Tamron to make new 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 superzoom for full frame SLRs

Tamron has announced that it’s developing a new 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD superzoom lens for full frame SLRs. A near-twin of the co-announced 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 for APS-C, it’s distinguished from the current model by featuring an ultrasonic-type ‘Piezo Drive’ autofocus motor, splashproof construction and more-compact design with a 67mm filter thread. It’ll be made in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts; pricing and availability are to be confirmed.

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Press Release:

Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD

Tamron is developing an advanced new all-in-one™ wide-angle to telephoto zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras

Innovative all-in-one™ zoom integrates state-of-the-art optical design, PZD (Piezo Drive)*¹ and Tamron’s exclusive VC (Vibration Compensation)*² system to achieve superb image quality in a remarkably compact, lightweight package.

February 6, 2014, Saitama, Japan – Tamron Co., Ltd. has announced the development of 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (Model A010), an advanced new all-in-one™ zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras. The lens sample will be on display at the Tamron booth at the CP+ 2014, which will be held from February 13 to 16 in Yokohama, Japan.

Since the launch in 1992 of the 28-200mm (Model 71D) high-power zoom lens – which featured a revolutionary compact, lightweight design – Tamron has been continually expanding its portfolio of world class optics to benefit consumers.

Having revolutionized the optical design of the previous 28-300mm (Model A20), Tamron is developing a powerful new, high-power zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras that enhances image quality and incorporates the PZD (Piezo Drive)*¹ – a standing-wave ultrasonic motor system optimized for swift, quiet AF—and the acclaimed VC (Vibration Compensation)*² mechanism in an amazingly compact configuration.

Featuring a new, sophisticated external finish, this lens complements the performance and style of full-frame DSLRs, while delivering the practical advantages of an all-in-one™ zoom lens. 

Product Highlights

1.  State-of-the-art optical design technology delivers superior image quality

The advanced optical construction of this lens includes four elements of LD (Low Dispersion) glass, three Molded-Glass Aspherical elements, one Hybrid Aspherical element, one XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass element, and one element of UXR (Ultra-Extra Refractive Index) glass, which has greater refractive index than XR. The full use of specialized glass elements in its design contributes to making this outstanding lens as compact and lightweight as possible, while minimizing aberrations, resulting in superior image quality. Particularly impressive is the thorough compensation of chromatic aberrations at the telephoto end, yielding images of enhanced clarity and crispness.

2.  Focus on portability – The lens is now even smaller and lighter

In addition to state-of-the-art optical design that facilitates downsizing of the lens body, the mechanical design, which incorporates a highly sophisticated multi-stack-cam layout that takes up far less space, and PZD (Piezo Drive), an autofocus drive system with a simpler, more compact structure, has made it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of this lens compared to the existing Tamron 28-300mm (Model A20). These technologies are the fruit of Tamron’s more than 20 years of research and development in the high-power zoom lens field.

3.  Advanced anti-reflection coating

The application of BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) coatings for suppressing reflections on lens element surfaces minimizes unwanted flare and ghosting to deliver sharp, crisp, high-contrast images.

4.  Upgraded cosmetic design – Elegant tungsten silver brand ring

Tamron has upgraded the cosmetic design and finish of this lens to create a more sophisticated, high-end look in keeping with the demands of discerning full-frame DSLR users. Employing a sophisticated linear pattern rubber grip on the zoom and focus rings and an elegant tungsten silver name-brand ring, this newly designed model accentuates its visceral presence with understated elegance and class.

5.  PZD (Piezo Drive) delivers faster, quieter autofocus action

The PZD (Piezo Drive)*¹, a standing-wave ultrasonic motor system, delivers faster, quieter, more precise action when the autofocus is engaged. The full-time manual focus system is easy and intuitive, enabling quick and convenient manual focus at any time.

6.  VC (Vibration Compensation)

Tamron’s acclaimed VC (Vibration Compensation)*² mechanism reduces image blur caused by camera shake to deliver significantly sharper images even when shooting handheld.*³

7.  Circular diaphragm facilitates achieving spectacular blur effects

Using a circular diaphragm*⁴, this lens achieves spectacular background blur effects that enable creative use of depth of field.

8.  Moisture-resistant construction for outdoor shooting

Moisture-resistant construction helps prevent moisture from penetrating the lens.

*¹  PZD (Piezo Drive) is a standing-wave type ultrasonic motor system developed by Tamron. It delivers outstanding speed and quiet operation in the AF mode. It also provides greater flexibility in design compared with ring-type ultrasonic motors, thus contributing to reduced lens size.
*²   VC (Vibration Compensation) is Tamron’s proprietary tri-axial image stabilization mechanism.
*³   The Sony mount model does not include VC, since the bodies of Sony DSLR cameras include built-in image stabilization functionality. The name of the Sony mount model is “28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di PZD” without the VC designation. 
*⁴   This circular diaphragm retains a nearly circular shape even at two stops down from its maximum aperture.

Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD specifications

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Comments

Very interesting, I’ll wait for the IQ tests. FWIW I’d applaud Tamron to also develop an FF 24-200/f3.5-5.6 with that same new technology for an even smaller/lighter package!

540g. PZD. VC. Awesome. I’m in… will wait for reviews regarding AF accuracy and optical quality.

This FF lens is far superior to the APS-C version. It’s APS-C equivalent is 18-200mm f/2.3-4.2, which is quite usable, unlike the slow f/3.5-6.3. Or if you are using APS-C mirrorless put it on a focal reducer and get the same benefits. The APS-C version is just boring and slow.
And as an observation, despite all those ignorant posts that crop sensor somehow means smaller lenses, because of smaller image circle, this is just another demonstration that image circle has little or no effect on the lens size.

I think you made a miscalculation there. The FL and f-stops on the lens are always in FF terms. Then you multiply with the crop factor to get the FF equivalent, when used on a crop sensor camera.
The FF lens is 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3, and will behave like a 42-450mm f/5.3-9.5 if used on an APS-C camera.
The APS-C lens is 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3, and will behave like a 24-450mm f/5.3-9.5 on the APS-C cameras it’s made for.

Smaller sensor does mean smaller lenses, but mostly with short focal lengths. There is not much benefit with longer lenses.

> Smaller sensor does mean smaller lenses

yes and no, but basically it’s a no.
in general, smaller lenses mean lower capability,
regardless of what sensor size (till someone hits a wall).

hmmm what about VC for sony’s a7 and a7r?

Not as cool as APSC version since it starts at boring 28mm.

Interesting for videographers I guess

This nice and all but what I would love to see from Tamron is a wide angle f/2.8 zoom on the level of their 24-70 and 70-200 so Tamron has a full trinity to compete with the Nikon and Canon versions.

Agreed. I’d like to have something like 14-24, 15-30 f/2.8 from Tamron. But it _must_ be wider than 16mm.

Sony e-mount please.