Tamron has announced a new version of their 15x 18-270mm zoom lens. The 60th Anniversary Edition Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD zoom lens has been updated with a new ultrasonic “PZD” (Piezo Drive) motor for faster, quieter auto focus performance. Like the original version, the new Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD zoom lens is designed for APS-C sensor digital SLRs and features Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) optical image stabilization, a minimum focus distance of 19.3 in (0.49m) and an economical 62mm filter size.
The original Tamron 18-270mm VC zoom lens was announced July of 2008. The new PZD ultrasonic auto focus motor is new so we don’t have any experiencre with it yet. But to get an idea of the optical quality of tthe VC image stabilization performance you can read the non-PZD Tamron 18-270mm VC lens user reviews as well as our Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC zoom lens pro review.
The new Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD zoom lens will be available in December of 2010 for Nikon and Canon APS-C digital SLRs. A non-VC version for Sony Alpha APS-C digital SLRs is also in the works.
Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PZD Zoom Lens Press Release >>
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All Tamron Lens Reviews
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Digital SLR Forum
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Tamron Web Site
I’ve written a review on this lens on my website: http://www.tamronlensreview.com/tamron18270pzdvcreview – Be sure to stop by and check it out!
Thanks for sharing your review, Luke. Please write a review here in our user reviews as well. Here’s a link to the Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PZD Zoom Lens user review page: http://www.photographyreview.com/cat/lenses/35mm-zoom/tamron/PRD_453729_3128crx.aspx
It’s good to hear that the new lens is noticeably improved over the previous version. I am very curious about the performance of the new AF motor. It would be great if it was comparable to Canon USM and Sigma HSM performance.
My observation and based on the fact that this lens will carry the common issues present (as per my reading only) on large focal range lenses:
- picture quality is very good to me. I did notice softness on the boundaries but the center is really good. But for me, most of my picture ends up in from small to 12×12 size in a photobook most of the time and occassionally, the full spread. So, I have no issue with the sharpness. Frame your picture wide enough whenever possible and then crop it.
- only when comparing shots (camera’s LCD-next/previous toggle) did I notice the vignetting. Although noticeablle if you really have a light, plain background–if a friend of yours commented on vignetting for a picture you showed–just tell him/her, get a life =:D
- lens creep is really an issue–although not at all ranges. Not able to fully identify, but some range would be stable. I can live with this. Just be aware of this.
- VC needs some getting used to. You can’t just aim and shoot if you need the feature to help you. Tamron cliams it needs around 1 second. My experience is that it could be more–especially at the long end.
btw, I’m relatively new to DSLR and consider myself a casual photographer. I’ll have my camera on almost any events I go where camera is allowed but will not go out specifically to take pictures.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the new Tamron PZD lens, Ed. How was the auto focus? What other lenses do you have to compare it to? Since the auto focus motor is the new thing in this lens that’s what I’m most interested in. Please also visit our user reviews section and write a review there for your lens. The user reviews are the foundation of the site and I don’t believe anyone has written a review for the Tamron 18-270mm VC PZD lens yet. There are links for the user review page above. Thanks in advance for your review!