Transcript
A Big Zoom in a Small Package Tamron's AF18-200 F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II MACRO Whenever I receive a lens for review, I consider what subjects and environment will best put it to the test. For this review of Tamron’s SP AF18-200 F/3.56.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO, I did a test shoot featuring some of my favorite subject matter: people and their pets. I used a Canon EOS 20D 8MP digital SLR, and did a range of captures using natural light, on-camera flash and off-camera flash. SPEC CHECK
achieved excellent results with Tamron’s extensive Di series of lenses (the SP AF28-300mm XR Di is one of my favorites), which works with 35mm film cameras, as well as DSLRs with full-frame and smaller sensors. The AF28-300mm XR Di will produce about a 44-465mm
in 35mm terms and the AF 18-200mm XR Di-II is equivalent to a 28-300mm lens in the 35mm format. Compatible camera mounts are listed in our spec box above, and for specific camera compatibility, as well as an excellent description of the technology
Image © Andrew Darlow
The Tamron AF18-200mm is part of a growing family of lenses built specially for cameras with sensors smaller than 35mm (up to 24x16mm). This means that the lenses won’t work with 35mm film cameras, or digital cameras with sensors larger than 24x16mm. By producing lenses tuned for this popular range of DSLRs, Tamron is able to make lighter lenses with improved sharpness and contrast. That being said, I have also
SPECS AT A GLANCE:
• FOCAL LENGTH: 18-200mm (equiv. to 28-300mm lens in 35mm format) • MAXIMUM APERTURE: F/3.5-6.3 • ANGLE OF VIEW: 75°-7° • LENS CONSTRUCTION: 15 elements/13 groups • MIN. FOCUS: 17.7 in. (0.45m) • DIAPHRAGM BLADES: 7 • FILTER SIZE: Ø62mm • SIZE (Diameter x Length): Ø2.9 x 3.3 in. (Ø73 x 83.7mm) • WEIGHT: 398g (14 oz.) • MACRO MAG. Ratio: 1:3.7 • STANDARD ACCESSORY ACCESSORY: Flower-shaped lens hood • COMPATIBLE MOUNTS: Canon, Konica Minolta, Nikon-D, Pentax
Image © Andrew Darlow
PRO TEST DRIVE
TEXT AND IMAGES BY ANDREW DARLOW
These two images were shot seconds apart, from the same spot. . MAY/JUNE 2005 - www.imaginginfo.com
(Left) Shot at 18mm (Above) Shot at 200mm. Both F10 @ 1/200.
that goes into many of the company's lenses, visit Tamron’s website. What impressed me most about this lens was its size and weight in relation to its zoom range. The lens is just 3.3'' at 18mm and 6'' at 200mm, and weighs just 14 oz. This compactness has many advantages: First, the wide zoom range means that this lens can be used for a very large part of my work, especially with regard to people photography. Zooming through the full 18-200mm range while shooting the model and her dog was a joy, and resulted in many unique angles and looks. The lens also allows me to be discreet, which is difficult with many other lenses that zoom up to 200 or 300mm. I experienced virtually no flare, even without the use of the flower-shaped lens hood. If you use some built-in flash units, such as the one on the 20D, keep in mind that the lens hood will create slightly more shadow at the bottom of the frame when shooting at the widest focal lengths. My images were very sharp, with excellent contrast, color quality, and virtually no chromatic abberation. The zoom ring was smooth, but held steady when I needed it to, and I was able to get sharp images handheld up to about 1/8 second. Another thing that set this lens apart from some others I’ve used is that across the lens’ full range, there was virtually no barrel or pincushion distortion. I also tested the Macro capability shooting some flowers, and achieved excellent results.
Image © Andrew Darlow
IMPRESSIONS
Shot handheld at 18mm with off-camera flash. F6.3 @ 1/40 and ISO 400.
The Tamron AF18-200 F/3.5-6.3 XR DiII is an excellent lens that can perform as a pro tool for just about any project or specialty. One thing that I wish the lens had was a faster minimum aperture. At wider focal lengths, the aperture is fine, but as you approach 200mm, the F6.3 minimum can be limiting because of the additional 1-2 stops of light needed. The higher minimum aperture at higher zoom levels also makes it more difficult to achieve some depth of field effects. While shooting on the roof after sunset, I changed my ISO to 400, then 800, and was able to get sharp, clean images handheld at all zoom levels. The combination of the Canon 20D’s clear viewfinder and the 18-200 Di-II lens also made manual focusing easy when shooting on a rooftop with a small off-camera flash unit after the sun went down (top right). DIT
Image © Andrew Darlow
FINAL THOUGHTS
For more information on Tamron’s lenses, visit www.tamron.com.
Shot with available light, handheld at 149mm. F10 @ 1/200 and ISO 400.
Andrew Darlow is a photographer, consultant and Editorial Director of Digital Imaging Techniques magazine. His Inkjet & Imaging Tips Newsletter is available free to subscribers at www.andrewdarlow.com.
Published in the May/June 2005 issue of Digital Imaging Techniques magazine. If you are an imaging professional, and would like to request a free subscription, or to read other photography and imaging articles, visit www.imaginginfo.com.
