Tamron
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The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USDwas introduced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the brand’s SP lens series with the claim that it’s the best lens it has ever made. Will Cheung puts the lens through its paces in London
SPECS
wide open for creative beautiful bokeh effects when the opportunity arises. The moderately wide focal length also means that by stopping down to f/11 or f/16, there is the potential for plenty of depth-of-field for scenic shooting. But the Tamron offers so much more than a fast aperture and a versatile focal length. The lens uses an advanced optical configuration for leading-edge image quality, a state-of-the-art autofocus motor for fast, responsive and near-silent focusing, and advanced lens coatings to help defeat flare and ghosting in strong lighting situations. Of the 14 elements arranged in ten groups, half are special glass with four LD (Low Dispersion) and three GM (Glass-Moulded aspherical) lens elements. The advanced optical design delivers sharp images across the frame and into the corners even at wide apertures, and minimises any chromatic aberrations that can have a negative impact on image quality. Fast and quiet autofocusing is delivered by Tamron’s own USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) motor, and that’s aided by its all-new Dynamic Rolling-cammechanism that moves the focusing group of lens elements rapidly and accurately. The AF system is designed to give reliable service in the extremes of low and high temperatures and that is helped by moisture- resistant seals to keep out the elements. Finally, we have the innovative Tamron BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating to suppress flare and ghosting, maintaining high contrast levels even › Prices £929 › Mount availability Canon EF, Nikon F › Construction 14 elements in ten groups › Special elements Four LD (Low Dispersion), three GM (Glass-Moulded Aspherical) elements › Autofocus motor Ultrasonic Silent Drive › Maximummagnification ratio 1:5 › Coatings BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2), fluorine coat on front lens element › Filter size 72mm › Dimensions (dxl) 80.9x104.8mm › Weight 815g Canon EF, 805g Nikon F › Contact tamron.eu/uk › Aperture range F/1.4-16 › Minimum focus 30cm › Diaphragm Nine blades
W hen it comes to choice, it’s true that photographers have never had it so good, whether that’s with cameras, lenses or even tripods. This, of course, is very much a good thing. But what if this all changed tomorrow and you had to choose just one of each item to enjoy your passion for photography? Deciding on one camera, one tripod and one bag is fairly easy, but picking just one lens to go into your bag is a challenge. It depends so much on what you photograph and how you interpret your subject. Personally, I enjoy shooting a wide variety of subjects, but mostly I shoot landscapes, urban scenes and people, so my need is for a lens that is versatile and suits my photographic style. The Tamron 35mm SP f/1.4 Di USD would be on my very, very short shortlist. The 35mm focal length gives a slightly wider view than a typical standard lens on my preferred full-frame format, but its perspective is very similar to that of the human eye. It’s a great all-round focal length that suits so many subjects. And the fast f/1.4 aperture is so useful as light levels drop, and there’s the potential of shooting
14 Photography News | Issue 73
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