AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD ASPHERICAL (IF) MACRO

The new AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO is a high power zoom lens designed for exclusive use with digital SLR cameras using smaller-size imagers and inherits the product concept of the existing AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di zoom lens. Even two years after its introduction, the AF28-300mm XR is still a favorite and highly evaluated by photographers around the world as a representative model of high power zoom lenses. With the recent market influx of digital SLR cameras, the use of high power zoom lenses has become increasingly popular since high power zooms provide the convenience of handling many photographic scenes and the capability of shooting ultra telephoto shots without changing lenses. The popularity of this focal length led Tamron to initiate the development of new zoom lenses to further meet the needs of digital SLR photographers. The result is the successful development of a new zoom lens made exclusively for use on digital SLR cameras.

Dedicated for Digital SLR Cameras

By incorporating an optical design for exclusive use with digital SLR cameras with smaller-size imagers, this high power zoom lens provides the same focal length, when converted to a 35mm format, equivalent to Tamron's 28-300mm. Therefore, you can meet virtually every photographic opportunity with this single zoom lens without changing lenses. When paired with the new ultra-wideangle SP AF11-18mm zoom lens, simultaneously introduced by Tamron at Photokina 2004 and expected to ship in late spring 2005, you can thoroughly enjoy digital SLR photography with the combined focal length coverage of 17-300mm. The zoom lens uses a new optical system designed to confine the changing angles of incidences of light rays reaching the imager within a certain scope over the entire image field from the center to the periphery, by considering the effects of variances due to zooming. The wide to ultra tele focal range of this lens will allow digital SLR camera owners to enjoy digital photography with comfort and convenience. "Di (Digitally Integrated design)-II" lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size.

Optical System Uses Special Glass and is Optimized for Digital SLR Characteristics in order to Enhance Optical Quality in a Compact Design

The new AF18-200mm high power zoom lens from Tamron features an entirely new optical design using XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass in an innovative way in order to optimize the overall distribution of optical power throughout the entire zoom range. This design reduces various aberrations to the absolute minimum and achieves remarkable downsizing at the same time. In addition, three hybrid aspherical lens elements and two LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements are used to accomplish effective compensation of on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations, a critical factor to enhance the optical quality in digital photography. As a result, the lens provides outstanding optical quality in a multi-purpose zoom lens. The Zoom Lock prevents unwanted barrel extension when carrying the lens/camera combination. Enhanced Peripheral Illumination Peripheral light fall-off is minimized when compared with that of conventional lenses for film cameras so that images are uniformly bright from the center to the periphery. Since the lens is designed exclusively for digital SLR photography, it provides high image quality in terms of resolution, contrast and flatness of image field.

Revolutionary Minimum Focus Distance - 0.45m (17.7") for 1:3.7* Macro Capability

It is an important condition for a multi-purpose zoom lens to provide the capability of getting close to the subject. The new 18-200mm zoom lens realizes an MFD (Minimum Focus Distance) of 0.45m (17.7") through the employment of a new optical/mechanical design configuration. Since the maximum magnification ratio at f=200mm is 1:3.7, you can enjoy close-up photography easily and conveniently. The Maximum Magnification Ratio of 18-200m (Model A014) is 1:3.7 while the Maximum Magnification Ratio of the 28-300mm (Model A061) is 1:2.9. However, the A014 can fill the frame with almost the same scope as the A061 does when shooting with a 35mm SLR camera, since the new lens is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras with smaller-size imagers. The Maximum Magnification Ratio of 1:3.7 is equivalent to 1:2.8 when converted to 35mm film format. A glare-reducing flower-shaped lens hood is included as a standard accessory. The special hood provides optimum shading of superfluous light rays that enter from the rectangular frame outside.