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Tamron Announces the 150-500mm, a Portable Zoom for Sony Mirrorless

23 Apr

The post Tamron Announces the 150-500mm, a Portable Zoom for Sony Mirrorless appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Earlier this week, Tamron unveiled the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for Sony E-mount cameras, a lens that will offer significant power, versatility, and affordability to Sony users.

The 150-500mm f/5-6.7 is Tamron’s “first ultra-telephoto zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras that reaches the 500mm focal length.” But despite the super-telephoto range, the 150-500mm is surprisingly compact. At 500mm, the lens reaches 11.1 in (28 cm), and when retracted to 150mm, it clocks in at a portable 8.3 in (21 cm) for a travel-ready package.

While the f/6.7 maximum aperture may frustrate professionals, enthusiast sports, wildlife, and bird photographers will love the opportunity to get up close and personal without splurging on Sony’s $ 2000 USD 200-600mm lens. At 150mm to 300mm, you can capture wider photos of your subject; zoomed in to 400mm and 500mm, you can grab crisp detail shots and wildlife portraits.

And though the Tamron 150-500mm will work just fine on Sony full-frame cameras, when mounted on an APS-C camera – such as the Sony a6600 – the lens delivers a whopping 225-750mm range, perfect for photographers seeking to shoot small, skittish subjects such as birds.

Of course, image quality remains to be seen, but Tamron confidently claims that the 150-500mm packs “amazing high image quality,” boasting “exceptionally high resolving power across the entire image.”

As for autofocus, the 150-500mm “provides high speed, high precision, and excellent quietness,” thanks to Tamron’s VXD focusing technology.

Sure, a wider maximum aperture would be useful, especially for low-light wildlife and sports photography. But wider apertures come with eye-watering costs, plus Tamron has added Vibration Compensation (VC), which ensures sharp images even when shooting handheld in limited light.

While the Tamron 150-500mm doesn’t come cheap, it’s not pricey, either (relatively speaking). You can preorder the lens for just $ 1399 USD, though expect to receive your copy after June 10th (also, Tamron notes that “the release date or product supply schedule could change” due to COVID-related problems).

So if you’re an enthusiast photographer in need of a super-telephoto zoom, I highly recommend you check out the Tamron 150-500mm.

Now over to you:

What do you think of this new lens from Tamron? Will you be interested in purchasing it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Tamron Announces the 150-500mm, a Portable Zoom for Sony Mirrorless appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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OnePlus announces 3-year partnership with Hasselblad, reveals 9 Series smartphone launch details

08 Mar

Smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has announced it’s partnering with Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad to ‘co-develop the next generation of smartphone camera systems’ inside OnePlus’ mobile devices, including the new OnePlus 9 Series, which will launch on March 23.

The partnership is a three-year deal that will see Hasselblad work alongside OnePlus to improve the camera technology inside its flagship smartphones. OnePlus says the partnership will start ‘with software improvements including color tuning and sensor calibration, and extending to more dimensions in the future.’

OnePlus says the first fruits of the partnership is a new color science technology it calls ‘Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad.’ OnePlus says it’s worked for months with Hasselblad to fine-tune the color science of its smartphone images to deliver more perceptually-accurate and natural-looking colors to images taken with flagship OnePlus devices.

Another improvement already in the works is a revamp of the camera interface in OnePlus devices. New OnePlus smartphones will eschew the previous first-party camera app design for a new experience called ‘Hasselblad Camera for Mobile,’ which ‘allows for an unprecedented amount of control for professional photographers to fine-tune their photos, with the ability to adjust ISO, focus, exposure times, white balance, and more,’ according to OnePlus.

Within the new Hasselblad Camera for Mobil will be ‘Hasselblad Pro Mode, which is effectively a 12-bit Raw capture mode. It’s unknown at this time whether this will be a standard Raw capture or a more AI-powered approach akin to Apple’s ProRAW technology.

OnePlus isn’t the first smartphone manufacturer Hasselblad has teamed up with over the years. Unfortunately though, despite Hasselblad’s impressive legacy as a camera manufacturer, its mobile partnerships haven’t resulted in any ground-breaking technology — although its True Zoom Moto Mod was a unique offering.

OnePlus hasn’t revealed all the specifications of its forthcoming 9 Series devices, but has confirmed it will use a customized variant of Sony’s IMX789 sensor, which OnePlus calls ‘the largest and most advanced main camera sensor ever on a OnePlus device.’ The first 9 Series devices will be announced on March 23 at 10am ET on OnePlus’ launch website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Street Candy Film announces new MTN100 black and white 35mm film

05 Mar

Street Candy Film writes that they make ‘the tastiest black and white films around.’ It offers even more black and white film now with the addition of Street Candy Film MTN100 to its catalog, joining its previous film, ATM400.

MTN100 is a black and white ISO 100 film. The film is taken from a Motion Picture Film and promises to take your ‘black and white photography to the next level with a classic cinematic look and fine details.’ MTN100 is a panchromatic film ideal for outdoor and indoor photography. You can process it as a normal black and white negative or with a reversal kit to create direct positives.

Click to enlarge

Street Candy writes that MTN100’s primary features are beautiful contrast, fine grain and rich details. It comes as a 36-exposure 35mm roll in Street Candy’s recycled paper film canister. Regarding the canister, Street Candy Film introduced the first alternative to plastic film canisters in 2020. The canister is made of recycled cardboard and is printed with soy ink.

Street Candy Film MTN100 is available for preorder now. It is available in small quantities ahead of its April release. The minimum required purchase is two rolls, which costs 21€. For ordering information, click here.

Image shot using Street Candy MTN100. Click to enlarge.

Although not new, it’s worth doing a quick rundown of Street Candy’s ATM400 film. The panchromatic black and white negative film was originally coated for use in security surveillance cameras. It was used in banks, ATMs, offices and other places in need of security before digital surveillance became commonplace. Street Candy states that the ISO 400 film is easy to shoot, forgiving and delivers ‘beautiful contrast while retaining rich details throughout its wide dynamic range.’ ATM400 starts at 19€ and comes in 36-exposure 35mm rolls, which like the MTN100, are hand-rolled.

Street Candy ATM400 key features. Click to enlarge.

If you’d like to check out images shot by photographers using Street Candy Film, the company hosts an online gallery. To see the companies other product offerings, including merchandise for analog photography fans, click here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Sigma Announces the 28-70mm f/2.8 – Small, Light, and Well-Priced

26 Feb

The post Sigma Announces the 28-70mm f/2.8 – Small, Light, and Well-Priced appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Earlier this week, Sigma announced its upcoming lens:

The 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary, designed for Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount, and billed as “the world’s smallest f/2.8 standard zoom for mirrorless systems.”

Sigma already sells a 24-70mm f/2.8 ART lens, but the new 28-70mm features a few key improvements, including the smaller size, plus a near-50% weight reduction for an impressively portable package.

Unlike most f/2.8 zooms, the Sigma 28-70mm is ideal for travel photography, street photography, and even casual walkaround photography. I’m not sure I’d label it as truly compact, but it’s certainly small for an f/2.8 zoom, and will appeal to plenty of on-the-go photographers who require both low-light capabilities and flexibility.

If you’ve previously found yourself frustrated by the mirrorless, big-lens-on-a-small-body problem, the 28-70mm may be exactly what you need. Take a look at the lens mounted on a mirrorless body:

The setup looks comfortable, well-balanced, and just all-around nice to use.

Compared to most standard f/2.8 zooms, you do lose a few millimeters on the wide end. Is that a problem? That depends on your shooting style, because the difference between 24mm and 28mm isn’t trivial – you’ll lose out on the opportunity to get that sweeping wide-angle look – but assuming you don’t plan to use the 28-70mm for frequent landscape or architecture shooting, you should be fine.

Sigma claims “superb build quality,” and from the pictures, I can certainly believe it. Check out the 28-70mm f/2.8 up close:

There’s just something about the modern Sigma design that screams quality, and – bonus! – the lens looks pretty darn sleek.

Of course, no great lens is complete without stellar optics, and the 28-70mm f/2.8’s sharpness remains to be seen. But Sigma is confident in the 28-70mm’s performance, stating that “this large-aperture standard zoom delivers outstanding image quality that rivals Art line lenses.”

If Sigma’s evaluation is accurate, then I can certainly see the 28-70 making its way into the bags of quite a few photographers – including the aforementioned travel photographers and street photographers, but also portrait photographers, event photographers, and even landscape photographers who don’t mind the limited focal length.

As for the price, it’s a very reasonable $ 899. That’s cheaper than the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 (plus there’s the Nikon and Canon versions for mirrorless, but those are unmentionably expensive).

So if you’re a Sony mirrorless or L-mount shooter and you’re after a compact f/2.8 zoom that won’t put a huge dent in your wallet, the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 is certainly worth a look.

It’ll begin shipping on March 12th, but you can currently preorder the Sony version here and the L-mount version here.

Now over to you:

What do you think of this new lens from Sigma? Is it one you’ll consider purchasing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Sigma Announces the 28-70mm f/2.8 – Small, Light, and Well-Priced appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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Fujifilm Announces the X-E4, With 26 MP and 20 FPS (for Just $850)

01 Feb

The post Fujifilm Announces the X-E4, With 26 MP and 20 FPS (for Just $ 850) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Earlier this week, Fujifilm announced a spate of new mirrorless gear, including the Fujifilm X-E4, a compact, rangefinder-style camera designed for enthusiasts, street photographers, and more.

The X-E4 offers no handgrip and none of the standard Canon/Nikon/Sony mode dials. Instead, you get a minimalist, flat profile (though you can buy an attachable handgrip), plus a shutter speed dial and an exposure compensation dial, reminiscent of the film days. This makes for a tactile photographic experience, as you rotate thick dials to change your camera settings – and you even have the option of purchasing Fujifilm lenses with aperture rings, if you’re hoping to take the “old days” experience a step further.

While the lack of a handgrip might annoy some photographers, it compresses and lightens an already-compact camera, making the X-E4 an excellent purchase for street photographers, travel photographers, and other walkaround shooters who don’t want the inconvenience of carrying a huge camera around their neck.

On the back of the X-E4, you’ll find a decently-specced electronic viewfinder (it offers 2.36M-dot resolution, which is neither especially low nor especially high but should get the job done). If you’ve spent time working with a DSLR’s optical viewfinder or a mirrorless camera’s EVF, you’ll know how important a viewfinder is for any type of action or low-light shooting. There’s also a nice flip-up LCD, perfect for capturing shots at tough angles, and essential for vloggers needing to monitor themselves while filming.

Then there’s the X-Trans sensor, which offers 26 MP of detail. Fujifilm APS-C images are consistently superb, and the X-E4 will doubtless continue the company’s dominance in this area; I could easily see the X-E4 creating top-notch files for street photography and portrait photography, as well as for more detail-demanding genres such as landscape photography.

Of course, no Fujifilm camera is complete without a handful of Film Simulation modes. Here, the X-E4 is outfitted to include film looks such as Velvia, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll have a blast switching through all the different simulations and watching as the EVF previews the world in vivid color, black and white, and even sepia.

As for action capabilities, the Fujifilm X-E4’s autofocus speed remains to be seen, but the press release claims “fast and accurate autofocus” that can nail subjects in “0.02 seconds.” You also get 8 frames per second when working with the mechanical shutter, and this leaps to 20 fps with the electronic shutter (higher still if you’re willing to accept a 1.25x crop!), which is more than enough for serious sports shooting.

So for photography enthusiasts looking for a compact camera packed full of high-end specifications and capable of pro-level image quality, I highly recommend checking out the X-E4. While the camera won’t ship until March, you can currently preorder an X-E4 for just $ 850 USD.

Now over to you:

What do you think of the Fujifilm X-E4? Is it a camera you’d be interested in buying? What would you use it for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Fujifilm Announces the X-E4, With 26 MP and 20 FPS (for Just $ 850) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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Sony Announces the a1, Its Best Mirrorless Camera to Date

29 Jan

The post Sony Announces the a1, Its Best Mirrorless Camera to Date appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Sony has announced its latest full-frame mirrorless offering, the Alpha 1.

A groundbreaking camera that offers a shocking combination of speed, resolution, and video capabilities, the a1 somehow manages to speak to action photographers, wildlife photographers, and even all-around professional shooters without sacrificing on, well, anything.

For several years now, Sony has maintained the same four full-frame camera lineups:

The a9 lineup, geared toward professional sports and action photographers
The a7R lineup, geared toward landscape and commercial photographers
The a7 lineup, geared toward all-around professionals and advanced hobbyists
The a7s lineup, geared toward serious videographers (plus the occasional hybrid shooter)

(Sony also recently released the a7C, a compact full-frame model.)

Note the division of labor here, with one camera tailored toward action photographers, another tailored toward videographers, and yet another tailored toward landscape shooters.

But now, with the launch of the Sony a1, the division between action photography, landscape photography, and even video seems to have crumbled, leaving Sony users with a camera clearly more capable than the a7 III, and even offering a leg up over the a7S III, the a9 II, and more.

So what does the Sony a1 offer?

First, check out the sensor:

50 MP for intense cropping abilities, plus it gathers enough detail to satisfy professional landscape shooters.

Then there’s the autofocus, which packs “improved real-time Eye AF for humans and animals, and new real-time Eye AF for birds.” Sony is well-known for its top-tier autofocus algorithms, so don’t be surprised if the bird Eye AF makes the a1 a hot choice among serious bird photographers.

You also get in-body image stabilization (Sony claims up to 5.5 stops), as well as a lightning-fast continuous shooting speed (30 frames per second using the electronic shutter).

The a1 also boasts one of the most impressive electronic viewfinders on the market. With a whopping 9.44M-dots of resolution, you should have a clear view, even in low light, which is always a plus for event photographers, night street photographers, and wildlife photographers, to name just a few.

Finally, there’s the video capabilities. The a1 can record at 8K/30p, as well as 4K/120p; the former capability is what puts the camera above the Sony a7S, at least in terms of raw recording power. While 8K is likely overkill for casual videographers, I can highly recommend the a1 for serious videographers and true hybrid video/stills shooters.

Of course, you should also consider the price: $ 6499.99. In other words, the a1 costs more than the Nikon Z7 II, more than the Canon EOS R5, more than the Sony a9 II, and more than every other full-frame mirrorless camera on the market.

But the a1 really is one heck of a camera, and those who can afford it are bound to be impressed (to say the least!).

Now over to you:

What do you think about the Sony a1 announcement? Are you excited? Apprehensive? Frustrated? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Sony Announces the a1, Its Best Mirrorless Camera to Date appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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Samsung announces Galaxy S21 series, including 8K capable, 108MP Galaxy S21 Ultra

14 Jan

Samsung has announced its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The S21 and S21 Plus are essentially identical phones, save for their screen size and other minor differences. The S21 Ultra is designed to be not only the best phone in Samsung’s diverse lineup of Android smartphones, but Samsung believes it’s the best phone available.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus

The S21 and S21 Plus cost $ 800 and $ 1,000 respectively. This is $ 200 less than their predecessor’s launch prices last year. As The Verge points out, the 6.2″ S21 and 6.7″ S21 Plus have given something up in order to reach this lower price point. While both phones continue to deliver 120Hz refresh rates, something Apple’s latest iPhone 12 models don’t offer, the displays no longer have the subtle curved edges of the Galaxy S20. Further, resolution has decreased from 3,200 x 1,440 to 2,400 x 1,080. In terms of internal components, RAM has decreased from 12GB to 8GB.

Build quality has changed as well. Whereas the S20 had an aluminum back panel, the smaller S21 uses plastic on the back and doesn’t include an ultra-wideband radio. The larger S21 Plus does have this connectivity feature, allowing for relatively superior compatibility with Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag, the Korean company’s new Tile competitor.

Another cost-saving measure is that Samsung will no longer be including a charging brick or headphones in the box. Like Apple, the company says it’s for environmental reasons. It’s only been three months since Samsung poked fun at Apple for no longer including a charger with the new iPhone models.

In addition to making cuts to reduce the price of the S21 and S21 Plus, Samsung has made improvements as well. While the quality of the materials has changed, the design looks very nice. On the inside of the new models is the latest Snapdragon chipset, which promises improved performance. The fingerprint sensor has Qualcomm’s new 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2, resulting in improved speed. Both models feature 5G integration, supporting mmWave and sub-6GHz networks, so the new phones will be faster in that respect too, assuming you are in an area with support for 5G.

The two-tone design of the Galaxy S21/S21 Plus works around the camera protrusion. The camera system is basically the same on these models as it was last year. The S21 and S21 Plus each include a 12MP wide-angle camera, 12MP ultrawide camera and a 64MP telephoto lens. The front-facing camera is 10MP, although the S21 Plus has ditched the depth sensor.

While the hardware is unchanged, there have been some adjustments to software. There’s a 30x ‘Space Zoom’ mode, a ‘Director’s View’ mode for recording video allowing easier swapping between lenses, and additions to the ‘Single Take’ mode. Further, the default image processing no longer excessively smooths faces, although if that’s your style, it remains an option.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus models will be available starting January 29 and are available for preorder now. The S21 and S21 Plus include 128GB of internal storage. If you’d like 256GB of storage, it adds $ 50 to the price of each model. The S21 is available in Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet and Phantom Pink colorways, with the latter two having a rose gold two-tone design. The S21 Plus is available in violet, black, silver, gold and red, with the latter two colors being made to order and shipping in 3-4 weeks, as of writing.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the star of the show. Where the S21/S21 Plus are a mix of cost-cutting measures and improvements, the S21 Ultra is all about pushing hardware forward. The Ultra has a price to match, starting at $ 1,200.

For your money, you get a large 6.8″ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rates at full 3,200 x 1,440 resolution, something the S20 Ultra couldn’t do. The S21 Ultra includes 12GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery and offers storage capacity up to 512GB. The Ultra also includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. In terms of user experience, beyond promised speed improvements, the S21 Ultra is compatible with the Samsung S Pen, although it is an optional extra and many customers will likely want a compatible case with a holder for the pen as well.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra offers similar top-level camera specs as the S20 Ultra, including 100x zoom, a 108MP camera and 8K video recording, but there’s more to it than that and some important differences to consider. For example, the S21 Ultra includes more rear cameras than the S20 Ultra. The S21 Ultra has a 12MP ultrawide camera, 10MP camera with 3x zoom and a 10MP camera with 10x zoom. Previously, the 10x zoom was digital zoom, rather than optical.

Further, the primary image sensor is larger in the new model, although Samsung hasn’t stated by precisely how much. CNet writes that Samsung promises ‘more than three times the dynamic range of the S20 Ultra.’ Like the S21/S21 Plus, the S21 Ultra includes the same new software features for photo and video as well.

As mentioned, all these features come at a high price. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra starts at $ 1,200 with 128GB of storage. 256GB and 512GB models are also available at $ 1,250 and $ 1,380, respectively. The S21 Ultra is available in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown, with the lattermost three color options being available as ‘made to order’ options, which currently adds 4-5 weeks to expected shipping time. The S21 Ultra in black and silver will ship by January 27. For those interested in the Phantom Black color, Samsung published a video specifically about designing this color.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Viltrox announces $399 85mm F1.8 lens for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras

10 Dec

Viltrox has released its new 85mm F1.8 STM autofocus prime lens for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless camera systems.

The autofocus lens is constructed of 10 elements in 7 groups, including five ‘short wave length and high transparency’ elements and one low-dispersion element. Viltrox claims the lens, which uses a stepping motor (STM) to drive the autofocus elements, features full autofocus support, including compatibility with Nikon’s Eye-AF technology. Other features include an aperture range of F1.8–16, a nine-blade aperture diaphragm, an 80cm (31.5″) minimum focusing distance and a 72mm front-filter thread.

Viltrox has also included an onboard micro USB port for updating the lens’ firmware. The lens measures in at 92mm (3.62″) long, 80mm (3.15″) in diameter and weighs 540g (1.2lbs).

The lens is currently available to purchase on Amazon for $ 399. That’s $ 300 less than the MSRP of Nikon’s own Nikkor Z 85mm F1.8 S lens.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Sony announces new SDK for camera automation aimed at product photography

08 Dec

Sony has announced a small but significant update to the Sony Software Development Kit (SDK). This update allows users to craft custom imaging solutions using Sony cameras.

The new camera automation software SDK has been created with product photographers in mind and is designed to streamline a product photography imaging workflow using Sony cameras. Sony writes, ‘It’s especially useful for large e-commerce businesses, allowing them to simplify, speed up and standardize product photography.’

This streamlining is achieved by the SDK enabling ‘virtually every facet’ of the camera and lens to be automated and controlled. This includes automation and control over white balance, image resolution, compression options, zoom, focus and video triggering. Multi-camera support is included, meaning that it will be easier than ever to capture 360° interactive product shots, for example.

The SDK is the first to support full-frame multi-camera control, allowing for multi-angle image capture. It has also gained macOS compatibility, which Sony states is the most-used operating system in the product photography industry. The SDK is also compatible with Windows and Linux. The SDK also launches alongside a Sony team and website prepared to offer support. Further, Sony states that bespoke apps are possible.

Yasuo Baba, Director of Digital Imaging for Sony Europe BV, said of the SDK, ‘This is a key part of Sony’s long-term vision. Sony’s Alpha range are the world’s most trusted mirrorless cameras, and this new move helps to back this up with the best software and the best support.’ Baba continues, ‘By doing this, we aim to make it easier and quicker for companies in e-commerce, and other B2B sectors, to automate every part of the image creation process.’

Many high-end Sony mirrorless cameras are supported by the SDK, including the A9 II, A7R IV, A7 III, A7C and the RX0 series. While a niche SDK, it should prove very useful for some photographers and allow for a streamlined, more efficient workflow. It will also be interesting to see what sort of creative uses enterprising photographers come up with for the new SDK.

This is not Sony’s first major SDK release of 2020. In February, the company released a remote control SDK kit. This SDK allows key camera controls and still image data to be captured via remote access, which Sony stated at the time is of interest to industries including security, entertainment and ‘many others’.

A lot of great things can be created when a platform is opened to development, so it’s nice to see Sony developing new software development kits for its cameras. If you’d like to learn more about the latest SDK, click here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Tamron announces 17-70mm F2.8 for Sony APS-C cameras

03 Dec

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Tamron has introduced the 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens for Sony APS-C bodies. The lens has a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 25.5-105mm and uses the company’s ‘Vibration Compensation’ image stabilizer (no word on its performance).

The 17-70 F2.8 has a total of 16 elements, including one hybrid aspherical and two glass-molded aspherical elements. The focus unit is driving by a ‘Rapid eXtra-silent stepping drive’ (RXD) stepper motor.

The minimum focus distance is 19cm (7.5″) and the maximum magnification is 0.21x. The lens is 12cm (4.7″) long and weighs in at 524g (1.2lbs). It’s weather-sealed, and its front element has a fluorine coating to repel water and oil.

The 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD will be available in mid-January for $ 799.

Press release

Tamron Announces World’s First[1] 17-70mm F2.8 Wide Range 4.1x Standard Zoom Lens with VC For APS-C Mirrorless Cameras

17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A[2] VC RXD (Model B070)

December 2, 2020, Commack, NY – Tamron announces the launch of the 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Model B070), a high-speed standard zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras on January 14, 2021 at approximately $ 799. Due to the current global health crisis, the release date or product supply schedule could change.

The new 17-70mm F2.8 is Tamron’s first high-speed zoom lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C size sensors. It features a maximum aperture of F2.8 across the entire 4.1x zoom ratio covering a focal length of 17-70mm (a full-frame equivalent of 25.5-105mm) ideal for everyday use, and superb optical performance. It is a small, lightweight lens that is also equipped with Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism to minimize camera shake. This VC mechanism leverages AI technology when shooting video.

[1] Among interchangeable F2.8 standard zoom lenses for APS-C mirrorless cameras (As of November 2020: Tamron)

2 Di III-A: For APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras

The lens features Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating and a Ø67mm filter size – the same as the Tamron series of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Compatible with many of the features that Sony builds into its cameras, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF, the lens is the ideal everyday zoom for a multitude of situations. It is a highly practical lens that enables photographers to attain high image quality while enjoying the benefits of the large F2.8 aperture.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

World’s first high-speed standard zoom lens for APS-C cameras with the focal length range of 17-70mm 4.1x zoom ratio

The Model B070 has a focal length range of 17-70mm, equivalent to 25.5-105mm on full-frame cameras. It is the first F2.8 high-speed zoom lens in the world for APS-C mirrorless cameras to achieve a 4.1x zoom ratio.

Outstanding optical performance

The optical construction of the new 17-70mm F2.8 features 16 elements in 12 groups. Two GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) lens elements and one hybrid aspherical lens element are precisely arranged to maintain high-resolution performance from edge to edge.

Upgraded VC effective in combination with Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras, leveraging AI for video shooting

The 17-70mm F2.8 features Tamron’s proprietary VC mechanism. Additional sophisticated algorithms optimized for this model and a dedicated, independently operating MPU all combine to superbly compensate for vibration. This feature is available when the lens is used with cameras with or without in-body image stabilization. When shooting video, by leveraging AI technology, image stabilization performance improves compared to conventional models.

Close focusing?MOD is just 7.5” at the wide-angle end

The 17-70mm F2.8 zoom focuses close, down to 7.5” MOD (Minimum Object Distance). This is far superior to the performance achieved by conventional high-speed zoom lenses for APS-C cameras. In addition, the 15.4” MOD at the 70mm telephoto end ensures good close-range shooting performance allowing photographers to enjoy compelling close-up shots.

A highly portable compact design

The 17-70mm F2.8 zoom measures a scant 4.7” in length and 74.6mm in maximum diameter and weighs only 18.5 oz. The lens also maintains the same small Ø67mm filter size of each lens in the Tamron mirrorless lens line-up. This is remarkable for a lens with built-in VC image stabilization. When used with Sony’s APS-C mirrorless cameras, this zoom is nicely balanced and provides a comfortable user experience.

The RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit is exceptionally quiet and perfect for video use

Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating provide extra protection

Compatible with many camera-specific features and functions, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF

SPECIFICATIONS

Model	B070
Focal Length	17-70mm (for APS-C frame mirrorless format) (25.5-105mm full-frame equivalent field-of-view)
Maximum Aperture	F2.8
Angle of View (diagonal)	79° 55′-23° 00′?(for APS-C frame mirrorless format)
Optical Construction	16 elements in 12 groups
Minimum Object Distance	7.5“ (WIDE), 15.4“ (TELE)
Maximum Magnification Ratio	1:4.8 (WIDE) / 1:5.2 (TELE)
Filter Size	Ø67mm
Maximum Diameter	Ø74.6mm
Length*	4.7“
Weight	18.5 oz
Aperture Blades	9 (circular diaphragm)**
Minimum Aperture	F22
Standard Accessories	Flower-shaped hood, Lens caps
Compatible Mounts	Sony E-mount

* Length is the distance from the front tip of the lens to the lens mount face.

** The circular diaphragm stays almost perfectly circular up to two stops down from maximum aperture.

Specifications, appearance, functionality, etc. are subject to change without prior notice.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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