Developers at Tamron announced this week the upcoming release of the world’s first 15x zoom lens compatible with both Canon and Nikon digital SLRs, a product the company claims will allow shooters to “enjoy the convenience of handheld photography in virtually any situation, from shooting candid images, to covering sporting events, to news photography.”
With an impressive 18-270mm (28-419mm 35mm equivalent) range, that could be true, although it’ll depend on the sorts of photos your after—the aperture range is F/3.5-5.6. That’s actually impressive based on the lens’ size (just under four inches long), but it means Tamron’s newest device probably won’t be gracing pro sidelines in any great number.
Still, Tamron is promising excellent performance for long-range shots. The lens is equipped with “Vibration Compensation” technology that the company purports will facilitate “sharp handheld photography even at the longest telephoto settings.” Also, its minimum focal range is 19.3” throughout the entire zoom range, meaning this lens could allow you to take some killer detail shots.
Price and release date haven’t been announced yet, and we eagerly await that first one in particular. At first blush it seems like this could be a great answer for travelers or for folks who aren’t interested in shelling out the dough for more than one lens.
Read the full list of specs for the Tamron AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO (Model B003).
