Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD VC (Vibration Compensation) Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A20E)

by Tamron

• State of the Art Vibration Compensation Mechanism (VC) reduces blurred images induced by camera movement
• Remarkably Compact at less than 4" long and weighing only 19.4oz.
• Revolutionary MFD of 19.3 throughout entire zoom range yeilding a 1:3 Macro Magnification Ratio
• Unique Zoom Lock Mechanism for Enhanced Portability
• Flower-shaped Lens Hood and 6 Year Warranty are included, accepts 67mm filters.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 6 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000V6ON8I
• Item model number: AF020C-700
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Style: Canon

From the Manufacturer

Unleash the picture power of your digital SLR with this remarkable new compact, lightweight all-in-one zoom lens. Covering an impressive 10.7X, wide-to-longtelephotozoom range on both full-frame and APS-C format digital SLRs it gets down to an incredible 0.49m (19.3") at 300mm in Macro mode for dramatic framefilling close-ups.

Zoom in for a macro shot

And to optimize its outstanding real-world image quality we’ve built in our new high-tech, state-of-the-art VC (Vibration Compensation) system. The cutting edge 18-element and 13-group design of the 28-300mm VC lens incorporates XR (extra refractive-index ), LD ( low dispersion) and AD (anomalous dispersion ) glass as well as hybrid and GM (glass molded) aspherical elements to deliver exquisite sharpness and color correction over its extended range. The esteemed Di ( Digitally Integrated ) designation is your assurance of optimum digital and analog imaging performance. Capturing razor sharp handheld images just got

AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC Features

Di II
Lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers and inherit all of the benefits of our Di products. These lenses are not designed for conventional cameras and digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm.

Vibration Compensation (VC)
Camera shake can ruin your photos, particularly at telephoto or in low light. Tamron's state-of-the-art Vibration Compensation mechanism incorporated into the award-winning 28-300mm zoom gives you blur-free hand-held images for incredible results! Finally, the technology you need in the lens you want.

• VC delivers blur free - handheld images for incredible results
• VC mechanism employs a three-coil system
• Lens element compensates for vibration using 3-steel balls (making movement quiet & smooth)
• Exceptional images at slower shutter speeds – reduces the need for a tripod
• Bring out contrast to motion & stillness
• Eliminate the need to shoot with a Flash




VC Off - VC On


Low Dispersion (LD)
Low dispersion (LD) glass elements in a lens help reduce chromatic aberration; the tendency of light of different colors to come to different points of focus at the image plane. Chromatic aberration reduces the sharpness of an image, but glass with an extremely lowdispersion index, has less of a tendency to separate (defract) a ray of light into a rainbow of colors. This characteristic allows the lens designer to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the center of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (towards the edges of the field) that often occurs at short focal lengths (the wide-angle end of the zoom range.)


Low Dispersion (LD) Glass for Greater Lens Sharpness


Extra Refractive Index Glass (XR)
Extra Refractive Index (XR) glass can bend light rays at steeper angles, thereby decreasing the physical length of the lens while enhancing imaging performance by minimizing optical aberrations. This has allowed Tamron to develop a line of shorter, smaller-diameter, lighter lenses without sacrificing lens speed, and actually upgrading image quality compared to older designs. XR glass is costlier than conventional glass but it yields enhanced optical power distribution, making possible many of the outstanding and innovative lens designs that bear the XR designation. XR glass, with its superior light-bending power, makes it possible to design a short-barrel lens with the same light-gathering ability (aperture value) as a long-barrel lens—even with a smaller lens diameter. By using this principle Tamron has been able to shorten the length of the entire optical system and produce lighter, more compact lenses of the same speed, and also to provide greater zoom ranges in lenses that are much more convenient to carry by hand.



Special glass for better performance and more compact lens designs



Aspherical Elements (ASL) Provide the Ultimate in Image Quality and Compactness)
Tamron uses several hybrid aspherical lens elements in many lenses bearing the Aspherical designation. These innovative optics allow us to achieve the ultimate in image quality, and at the same time produce lenses that offer remarkable zoom ranges in extraordinarily compact packages. By perfecting theses cutting-edge advances for series production, Tamron has advanced the state of optical design, and virtually eliminated spherical aberration and image distortion from the high-power-zoom series.Through the effective application of Hybrid Aspherical Technology, one lens elemen tcan take the place of multiple elements without compromising performance. This is what allows us to produce remarkably compact long-range lenses that deliver a uniformly high level of image quality at all focal lengths and apertures.



Achieve the ultimate in image quality with Asperical (ASL) lenses


Internal Focus (IF)
Internal focusing (IF) provides numerous practical benefits to photographers including a non-rotating front filter ring that facilitates the positioning of polarizing and graduated filters, and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing. Even more important, Tamron’s Internal Focusing (IF) system provides a much closer minimum focusing distance (MFD) throughout its entire focusing range. In addition, IF improves optical performance by minimizing illumination loss at the corners of the image field, and helps to suppress other aberrations that become more troublesome at different focusing positions.

Product Description

The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC covers everything from wide-angle to telephoto and macro. Tamron has incorporated a Vibration Compensator an anti-shake mechanism developed by Tamron into this highly versatile zoom lens. The new AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO zoom lens offers the convenience, comfort and versatility of a high power zoom lens and the capability to reduce hand-shake blur on DSLR cameras using either APS-C size or full-size format imagers. When the AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC is used with a full-size format SLR camera, it covers a tremendous focal length range from 28mm in wide angle to 300mm ultra telephoto. When mounted on a DSLR with an APS-C sized imager, the lens covers a 43mm wide angle to 465mm ultra telephoto(*) (full size format equivalent, in a diagonal angle of view of 5°20'). The proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism developed by Tamron features a triaxial configuration using three pairs of driving coils and slide balls around the compensator group of the lens' optical system. Since the compensator lenses are supported with rolling friction of the balls, the response performance is enhanced and the construction is simple, which results in the compactness of the lens. The lens incorporates a highly accurate gyro sensor for detecting hand-shake, which, combined with a 32-bitRISC CPU, offers comfortable anti-vibration effects. Outstanding Design Realizing High Zoom Power, VC Mechanism and Compactness The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.5 XR Di VC integrates optical technologies that Tamron has accumulated as the pioneer and leader of high power zoom lenses in order to realize the desired compactness even while incorporating the VC mechanism. The optical system uses a number of lens elements made from special optical glass materials including XR (high refraction index) glass elements, GM (glass-molded)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

206 of 210 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional compact walk-around lens with great range at reasonable price. January 27, 2008

By fugraw

Style Name:Canon

I have owned and tested the Tamron 28-300mm VC zoom lens for about 2 months now. Here is an early review from my experience so far.

Pros:
Excellent optical quality (stronger at shorter focal length)
Versatile multi-purpose walk around lens. Leave this one on your camera and no need to lug around extra lenses.
Amazing focal length range 28-300 equals to 44-480 on 1.6x crop sensor.
Compact size and light weight.
Vibration compensation works very well zoomed out and in macro shots
Solid and well built quality
Rubberize grip feels much better then most Canon lenses
Reasonable price relative to comparable lenses
Included hood
Center-pinch lens cap should be an industry standard.
Extra peace of mind with standard 6 year manufacturer warranty

Cons:
Wider angle would be nice on a 1.6x crop sensor. If you shoot a lot of landscapes 44mm may not be enough.
In low light, indoor conditions, the f3.5-6.3 aperture means I have to increase the ISO and use longer shutter speeds to shoot brighter.
Occasionally, the AF searches a bit in low light shooting
Not a big deal but, the lens creeps (extends with gravity) when lens lock is off and the lens is pointing down.

In conclusion, the Tamron AF 28-300mm VC lens is an exceptional choice if you are looking for a general walk around lens to keep on your camera. You can not beat the optical performance with such range from a relatively compact, light and well-built package, especially considering the price.

121 of 125 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice lens January 25, 2008

By Stephen Kalman VINE™ VOICE

Style Name:Canon|Amazon Verified Purchase

I replaced two Canon lenses (18-135 and 70-300) with this single lens and I'm glad I did it. Most of my pictures are hand-held, on hikes or vacation, and I really don't want to carry a bunch of lenses or change them in the field. In the last year, I've been hiking on a glacier in Canada and crossing the Sahara on horseback. Neither is a great place to change lenses and there were too many times I missed a shot I wanted because the right lens was in the bag, not on the camera.

This one is small, light, easy to use. I see no color or shape distortion. I can get the same results handheld at slower shutter speeds using Tamron's VC as I got with Canon's IS.

I do have a few small gotcha's, though. One is that the direction of the twist to zoom in is opposite direction to the Canon lens. That took a bit of getting used to. Another is that auto focusing is a little louder. That might be a problem for places where silence is important. Third (and last), there is very little twist difference between 200mm and 300mm focal lengths. In other words, it is difficult to make precise choices at the upper ends of the range. (All zooms are more granular at their lower numbers; it is just that with a range this wide it is more pronounced than usual.)

All in all, I'm very happy with this lens and recommend it to you.

91 of 96 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this lens January 30, 2008

By RonAnnArbor

Style Name:Canon|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this lens -- an all-purpose carry-around lens with VC built in, and very good optics. I am surprised consistently by the IQ of the photos I am taking - not what I expected from a general walk-around lens of this type.

With my previous Nikon kit -- the 18-200 was one of my favorite lenses, but the IQ was always a bit worse than what I got with any of my dedicated lenses...

Now with my Canon kit, I can clearly state that the Tamron 28-300 VC lens consistently gives me far better shots that the Nikon 18-200 ever did in the same lighting situations. The added zoom is a blessing and basically allows you to take your Canon camera, this lens, and nothing else on most photo shoots, especially when traveling.

I highly recommend this lens as an all-purpose walk-around lens, and I think you will find that the IQ is stunning -- beyond what you would imagine with a lens of this type.

My only wish -- that it was 18-300 because you DO miss the wider angle from 18-28 at times...but at this price point and this quality, I can't recommend it more. You will not be sorry with this lens, and you might, like myself, find yourself basically using this for almost all situations. It hasn't come off my Canon 40D in the two months I have had both.