Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP DI II LD IF 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

by Tamron

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 5 inches ; 14.4 ounces
• 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: B00200K9MM
• Item model number: 60mm DI II Canon
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 24, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This exciting new lens is the first in its class to combine topnotch macro shooting performance down to 1:1 ( life-size on-sensor image ) with unequalled depth of field control and extended low-light shooting ability thanks to is ultra-wide F2 aperture. With a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 93mm, it’s a superb choice for portraits and its two LD glass elements and internal focusing (IF) endow it with exceptional imaging performance.

Zoom in close at the 1:1 macro view

The Tamron SP AF60mm F/2.0 Di II LD 1:1 Macro (model G005) is the industry’s first medium telephoto macro lens designed for APS-C size digital SLR cameras that features a fast maximum aperture of F/2.0 - one stop faster than the F/2.8 maximum aperture found on conventional macro lenses in the same class. The SP AF60mm F/2.0 covers an equivalent angle of view of 93mm when converted to the 35mm format. With its fast F/2.0 maximum aperture, the new macro delivers dramatically attractive blurred background effects. And the addition of Internal Focusing (IF) and Full Time Manual Focus Control Mechanism to its list of highlight features makes this lightweight and compact 1:1 macro lens incredibly easy to use. For Canon, Nikon and Sony APS-C size DSLRs

SP AF60mm F/2 Di II Features

Di II

Portrait macro shot

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.

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.

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.

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

Product Description

The Tamron SP AF60mm F/2.0 Di II LD 1:1 Macro (model G005) is the industrys first medium telephoto macro lens designed for APS-C size digital SLR cameras that features a fast maximum aperture of F/2.0one stop faster than the F/2.8 maximum aperture found on conventional macro lenses in the same class. The SP AF60mm F/2.0 covers an equivalent angle of view of 93mm when converted to the 35mm format. With is fast F/2.0 maximum aperture, the new macro delivers dramatically attractive blurred background effects. And the addition of Internal Focusing (IF) and Full Time Manual Focus Control Mechanism to its list of highlight features makes this lightweight and compact 1:1 macro lens incredibly easy to use. 1:1 life size macro lens featuring a fast maximum aperture of f/2 Employs two large low-dispersion glass elements to attain high optical quality Boasts a best-in-class maximum working distance of 100mm for its category Broad-band anti-reflection coating to countermeasure ghosting and flare Lightweight and compact body measuring at 73mm in its maximum diameter Internal focusing system that does not extend the length of the lens Full-time manual control mechanism A sleek silhouette and elegant outer design

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Lens for Portraits (Beware of AF on xxD and 7D), August 23, 2010

By 

Stephen Schoen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP DI II LD IF 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

Before I bought this lens I used a friends Canon 100mm Macro. While that was a great lens I felt 100mm was too much reach to use everyday. I also used another friends 50mm f1.8 and wasn't happy with it either, though the distance was better for using as a walking around lens.

This lens is the best of both worlds for me.

Pros:
60mm is a great distance
Fixed lenses offer incredible image quality, this lens is no exception.
Solid contruction.
Light weight (much lighter than the 100mm)
Comes with a hood.

Cons:
AF can be slow/sometimes it searches, but it isn't too loud.

Conculsion: This lens hasn't left my XSi body sense I got it. It is truly wonderful. The AF was a bit of a problem at first but once I attached a Speedlite 430 the AF assist beam almost completely eliminated the problem.

I highly recommend this lens.

UPDATE: 3/9/11:
- Canon has confirmed that some Tamron lenses (including this one) do not work as they should with the Canon xxD line and the Canon 7D. I just upgraded to a 7D and the Auto Focus is practically useless. If the lens is starting in a "very out of focus" position when you press the shutter release, sometimes it won't do anything at all. Other times it will hunt through the entire focus range return to where it started and then confirm the focus. If it is close to focus sometimes it will still take seveal seconds to lock on.

I do no recommend this lens of you have a xxD body or a 7D.

UPDATE: 4/18/11
I haven't touched this lens in a while. But I got it back out the other day to play with it. And it seems that if I select one a single AF point the autofocus is much better. If I select Zone AF, or All 19 points it gets worse. The performance from a very out of focus position is still not good. For my test I used the Tamron 60mm and a Canon 24-70 f2.8L. I used a blank wall with a small hole where a nail used to be. I sat about 6-8 feet away, I started both from the minimum focusing distance and tried to get the lenses to focus on the hole using All 19 AF points, and Spot AF (center point). With Spot AF both lenses found the hole and locked on, however the Tamron took 2-3 times longer than the Canon L did.

I then switched to All 19 AF points. The Tamron failed to achieve focus on the nail 3 times out of 3. However the Canon L successfully found focus on the hole every time.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Lens, November 2, 2009

By 

Gordon Tempest - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP DI II LD IF 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This is my first true macro lens. I have had it for about a month now and am using it with a Canon Rebel XSi. I am very pleased with its performance and the great shots it has produced. The pictures I've gotten are extremely crisp. The ability to use manual focus while in the Auto focus mode is a very nice feature. You don't have to take the camera from your eye to switch off the auto focus. That is a time and picture saver especially when you have a situation such as a bee or other insect flying around and you only have seconds to get that great shot. I love the feel of the focus ring and overall feel of this lens. It feels smooth and has the feel of a quality product. I find the speed (f2) great for those close-ups of insects such as bees or flowers on an overcast day where you don't want to use a flash. Image stabilization would be nice, but that would add to the cost. This is my second Tamron lens and again I am very pleased with this product and the results I have gotten. I would not hesitate to recommend this lens.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best 60mm Macro on The Market, November 1, 2009

By 

Della M. Robinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP DI II LD IF 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

My friend just bought this lens and let me check it out. In one word Fantastic! It is among the sharpest lens I have seen in a lens of this class even wide open. I have a 50D and that camera is pure torture on lesser lenses, but the Tamron has no problem keeping up with its hunger for resolution. The other two reviewers commented on the price, but I don't see that as a con as you are paying only a little more over Nikon and Canons (other brands to) for an extra stop. This is worth it to me. Most would argue you don't need the extra stop on most macro as you usually want more depth of field and this is true, but this lens also is intended for portraiture and for that the extra light does come in really handy, even when doing flowers and what not a shallow DoF can help add interest to a subject.

This lens does not have the build of say an "L" lens but does seem sturdy and have no doubts it would hold up well even if it got some rough treatment. The focus ring is smooth and responsive combined with its light weight makes this lens a joy to use. I will defiantly be ordering my own copy of this lens as soon as I get paid and can't wait. I highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a macro in the 60mm range.