News

Press Release

TAMRON WIDEANGLE ZOOM LENS WITH Di TECHNOLOGY IDEAL
CROSS-PLATFORM LENS

New SP AF17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical (IF) (Model A05) Perfect for Use with Both Film and Digital SLR Cameras

February 12, 2004, Las Vegas, NV— Tamron’s new wide-angle zoom lens with Di (Digitally Integrated Design) technology, SP AF17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical [IF] (Model A05), was in high demand this past holiday season, having been sold with both entry level and professional digital SLR cameras.

“The Tamron 17-35mm is the perfect lens for the various types of digital SLR and film cameras we are selling in our stores,” stated Larry Zweig, Executive Manager of Penn Camera’s six stores located in the Washington, D.C. area. “It’s the right focal length and it offers the excellent optical performance that we need to satisfy our demanding customers."

The SP AF17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di is TAMRON’s new wide zoom lens featuring “SP” and “Di” designations. The zoom lens covers a wide focal length of 17mm considered ideal for Digital SLR use. Since most Digital SLRs have “APS-C sized imagers”, the angle of view is narrower than that of conventional SLRs making the typical wide end of wideangle zooms insufficient for many applications. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for lenses with a wider angle of view to compensate for the imager multiplier factor. At the same time, these types of wideangle lenses are well accepted for use with conventional SLRs for their ability to add an interesting twist to photographic expression.

*SP: “Super Performance”— a line of high performance lenses featuring high design specifications. In designing the SP series, the first and foremost priority is put on superior specifications and outstanding performance free from cost restraints. Therefore, SP lenses featuring impressive and innovative designs are concept models among Tamron lenses. *Di: “Digitally Integrated Design” — the designation Tamron puts on lenses featuring optical systems designed to meet the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras.

Main Features

High quality picture by virtue of Di (Digitally Integrated Design)
Featuring Di (Digitally Integrated Design), the optical system designed to meet the performance characteristics of digital cameras, the lens lets you take high quality pictures with Digital, as well as conventional, SLRs.

Attractive and useful focal length, 17-35mm
This new lens provides a desirable wideangle focal length that is useful and fun for conventional SLR photography and acts as “Wide-to-Standard Zoom” equivalent to 28-55mm* for interchangeable Digital SLRs.
* In case of APS-C size image sensor

M.O.D. (Minimum Object Distance) 30cm throughout the range
With its Maximum Magnification Ratio of 1:5.4 at the 35mm setting at 30cm (M.O.D.), this ultra wide-angle zoom enables you to take dramatic close-up shots. The M.O.D. of only 30cm throughout the zoom range is impressive as it is the best in this class of lens and lets you get close to the subject so that you can enjoy creative image composition by emphasizing and exaggerating your main subject against a wide background.

Fast maximum aperture of F/2.8 at the wideangle end
TAMRON’s 17-35mm Di features a maximum open aperture of F/2.8 at the 17mm setting, providing you with the advantage of shooting in dimly-lit conditions and helping to prevent camera-shake that leads to blurred subjects. The fast F/2.8 aperture also gives your images a unique appearance at wide-angle where depth-of-field is commonly deeper.

Aberrations corrected through the use of compound Aspherical and LD elements
Image distortion, spherical aberrations and other aberrations have been effectively corrected and eliminated through the use of three large compound Aspherical elements, enabling high-definition pictures at any focal length. Moreover, color aberrations characteristic of wideangle lenses have been diminished through the use of an LD element.

Maximum shading with “Flower-Shaped Hood” as standard accessory
TAMRON’s 17-35mm Di uses a large size “Flower-Shaped Hood” that is provided as standard accessory. This style hood cuts the harmful light coming from outside the angle of view by adjusting the four-sided picture frame effectively in order to realize clear images.

The form and texture of the lens speak to the SP series’ high performance and precision
The “high performance and precision” look of this new lens is fitting for the TAMRON SP series. Finishing touches like the graphic display on the lens that features a more visible font, the finish of the lens barrel that utilizes a high quality, delicately wrinkled enamel that is not only durable but offers a comfortable feel, and more all add up to make a lens that handles and functions superbly in the field.

# # #

2/04