size SLR cameras > 17 ゜37' < with APS-C sized sensor digital SLR cameras > Lens construction: 14 elements in 11 groups Minimum focus distance: 0.3m (11.8 in) Maximum magnification ratio: 1: 1 Working distance: 139mm (5.5 in) Filter size: Φ58mm Length*1: 114.5mm (4.5 in)* Entire length*2: 122.9mm (4.8 in)* Diameter: Φ76.4mm Weight: 550g (19.4 oz)* No. of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm) Minimum aperture: F/32 Standard accessory: Lens hood Compatible mounts: Canon, Nikon, Sony
Specifications, appearance, functionality, etc. may be changed without prior notice.
*Length, entire length and weight values given are for the Nikon mount.
*1: Length is the distance between the mount face and the tip of the lens.
*2: Entire length is the distance between the tip of the lens and the tip of the protrusion.
This new lens will be sold alongside its predecessor, the SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 (Model 272E).
VC (Vibration Compensation)
VC (Vibration Compensation) is Tamron's proprietary image stabilization system. Tamron's VC is a three-coil system, whereby three driving coils activate the shake-compensating VC lens group electromagnetically via three ceramic balls. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with the ceramic balls, achieving smooth movement with little friction. This provides a stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking performance. And as the VC lens may be moved in parallel using only the motorized control, the mechanical structure has been simplified, enabling the creation of a more compact lens.
New VC System (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.
The Ultrasonic Motor
In the ultrasonic motor, a piezoelectric element arranged in a ring formation generates ultrasonic vibrations in a metallic ring stator, and the vibration energy is used to rotate a metallic ring rotor that is attached to the stator. The rotation energy is in turn transferred from the metallic ring rotor to operate the focus lens.
What is the eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating?
eBAND Coating, developed by Tamron, is a new coating technique that drastically improves anti-reflection properties. A nano-structured layer (1nm = 1/1,000,000mm) with dimensions smaller than the wavelengths of visible rays of light is deployed on top of multiple coating layers to maximize efficiency.
The nano-structure of the eBAND Coating renders an extremely low refractive index by minimizing the differential with that of air while actively inducing air to its own structure, thus significantly suppressing the extent and degree of reflections.
Through integration with the conventional anti-reflection multi-layer coating technique, attenuating surface reflections utilizing the interference effect between two reflected rays, reflections are well controlled over a broader range of bandwidths and incident angles.
As a hybrid technology between the newly developed nano-structured layer with an extremely low refractive index and conventional multiple-layer coatings, the eBAND Coating provides superb anti-reflection performance, delivering crisp, razor sharp images, and remarkably eliminating the flare and ghosting that can tangibly damage image quality.
Notice of Classification Code Change for Nikon Mounts
Since the introduction by Tamron of the first Nikon mount lens featuring an internal AF motor, the AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC (Model A20), all Nikon mount lenses with the internal AF motor had used the classification code "N II." Lenses using a coupler system* without an internal AF motor were designated as "N." Because future Nikon lenses will have the internal AF motor as a standard feature, Tamron has decided to simplify the designation and consolidate all Nikon mount lenses as "N," eliminating the "N II" designation for future models. This classification code change was made effective from the 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (Model B008).
The "N" classification lenses with coupler systems are: SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di (Model A08); and SP AF180mm F/3.5 Di (Model B01).
* Coupler system refers to a system that uses a shaft to harness the AF motor built into the camera body to operate the lens.
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