The modern photographer has more choices when selecting a lens than at any other time in history.
There are lenses for every kind of shooter, at every price point, with the best optical technologies. This may be the best time in history to be a photographer as far as gear and image quality is concerned and Tamron is a great example of a company that has been very busy releasing some of the most innovative, and competitive lenses that you can find anywhere. I wanted to make a list of some of the most important reasons that you should take a closer look at the Tamron lens line. Let me know what you think in the comments!
1. Prime Lenses with VC (Vibration Compensation)- Fast, Stabilized, and Sharp
You may ask yourself why anyone would need image stabilization on a fast f/1.8 aperture. The addition of image stabilization to prime lenses is a relatively new phenomenon and photographers are realizing very quickly about how helpful it can be. Vibration Compensation is Tamron’s unique version of image stabilization, which can provide up to five stops of stabilization. VC allows for sharper images at slower shutter speeds turning the new Tamron 35mm and 45mm into low-light beasts. Not only are these lenses equipped with a fast aperture, VC, and the newest coatings, but they also have a circular aperture- which means that the ‘bokeh’ or out-of-focus areas of the image are smooth and beautiful.
You can find more info about these lenses here:
2. Top All-In-One Lens on the Market- The Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD
This is what is referred to as the All-In-One zoom lens, and it has made a huge impact on the photo industry. This lens covers the focal range of 16mm all the way to 300mm- that is over a 18x magnification! When you carry a lightweight lens with this much zoom range, it can help you see new compositions and photos that were just not possible with a standard or kit lens.
Check out these two shots below. Both were taken from the exact same place, at the same time. The first photo is zoomed all the way out to 16mm, giving us a wide perspective. The second shot is zoomed all the way in to 300mm, cropping in on the wooden bird, isolating it from the rest of the scene. This huge zoom range allows photographers to shoot things that would normally out of reach, and more importantly, gets you looking out for new and unique angles and compositions!
Not only does this lens have a huge zoom range, but it also produces approximately a 3:1 magnification ratio. That means you can get pretty close to small subjects and get amazing detail in the image. All the shots below were shot at 300mm, at the minimum focus distance. You can see the pollen stuck in the bee’s little hairs! Because carrying around a bag full of lenses can get heavy, fast, this may be the only lens that some people use on their DSLR. The Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD is a true All-In-One lens that works for macro, travel, sports, and anything else that you like to shoot.
3. Industry-Leading 6 Year Warranty and 3-Day Turnaround for Service
For years, Tamron has been leading the photo industry in offering the longest warranty period for their lenses. Most camera and lens companies only offer a one year warranty on their products. Tamron is determined to ensure that photographers are confident in their purchases, and a 6 year warranty certainly makes a big statement. For some of us, the biggest investment we will make all year for camera equipment is a new lens, and Tamron shows that they believe in their manufacturing capabilities, in addition to a commitment to customer satisfaction. 
Not only does Tamron offer a six-year warranty, but they also offer 3-Day Turnaround for service of Tamron equipment. That means if your lens gets damaged, needs to be calibrated, or cleaned, Tamron has streamlined the process so that you are not missing your lens for weeks and weeks. This is a pretty big deal if you own only one or two lenses. If your only (or favorite) lens needs to be serviced, then you are not shooting any photos, so Tamron is making sure that you have your lens back in far less time than any other service department, and that can make all the difference.
4. Super-Sharp Macro Lenses are Great for Up-Close AND Portraits
Macro lenses are one of the most versatile prime lenses to have in your bag. Not only do true macro lenses allow for a full 1:1 reproduction ratio, with very close minimum focus distances, they also excel as portrait lenses. In the case of the Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD Lens, it is the perfect focal length for studio portraiture and wedding photography. Macro lenses are known for being super sharp edge to edge, with no visible distortion, and making them perfect for shooting everything from head-shots to wedding rings.
The photos below were shot using the Tamron 60mm f/2 DiII lens, built for crop sensor cameras. If you are looking for a great prime lens that gives you a little extra bang for your buck, then a macro lens is a great way to go. Although I shoot a lot of portraits, one of my favorite ways to relax is to walk around my neighborhood shooting little details and patterns. A macro lens can really be a lot of fun for searching out new patterns and textures. Plus, a macro lens is the only way to get really close to the smallest of subjects, which helps to open my eyes to the tiny world all around us.
Check out Tamron’s macro lenses here:
Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD Lens
Tamron SP AF60mm F/2 Di II LD MACRO 1:1
5. Top-Rated Image Stabilized Ultra Wide-Angle Lens
I love to shoot in the city and all of the lines, angles, and reflections of the architecture. A good wide-angle lens is essential for shooting architecture, and cityscapes so I was really excited to shoot with Tamron’s full frame compatible wide-angle zoom as soon as it was announced. Since the moment I got my hands on the Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD, I knew it was the wide-angle zoom I had been waiting for.
Some stand-out features of this lens:
- very wide max angle of view at 15mm
- well-corrected for distortion
- very effective lens coatings (minimizes lens flares and loss of contrast)
- fast (max aperture of f/2.8)
- sharp from edge to edge (especially for a wide zoom)
- Vibration Compensation (shoot sharper pictures at slower shutter speeds)
This is an impressive lens by any standard, and I highly recommend anyone that is shooting landscape, architecture, or real estate to take a serious look at this lens. With a competitive price, and a 6- year warranty, the 15-30mm f/2.8 VC lens becomes an obvious choice for a lot photographers.
Choosing the next lens to buy can be a big decision, so I hope that this helps illuminate some of the ways that Tamron is working to get you the best overall image quality and feature set that you can get for the price. At Midwest Photo we have almost every lens we sell out on display, because we believe that everyone should be able to make the most informed decision possible about their next lens purchase.
Last chance! Contest Closes March 31st!
Enter your Cityscape Photos!!!
And Join us at the Learning Studio on
Friday April 15th 5pm-7pm
to view our local #CBUS Gallery curated Photos!
Cityscapes: Travel and Architecture Photo Contest
Sponsored by Tamron
Click here for details!
