The premium lens market has become a little more competitive with the announcement by Tamron that it will be launching two full-frame compatible, fast(ish) and stylish prime lenses in its SP range – the SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (Model F012) and SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (Model F013) in October.
Tamron joins Sigma, its main competitor in the accessory lens segment, in offering fast prime lenses as an alternative to the comparatively higher-priced Canon and Nikon options.
Tamron claims a world first for the lenses – ‘they are the only standard zoom fixed lenses to offer VC.’ (They are the only ‘standard zoom fixed lenses’ this writer has ever encountered!)
The Tamron press release then says ‘this first of its kind feature make the lenses far simpler to use than those with larger apertures’. Hmm.
This is the first of several pending announcements for SP (‘Super Performance’) fixed focal length lenses, according to the press release.
Another first for the lenses is that they are free of any aberrations, according to the press release: ‘Optimal use of the latest glass materials, coupled with Tamron’s world renowned optical design technology, thoroughly compensated for aberrations of all types to achieve higher resolving power…’
According to US photo news aggregation website Petapixel ‘these lenses boast a revamped outward look for Tamron, reminiscent of Sigma’s Art line’.
Other features:
– the window over the distance scale is now 20 percent larger than previous Tamron lenses, for better visibility;
– the 35mm f1.8 offers the world’s first 20cm minimum object distance for a full frame DSLR lens;
– AF/MF and VC switches have been designed for greater comfort and ‘secured operational feedback’;
– both lenses feature 10 elements in 9 groups, minimal vignetting (even when wide open), eBAND coating to combat ghosting and flare, high-speed AF with Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD), fluorine coating on the front element to repel water and fingerprints, a moisture-resistant construction, and a 9-blade circular aperture;
Distributor Maxwell International has supplied a local price range of between $1000 and $1100 for the two new Tamron lenses.
They will initially be available in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts, with a Sony Alpha mount version following (without VC, as Sony cameras have in-camera stabilisation.)
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