Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di VC USD Lens Review

Review posted 12/7/2010
Quick Take |
Pros |
|
Cons |
|
Bottom Line |
Tamron seems to have created a worthy competitor in the 70-300mm zoom
category, with excellent build quality, good optics, and several other
handy features to help you capture better handheld photos; like the USM
AF motor and VC stabilization. Read more in our full conclusion. |
The A005 is a well made lens that Tamron claims is comprised of high-grade materials that allow the unit to offer "best-in-class" resolution. That is a bold statement, which we hope to shed some light on in our review. Albeit, the A0005 does boast some appealing specifications, including the use of extra low dispersion (XLD) and low dispersion (LD) lenses, being their first model to incorporate a fast and quite ultrasonic AF motor (USD), vibration compensation (VC) system with up to a 4 stop gain, full-time MF, and their BBAR anti-reflective coating to combat both lens flare and ghosting.
For those who use a full-frame dSLR, the A005 will cover a nice medium telephoto range of 70-300mm. On an APS-C or "crop body" dSLR, this lens offers a much broader telephoto reach of approx. 109-465mm (in 35mm equivalence). Either range will appeal to a wide range of photogs, whether you're a nature or sports shooter, or anyone else who's looking for an affordable, yet powerful zoom lens option.
The A005 is currently available for Nikon and Canon lens mount systems with a suggested retail price of only $449.99 US.
A005 Specifications
Model | A005 |
Focal Length | 70-300mm |
Maximum Aperture | F/4 - 5.6 |
Angle of View (diagonal) | 34° 21'-8° 15' |
Lens Construction | 17 elements in 12 groups |
Minimum Focus Distance | 1.5m (59.05 in) |
Max. Magnification Ratio | 1:4 (at f = 300mm: MFD 1.5m) |
Filter thread | 62mm |
Length * | 142.7mm † (5.61 in) |
Full Length ** | 151.1mm †(5.9 in) |
Diameter | 81.5mm (3.21 in) |
Weight | 765g * (26.98 oz) |
Diaphragm Blade Number | 9 |
Minimum Aperture | F/32 - 45 |
Standard Accessory | Flower-shaped lens hood |
Compatible Mount | For Nikon, Canon, Sony†† |
* Length means the size from a head of the barrel to a flange of the mount.
** Full Length means the size from a head of the barrel to an end of the lens.
† Length and weight values given are for the Nikon mount. Specifications, appearance, functionality, etc., may be changed without prior notice.
†† The Sony mount does not include the VC image stabilization functionality, as the body of Sony digital SLR cameras include image stabilization functionality.
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.