Product Summary
- Model name: Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD
- Release Date: February 6th, 2012
- Focus Type: Autofocus / Manual
- Format : Full Frame / APS-C / Crop Sensor
- Mounts: Canon | Nikon | Fuji | Sony
- Color: Black
- Purchase options: Amazon | Adorama | B&H
Key Features
- A full-size, high-speed standard zoom with built-in VC ( Vibration Compensation). Even when shooting in low-light conditions with a slow shutter speed to render sharpness, Tamron’s acclaimed VC allows for stable handheld camera work, to more fully enjoy the benefits of this high-speed zoom lens.
- Uses special high-grade glass in the three LD elements, three glass molded aspherical lenses, one hybrid aspherical lens and two XR (Extra Refractive Index) glasses, delivering top-of-the-class quality images suited to this high-grade lens. Using a rounded diaphragm, the lens achieves gorgeous blur effects. This rounded diaphragm retains a nearly circular shape even when taken two stops down from its fully open state.
- Features Tamron proprietary USD ( Ultrasonic Silent Drive) to power a speedy AF drive together with a continuous manual mechanism.
- This high-speed standard zoom lens has a wide-end focal length of 24mm that expands the photographic area.
- The lens adopts the new technology including the latest optical design, VC ( Vibration Compensation) image stabilization and USD ( Ultrasonic Silent Drive), all in a lighter and more compact package.
- Moisture-resistant construction helps prevent water from penetrating the lens.
Overview
Designed for the larger full frame sensors (Tamron uses the acronym Di for lenses which are designed for full frame sensor cameras and can also be used for the smaller APS-C sensor based cameras) the Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD lens is one that has a fast f/2.8 constant aperture across its focal length range of 24-70mm. The 24-70mm is such a wonderful range. It offers a wider reach over both the wide angle and the short tele-range. The Tamron SP 24-70mm offers one of the faster apertures for such an intermediate lens along with their VC (Vibration Control) or image stabilization systems for steady shots. This lens is an everyday go to lens offering enough to capture pets, kids, landscape, group shots, wedding and other moments with élan. If you need one single lens for all your shooting needs, this is something that you can look into.
The lens is from the top of the line SP range from Tamron and the acronym is reserved for the very best from their line-up. It features a ring-type USD (ultra-sonic drive) for silent and quick auto-focusing.
The lens has a total of 9 rounded blades constituting the lens diaphragm. Apart from a wide f/2.8 aperture the lens can go all the way down to f/22. The lens has an angle of view of 84°04’ – 34°21’. The lens has a total of 17 elements arranged in 12 groups. The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 15” which means the lens with a magnification ratio of 1:5. This means though you can do a bit of close-up photography, this is not a macro lens in the true sense of the word.
Details Features
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 steel balls. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with the steel 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.
Because the 24-70 mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is a high-speed zoom lens with maximum aperture of F/2.8, its VC system must drive a lens that is larger and heavier than other zooms. Therefore, the shape, size and layout of the drive coils are all designed to obtain sufficient thrust. The result is a full-size, high-speed zoom that provides the same high level of compensation effect.
About 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.
Images by Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC on Flickr
Product Images
Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD Specifications
| Lens Construction | 12 Groups/ 17 Elements |
| Angle of view | 84°04′ -34°21′ (for full frame 35mm format cameras) 60°20′ -22°33′ (for APS-C format cameras) |
| Max Aperture | F/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | F/22 |
| Closest Focusing Distance | 0.38m (15.0 in) |
| Max Magnification | 1:5 (at f=70mm: MFD 0.38m) |
| No. of Diaphragm Blades | 9 (rounded diaphragm) |
| Filter Size | 82mm |
| Dimensions (L x D) | 4.3″ x 3.5″ (108.5 x 88.2mm) |
| Wt | 29.1 ox / 825g |
Additional Info
Purchase options
Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD Lens available at Amazon | Adorama | B&H