Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras

Tamron AF 70-300mm Impresses! I purchased this lens approx. 2 months ago for my Sony 200 DSLR. I researched several lenses from different manufacturers, as well as read many reviews for each. I decided to go with the Tamron because I wanted to have the ability to take close ups, ...

Publisher : Tamron
Company : Tamron
List Price: ~~$366.55~~
Our Price: Too low to display
Used Price : $150.00

Features

70-300mm macro lens with f/4-5.6 maximum aperture for digital or 35mm cameras
Easy-to-use macro switch lets you alternate between 180mm and 300mm focal lengths
Minimum focus distance of 59 inches from subject (normal) or 37.4 inches (macro)
9-blade circular diaphragm provides beautiful soft-focus imagery; 62mm filter diameter
Measures 3 inches in diameter and 4.6 inches long; weighs 15.3 ounces

Product Description

Tamron now offers a lightweight, compact, high-image-quality telephoto zoom lens with macro capability of 1: 2 that can be used with digital cameras. This new lens is a Di type lens using an optical system with improved multi-coating designed to function with digital SLR cameras as well as film cameras.With this 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, flipping a macro switch in the focal length range of 180mm to 300mm obtains a maximum magnification ratio of 1: 2 at a minimum focus distance as short as 37.4", enabling close-up shots of flowers, insects, and other objects that normally require the use of a specially designed macro lens. Moreover, this is a zoom lens that casually offers the distant capture and foreshortening effect pleasures of the 300mm ultra-telephoto world.

Amazon.com Product Description

It's never been easier to capture great action shots than with the Tamron AF 70-300mm macro lens. Delivering superior image quality for both digital SLRs and 35mm film cameras, this flexible lens lets you zoom in extra close when shooting moving subjects, such as athletes on the field or children running or playing. When used with a digital camera, the lens does even better, producing a super-telephoto 35mm equivalent of 465mm--unbeatable in almost any other lens.

Macro Switch
The lens offers an easy-to-use macro switch that lets you alternate between the 180mm and 300mm focal lengths, letting you enjoy true macro photography with a telephoto effect at a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2. The minimum focus distance, meanwhile, is 59 inches from the subject in normal shooting ranges, but when you flip the switch, you can get as close as 37.4 inches. And as an added bonus, the lens boasts a nine-blade circular diaphragm that provides beautiful soft-focus imagery for a professional result. Now you can showcase all your photographic talent with close-up shots of small flowers and insects in parks or in the wild, or any other beautiful small object you discover.

Coatings
Tamron has also adopted various countermeasures against ghosting and flare, common problems in digital photography. The lens employs internal surface coating and new multilayer coating technology to minimize reflections that occur when light enters through the front element, while also reducing image-degrading effects caused by the imagers themselves. The strictest quality control standards were also applied to increase resolution performance and prevent flare due to aberrations, resulting in a telephoto zoom lens ideal for photography with digital SLR cameras. This is one lens you can use with confidence.

Lens construction: 9 groups and 13 elements
Diagonal angle of view: 34 to 8 degrees (at 21 to 15 feet)
Type of zooming: Rotation
Diaphragm blade number: 9
Minimum aperture: f/32
Minimum focus distance: 59 inches in normal setting; 37.4 inches in macro mode
Macro magnification ratio: 1:2
Filter diameter: 62mm
Accessory: Lens hood
Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter and 4.6 inches long
Weight: 15.3 ounces

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Customer reviews

Tamron AF 70-300mm Impresses! by .. S. Wagner (Frederick, MD)
I purchased this lens approx. 2 months ago for my Sony 200 DSLR. I researched several lenses from different manufacturers, as well as read many reviews for each. I decided to go with the Tamron because I wanted to have the ability to take close ups, as well as distance shots without having to constantly change my lenses. I still rely on my extra lenses for specific shots, but so far I have been very impressed with the capabilities of this lens. When you manually zoom there is a bit of tension but haven't been too bothered by it. The switch on the lens itself which allows you to switch over to macro setting is also a nice option. I didn't see it when I first used the camera until I attempted a macro shot and couldn't get the look I wanted. Once I switched it over I was very happy with the closeups I was able to get. Like I said, I haven't had it for very long and tend to use this much more once the weather improves. I have also taken photos of people with this lens and am very happy with the coloring I get in my pictures too! The photos have been very clear and even when fully extended the lens has not been nearly as blurry or distorted as I was fearing. The Tamron was a good choice for me because I am on a budget and not able to put out a lot of money for the higher end models. So far...very happy.

THIS ZOOM ROCKS! I LOVE IT! by .. Larry D. Nail (St. Louis, MO)
As a former Minolta Xi owner, I use a Sony Alpha 200 DSLR. The old Minolta D lenses work on it, and I always had good luck with Minolta equipment. The A200 came with the 18-70mm kit lens and needless to say that is ok but not even great. It is a light/plastic build with not near the reach for an everyday lens. I fixed that with a Minolta AF 24-105mm f3.5 D that is soooo nice. Still, that doesn't reach out like I needed to shoot pictures of our grand kids at play. The answer was this Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras. I found one for $139. I was skeptical because I just bought, tried, and sold a Tamron 28-200mm zoom. That lense was well built, but the autofocus would just hunt and hunt, it drove me crazy in one outing. Still the reviews for this other Tamron beckoned, and I thought what the heck, I'll try it. The worst that could happen is I'll hate it like the other Tamron, and sell it. BUT I LOVED IT INSTEAD. It is solidly built. It is light weight for it's zoom range. It weighs less than my Minolta 70-210 f3.5 zoom. I took the Tamron 70-300 and went out and shot the kids on a dark overcast day on the trampoline at full 300mm opening and wowzers the pictures were awesome. I set the camera to "Sports" and fired away. I shot 30 pictures or there abouts. The lens stopped my grand daughter's pony tail in mid flight. It was so sweet. Only had 2 blurry pictures, and they weren't bad, in fact sometimes it's cool to show motion. At 70-300mm that comparable 35mm reach is 105-450mm. There's no lens creep, it is all solid and the balance with my dslr is really nice. This baby will reach out and touch when the kids are on the playground. We're grandparents raising an autistic 5 year old. He is really active, and my former digital camera didn't stand a chance. I'd have to get too close and by then the great picture was gone and the snapshot was all that was left. This is the best buy in a long zoom I ever made. I don't do reviews, but I just had to say Thanks Tamron, this zoom ROCKS!

I like this lens by .. Timothy M. Headley ()
With the rotating front lens when you focus the use of a polarizing filter is a 3 step process. I like this lens.

Great telephoto lens for the money by .. B. Bernardo (Chicago.IL)
I have used this telephoto lens with filters, with teleconverters and it works seamlessly with my Sony SLR. No problems noted. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to supplement their kit lens. It also definitely makes a difference that the stabilization for the Sony is on the body of the camera and not dependent on the lens like Canon or Nikon.

Nice for a telephoto (as a secondary lens) by .. John R. Middleton (Concord, NC)
This is a nice telephoto lens. You will need a wide angle lens for general photography. The macro function is a bit ackward since you must be 10' away from anything you are trying to shoot. Overall, I would buy this lens again for my Minolta Maxxum 5D. I put a skylight filter on it for protection.