Tamron AF 180mm f/3.5 Di SP A/M FEC LD (IF) 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

by Tamron

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AERK6
• Item model number: AFB01C-700
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 30, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This unique high-performance telephoto macro lens is equally at home in the field and in the studio, providing outstanding image quality at all distances, plus an extra-long working distance for unsurpassed subject access. An advanced optical design incorporating special LD glass and internal focusing (IF), it has a handy Filter Effect Control (FEC) ring for adjusting polarizing filters and an AF/MF ring for easier switching from manual to auto-focus.

Focus fast & easy with Internal Focus (IF)

SP AF180mm F/3.5 Di Features

Di
Digitally Integrated Design (Di), is a designation Tamron puts on lenses featuring optical systems designed to meet the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras.

Enhance the ease of your polarizing filter use

Filter Effect Control (FEC)to Enhance the Operational Ease of your Polarizing Filter Use
The Filter Effect Control is designed to rotate the filter to the desired position while the hood is attached. This is accomplished by turning the FEC ring that in turn rotates the portion of the filter mount where the filter is mounted.

Internal Focusing (IF) System
Internal focusing 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.

Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating Shooters
Tamron SP (Super Performance) series is a line of ultra-high-performance lenses designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality. In creating SP lenses Tamron’s optical designers put their foremost priority on achieving superior performance parameters—they are all designed to a higher standard with little regard for cost constraints. As a result, Tamron lenses bearing the SP designation feature impressive and innovative designs that have established an enviable reputation for excellence among those knowledgeable photographers that demand the very best.

Low Dispersion (LD) glass reduces chromatic aberration

Low Dispersion (LD) Glass for Greater Lens Sharpness
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.)

Auto-focus/Manual-focus (AF/MF) Switch Mechanism on the Focus Ring
The ability to switch quickly between auto-focus (AF) and manual-focus (MF) is a great asset in many types of shooting, especially sports and nature photography. This is easily accomplished with Tamron’s ingenious AF/MF system. By simply sliding the focus ring back and forth between the two positions you can select either the AF or MF focusing position. In manual-focus mode Tamron lenses provide smooth, precise manual focusing by turning their wide, well-textured focusing rings.

Quicly switch between auto-focus (AF) and manual-focus (MF)

Product Description

Di: Digitally Integrated Design

This is a designation Tamron puts on lenses featuring optical systems designed to meet the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras.

This lens employs an IF (Internal Focusing) system that maintains the overall length of the lens during focusing. Uses two LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements that effectively compensate for chromatic aberration. Provides high-contrast, outstanding image quality and a soft out-of-focus background effect. Incorporates an AF/MF one touch switchover mechanism built into the focus ring(for Canon & Nikon ONLY). Super performance series provides high performance through outstanding design specifications. Features the new FEC (Filter Effect Control) function that enhances operational ease of Polarizing Filter use.

The new Filter Effect Control is designed to rotate the filter to the desired position while the hood is attached. This is accomplished by turning the FEC ring that in turn rotates the portion of the filter mount where the filter is mounted.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding macro lens at a reasonable price., March 25, 2007

By 

P. Lastra - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tamron AF 180mm f/3.5 Di SP A/M FEC LD (IF) 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I am professional photographer specializing in botanical and nature photography. I bought the Tamron 180 lens after many years of using the equally great 90mm macro. I love the 90mm but was looking for a lens with greater working distance and better ability to control backgrounds. The 180mm has proven to be excellent optically as well as ergonomically well designed. The light weight, for its size, coupled with the very intuitive af-mf push-pull design are great in the field. I work at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. For images taken with the above lens, please visit [...].
Regards

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Construction and Image quality, Slow AF, May 15, 2010

By 

Dan Barchana (Herzliya, Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tamron AF 180mm f/3.5 Di SP A/M FEC LD (IF) 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I love this lens.
The AF is very slow, but I use it for Macro Pictures, SO I am on Manual Focus Antway.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good working distance, AF with Canon doesnt really sync..., November 2, 2011

By 

SterlingWT - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tamron AF 180mm f/3.5 Di SP A/M FEC LD (IF) 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This is a very good lens for macro and working in a studio setup, however don't count on the autofocus to work very well. I have a Canon 100mm macro and love it. The AF works reasonably well 50% of the time when shooting in a well lit area. This is good as you can free up one hand to hold a light modifier. The Tamron 180mm, perhaps its a bad copy, doesn't lock the focus with auto. The 180mm is great because of the added working distance to the subject. Compared to the 100mm macro which works at about 4-6 inches from your subject from the front lens element, the 180mm is closer to 16 inches which is perfect for a flash or reflector to provide more light. I like the way Tamron shifts from auto focus to manual by shifting the focus ring either forward or back. It is convenient versus finding a side switch. I give it four stars because it's well packaged with the hood, carrying case, and tripod ring and is very sharp when using manual focus. If you are fascinated with manual focus macro photography and use a sturdy tripod(required for the 180mm) and perhaps even some strobes, this lens is for you.