Have it all with Tamron.

Introducing the Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016)

Article by Jon Sienkiewicz

Images by Tamron

Dream your wildest equipment dream-what is it? A lens that zooms from 24mm professional wideangle? Or maybe a lens that's compact and fast-handling but zooms to 450mm super telephoto? Might as well throw in Macro, too, since we're just dreaming-let's say close-focusing to about 15 inches (15.3 to be exact) and a nice 1:2.9 magnification ratio. If a dream like that could come true, you could replace two or three-maybe four-lenses in your gadget bag, and more importantly, you would have the "right" lens on your camera at all times.

Introducing the 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016) "all-in-one™" zoom lens from Tamron. Smaller than a can of cranberry sauce (about the same diameter and a full inch shorter!) and only slightly heavier (19 oz.), this beauty is the world's first 18.8X zoom lens. And that's one sweet dream.

World's First 18.8x Zoom Range
The zoom range-approximately 24-450mm equivalent on a 35mm film camera-is the broadest in the world (for interchangeable lenses for digital cameras as of the time of this writing). You can go from shooting groups in tight quarters to zeroing in on a hawk roosting fifty feet away-all with just the twist of the wrist. If you travel, this is a real blessing because you often need a wideangle-a true 24mm wideangle-for shots on the street, inside buildings, expansive scenic landscapes, and so on. And you also need a telephoto for portraits, distant objects, architectural details, animals and sporting events. With the 16-300 you can zoom from one type of shooting to the other and never have to stop to change lenses.

Innovative Design and Construction
To achieve this elongated zoom range at all is a real accomplishment. But to pack it into such a compact package goes beyond astonishing. The innovative design and construction utilizes 16 optical elements in 12 groups, including three aspherical, two LD (Low Dispersion), both XR and UXR (Ultra-Extra Refractive) elements, plus multiple layers of coating to reduce flare and enhance light transmission. Tamron has long been the world leader in the all-in-one lens category, so it's not surprising that this lens delivers outstanding performance throughout the entire range.

VC (Vibration Compensation)
Can you imagine trying to thread a needle while sitting in the backseat of a car that's driving down a bumpy road? Then you understand how even the slightest camera shake can render an otherwise wonderful picture into a fuzzy mess. In fact, the blurriness caused by camera movement is the number one reason for unpleasant pictures. Tamron's proprietary image stabilization system, labeled Vibration Compensation (VC), uses three driving coils that electromagnetically activate a shake-compensating VC lens group. Shoot sharp at long telephoto distances (where shake is magnified) and in low light (where shutter speeds tend to be longer) thanks to Tamron's VC.

PZD (Piezo Drive)
Autofocusing is faster and quieter because of Tamron's PZD Piezo Drive. There is also enhanced support for cameras that use contrast-detection when operating in Live View mode. You can fine tune the focus at any time without moving any levers or switches thanks to full-time manual override.

Details that are the Hallmark of Quality
The Tamron 16-300mm all-in-one zoom features all-new rectilinear textured grips on the zoom and focus rings that improve handling performance and add to the general aesthetics. It also boasts a circular diaphragm that renders the bokeh (out of focus backgrounds) as pleasant as you can imagine. Like all Tamron zoom lenses, the 16-300 comes with a perfectly matched lens hood for extra protection against light entering at oblique angles as well as bumps and dings.

Available with Vibration Compensation for Nikon and Canon DSLRs that use APS-C size sensors, and without VC for Sony DSLRs (which have their own version of image stabilization built in), the Tamron 16-300mm is protected by a six-year USA Limited Warranty when purchased from an Authorized Tamron USA retailer.

For more information about this exciting lens, visit http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/prod/16300_vcpzd.php