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The Indispensable Tamron 28-300mm with VC Mechanism |
Because of all the digital SLR models available and their dramatic improvements in performance, everyone can now enjoy digital photography with relative ease. And since photographers can see their images on the spot, most errors are caught at capture. Yet, many photographers still complain they cannot take "sharp images," despite their high-performance equipment. Why? There are two major reasons. The first is focusing failure, which means not bringing the lens in sharp focus on your main subject. Auto-focusing systems are effective, but only when used correctly.
The second cause of blurry images, which is more difficult to solve, is equipment vibration. While this occurs in various photographic conditions, blurry images are often a result of hand-held photography. The most popular way to solve the problem is to use higher shutter speeds, but high shutter speeds won't work in every situation. When they are not an option, a tripod or flash is recommended. If they cannot be used, vibration compensation really shows its value. Today, all digital SLR cameras can be equipped with a vibration compensation feature on either the lens or the body.
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Example of blurred subject
Canon EOS 40D with 28-300VC
- Focal Length
- : 300mm
- Exosure
- : F/6.3 at 1/200sec
- ISO
- : 800 , -0.3stop
- WB
- : Auto
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Example of the blur with had-shake
Canon EOS Kiss Degital X with 28-300VC
- Focal Length
- : 123mm
- Exosure
- : F/5.6 at 1/15sec
- ISO
- : 800 , +0.3stop
- WB
- : Auto
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The blur in the picture on the left was created by movement of the subject or excessive camera-shake. At right is an example of blur that is more difficult to solve because it comes from camera-shake or hand-shake. In some cases, blur from motion of the main subject and camera-shake may occur simultaneously.
* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.
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Tamron 28-300mm VC is equipped with a built-in VC mechanism that shows its vibration compensation performance in telephoto photography. |
Typical wide angle picture with 28mm
Canon EOS 5D with 28-300VC
- Focal Length
- : 28mm
- Exosure
- : F/11 at 1/160sec
- ISO
- : 100 , -0.3stop
- WB
- : Auto
When mounted on a full-size digital SLR camera, this high-power zoom covers an impressive range, from 28mm wide-angle to 300mm ultra-telephoto.
* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.
A vibration compensation mechanism is an essential feature for any DSLR user. Tamron now offers lenses equipped with vibration compensation mechanisms. The AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di high-power standard zoom, designed for digital SLRs with full-size image sensors, has enjoyed great popularity among photo enthusiasts since it was launched in June 2002. Today, this lens is equipped with Tamron's proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism.
When used with a 35mm film SLR camera or a full-size digital SLR camera, it performs as an extended-range standard zoom lens. The same lens becomes a high-power tele-zoom, covering a range equivalent to a 35mm-480mm lens, when used on Canon DSLRs, converted to the 35mm format; or a 42mm-450mm lens, when used on Nikon DSLRs, mounted on a DSLR equipped with an APS-C-sized image sensor.
A good example of the super telephoto capture with APS-C 300mm
Canon EOS 40D with 28-300VC
- Focal Length
- : 300mm
- Exosure
- : F/9.0 at 1/640sec
- ISO
- : 400 , -0.3stop
- WB
- : Auto
When mounted on a digital SLR camera with an APS-C-sized image sensor, the lens can be used as a high-power tele-zoom, covering an angle of view equivalent to 45mm-480mm (on a Canon DSLR) or 42-450mm (on a Nikon DSLR).
* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.
Lenses equipped with hand-shake compensation mechanisms are available from various manufacturers. However, the Tamron 28-300mm VC is unique among 28-300mm zoom lenses because of its VC mechanism. I use full-size and APS-C-sized DSLRs, and have found this lens indispensable.
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Advantages and disadvantages exist in the two systems: the built-in-lens vibration compensation system and vibration compensation systems built into cameras. |
Tamron' VC provides a visibly steady viewfinder image and great capturing
Canon EOS 40D with 28-300mm
- Focal Length
- : 300mm
- Exosure
- : F/8.0 at 1/100sec
- ISO
- : 400
- WB
- : Auto
With the Tamron 28-300mm VC, you can capture images while checking the compensation effect in the viewfinder. This is particularly useful in ultra-tele-photography, since it lets you compose and frame, while seeing your stabilized images in the viewfinder.
* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.
At present, two vibration compensation systems are available: the built-in-lens vibration compensation system offered by Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic, and the built-in-body vibration compensation system adopted by Olympus, Pentax, and Sony. Tamron's 28-300mm VC can provide image stabilization for Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
Advantages and disadvantages exist with both systems. Some say vibration compensation systems built into lenses have superior performance because users can confirm the compensation effects on their camera viewfinders, and are free to concentrate on composition and focusing. The compensation effect becomes more prominent as focal lengths become longer.
A lens equipped with a vibration compensation mechanism can be used with different camera bodies. One disadvantage from the manufacturer's standpoint is having to design an optimum vibration compensation system for each lens model, which may become an obstacle to making the lens compact and to reducing manufacturing costs.
This photo shows the subject in motion, compensating for camera- or hand-shake
Canon EOS 40D with 28-300VC
- Focal Length
- : 300mm
- Exosure
- : F/6.3 at 1/15sec
- ISO
- : 1,600 , -0.3stop
- WB
- : Auto
With the Tamron 28-300mm VC, which delivers vibration compensation effects equivalent to about four steps in shutter speed, you can capture blur-free images at 1/30 second at the 300mm tele-end, creating a 480mm-equivalent angle of view for the Canon and a 450mm-equivalent angle of view for the Nikon. This photo shows the subject in motion, compensating for camera- or hand-shake.
* Click on the picture to see an enlarged image.
On the other hand, camera manufacturers say that by using their camera-built-in vibration compensation functions, the effects can be derived with any lenses. This is convenient if you own many interchangeable lenses and want to continue to use them. However, with this system you cannot confirm vibration compensation effects on the viewfinder because the image displayed is a before-compensation image. With this system, new photographers are likely to be disappointed with their ultra-telephoto images.
In any case, the lens-built-in vibration compensation system is easier to use at focal length settings over 200mm because the vibration compensation effects can be confirmed with viewfinder images.
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