Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Lens

The new Tamron SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) is a ultra wide-angle zoom lens for digital SLRs with APS-C size sensors. The lens covers an extended focal length range equivalent to 16-37mm that is particularly wide for an ultra wide-angle zoom lens, while improving the aperture to F/3.5-4.5 and keeping the filter diameter to 77mm. Price and availability of the Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 lens to be announced.

Tamron USA Press Release

TAMRON DEVELOPS SP AF10-24MM F/3.5-4.5 DI II LD ASPHERICAL (IF) (MODEL AB001)

A New High Performance Zoom Lens Designed for Exclusive Use on Digital SLR Cameras Covering the Ultra Wide-Angle Range

PMA, January 31, 2008, Las Vegas, NV— Mr. Morio Ono, President of Tamron Co., Ltd., announced the development of the SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) (Model AB001), a new high performance ultra wide-angle zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C size imagers.

* “Di (Digitally-Integrated design)-II” lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers.
* This lens is not designed for use with 35mm film cameras and digital SLR cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm.

The new SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) is an advanced ultra wide-angle zoom lens that is versatile and offers even higher performance and specifications than the current Tamron SP AF11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 zoom lens.

The lens covers an extended focal length range that is particularly wide for an ultra wide-angle zoom lens, while improving the aperture to F/3.5-4.5 and keeping the filter diameter to 77mm. Its lightweight and compact size makes this new wide-angle zoom very user friendly.

The lens was designed for use with digital SLR cameras and thereby employs special optical glass materials for outstanding optical performance such as large-aperture glass-molded aspherical elements and hybrid aspherical elements.

MAIN FEATURES
1. Compact Ultra Wide-angle Zoom Lens Covering a Broad Range from 10mm to 24mm
The new Tamron zoom covers a focal length range equivalent to 16-37mm* when converted to a 35mm full-size format. Its ultra-wide zoom ratio of more than 2X provides a versatile variety of angles of view, thus improving photographic creativity.

*Tamron’s conversion ratio is 1.5x.

2. Features an Optical Design Optimized for Digital Camera Characteristics Ensures High Optical Performance
(1) Employment of Special Optical Glass Materials Provides High Performance
The new zoom lens uses an HID glass element and a pair of LD glass elements to minimize on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations that are the greatest hindrance to high optical quality.  To further achieve outstanding optical quality, the lens uses a high quality, glass-molded aspherical element and three hybrid aspherical elements to thoroughly compensate for spherical and comatic aberrations and distortion.
* HID – High Index/High Dispersion optical glass
* LD – Low Dispersion optical glass

(2) Optical Design Optimizes the Angles of Incidences of Light Rays Reaching the Imager
The ultra wide zoom lens uses a new optical system designed to confine the changing angles of incidences of light rays reaching the imager within a certain scope over the entire image field from the center to the periphery, by considering the effects of variances due to zooming.

(3) Enhanced Peripheral Illumination
Peripheral light fall-off is minimized so that images are high quality from the center to the periphery.

(4) Outstanding Resolution
As an SP Di II class lens, it provides high optical quality in terms of resolution, contrast and flatness of image field.

(5) Internal Surface Coating Reduces Ghosting and Flare
The lens uses a newly developed multiple coating and internal surface coating, (i.e., multiple-layer coatings on cemented surfaces of plural lenses) to reduce the image degradation caused by the reflection of light rays entering from the lens front and affected by the imager.

3. Ultra Compact and Lightweight Design
The new zoom lens covers a wider focal length range with a greater zoom ratio and offers a faster maximum aperture and enhanced optical quality than the existing SP AF11-18mm zoom lens. Despite higher specifications that are likely to incur a bulky design, the new zoom lens is lightweight and compact. Tamron has successfully realized a versatile ultra wide-angle zoom lens that is lightweight and compact enough in overall length and diameter to accept a 77mm filter, the same as the existing SP AF11-18mm zoom lens.

4. Minimum Focus Distance of 0.24m throughout the Entire Zoom Range
Considering the importance of “close focusing capability” as an essential condition in wide-angle photography, Tamron has achieved a 0.24m minimum focus distance over the entire zoom range. Getting closer to the subject allows you to easily express a more creative photographic vision.

5. Flower-shaped Lens Hood
A glare-reducing flower-shaped lens hood is included as a standard accessory. The special hood provides optimum shading of superfluous light rays that enter from the rectangular frame outside the image field.

6. New External Design Conveying “High Performance, High Precision Image” on the Basis of Tamron’s Conventional Lens Design
The external design is improved to enhance the uniformity and smoothness.  The metallic finish of the gold band of Tamron lenses makes it stand out as a Di II lens, while the layout of alphanumerical markings is improved for better visibility. The rubber patterns of the zoom and focus rings have also been improved to compliment today’s digital camera design style and to provide better handling.

SPECIFICATIONS
Model Name ： AB001
Foal Length ： 10-24mm
Maximum Aperture ： F/3.5-4.5
Angle of View ： 108° 44′ - 60° 20′ (APS-C size equivalent)
Lens Construction ： 12 elements in 9 groups
Minimum Focusing Distance ： 0.24m (Over the entire zoom range)
Maximum Mag. Ratio ： 1:5.1 (at f=24mm)
Filter Diameter ： Ø77mm
Overall Length　　 ： 86.5mm (3.4”)*
Maximum Diameter ： Ø83.2mm (3.3”)*
Weight ： 370g (13.1oz)*
Diaphragm Blades　　　　　　 ： 7 blades
Minimum Aperture ： F/22
Standard Accessory ： Flower-shaped Lens Hood
Compatible Mount ： Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony

*Values give are for Nikon cameras.

Published: Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Reader Comments

1. Tamron says it converts to 16mm from 10mm using the 1.5 conversion number they provide. This infers that the lens is really 10.67mm.
   It seems to me that the real numbers are
   10.67mm x 1.54 ( the real Nikon conversion factor ) = 16.43mm. Not quite the 15mm that they would like you to believe ie: (10 x 1.5) They managed to fudge it by 1.43mm. Amazing!
   This sort of playing with the numbers by Tamron is rather tiresome. All manufactureres do this though. sigh.
   a difference of 1.43mm in that short range is a significant difference in angle of view.
   If it really was 15mm then they couldn't get it to use a 77mm filter and the specs would be much harder and more expensive to achieve.
   Regardless, I'm still looking forward to seeing if they have kept CA under control at f8 or not.
   If so, I'll buy it.
   A Sony A700 migh be feesible for shooting wide now.
   If only we could get a clue as to when it will be available. A hint maybe, please. Thanks.

   Graham at 06:05pm on Friday, March 07, 2008