14 DAY TRIAL // Since a 15x zoom lens that can also be easily carried around is something many DSLR users are looking for, Tamron has just released its 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD, which is touted as being the world’s lightest and smallest 15x travel zoom for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sized sensor.
The lens features a newly developed Piezo ultrasonic motor, which ensures a silent, precise and fast autofocus, while the (VC) vibration technology was improved to allow for a more compact design, the device weighing just around 450 grams and measuring 88mm in length and 74.4mm in diameter.
Tamron’s VC mechanism employs a three-coil system, whereby three driving coils activate the shake-compensating VC lens group electromagnetically via three steel balls.
The VC lens element is simply held in place by contact with the steel balls, resulting in smooth movement with little friction, which delivers a stable viewfinder image with very good tracking performance and eliminates the blur from handheld shots for cleaner, crisper shots.
Additionally, the lens has a high level of usability, featuring a focal length range that covers just about every photographic situation, namely 18-270mm.
The lens not only covers everything from wide-angle for landscape to tele for close-up photography, but also offers light-macro capability at a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3,8 throughout the focal length range (minimum focus distance is set at 0.49m).
The lens from Tamron delivers a maximum aperture of F/3.5 – 6.3, while its construction includes 16 elements, arranged in 13 groups.
The recommended retail price for the Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD is set at around 649.99 pounds sterling (roughly 1,025 US dollars), which is clearly a pretty hefty price, but, then again, we're talking about a pretty versatile lens, so the higher price point shouldn't come as a surprise.