Tamron 60mm f/2 1:1 macro - meet SAM!

[David Kilpatrick]

Working distance at 1:1 100mm according to Tamron - actually measures as 106mm from the front rim with the Alpha version. Compare that to just 57mm clear with the Sigma 70mm. Aperture at 1:1 is a true f/3.5. Real focal length is around 50mm, very slight focal length change caused by the internal focus. Tamron today confirmed that the focus motor is not SSS, but a motor like SAM, and that full time manual focus is possible (part of the design) not an accident.

Basically a very good lens design indeed.

David

[Birma]

Warehouse Express have sold there stock of Sony fit and have it on "back order" - I wonder how many hits here have translated in to sales I am still undecided - the "excitement" of the Nex launch distracted me.

[redsim74]

OK, I'm convinced. Now I just need to find someone with stock in NZ, nobody appears to have it listed for Sony mount.

[sury]

I pulled the trigger. It's US$449 after US$50 mail in rebate. It should be arriving around May20th.
I was conned by my wife. She told me I can spend her one week paycheck as my birthday gift and she
gets to spend my one week paycheck for her birthday. She tells me about the reciprocity after I clicked
the buy button.

Sury

[redsim74]

Congratulations, be sure to post some sample images!

No doubt I'll be waiting somewhat longer for mine...

[UrsaMajor]

I pulled the trigger. It's US$449 after US$50 mail in rebate. It should be arriving around May20th.
I was conned by my wife. She told me I can spend her one week paycheck as my birthday gift and she
gets to spend my one week paycheck for her birthday. She tells me about the reciprocity after I clicked
the buy button.

That sounds like my wife. Of course, she does not work outside the house, so I am somewhat more limited in what I can obtain for myself as a birthday gift.



With best wishes,
- Tom -

[sury]

Redsim74,
Absolutely. B&H video says I should be receiving it on May 20th. I know what I will be doing that weekend.

Tom,
You too uh!!! My wife does not work regularly either. So the situation is not much different. But then, what the hey.... why not!!!

Sury

[Birma]

Many happy returns Sury and congrats on the new lens - I'm also looking forward to seeing some of your pictures with the lens - hopefully the Flowers 2010 thread will be overflowing with Tamron 60mm shots

[sury]

Birma,
Thank you. I can't wait to get my hands on the lens.

Sury

[Dr. Harout]

Sury, if you need some test on that lens, just send it over
Happy BDay my friend.

[sury]

Dr. Harout,
Thank you very much. I have no problem sending it over but after I do the testing....

Sury

[KevinBarrett]

Geez, well as long as we're shipping it around, count me in!

[WaltKnapp]

That is what you get with the 60mm f/2 Tamron on APS-C - only it focuses and keeps on focusing, right down to life size.

David

If it's like most of these modern macro lenses it changes focal length as it approaches 1:1. Especially true for internally focusing lenses.

Walt

[David Kilpatrick]

Walt, although it is internal focusing, it does not change focal length much - far less than most extending designs. The final focal length at 1:1 gives a working distance clear from the front rim of 106mm (my measurement) to the subject; they state 100mm.

Allowing for nodal points slightly within the optical unit, that means it only reduces to about 55mm. This lens is completely different from anything else I have used - Sony's 30mm is also very different, but reduces to an effectively 24mm at 1:1.

The Tamron does the impossible. It's short to start off with, it is compact and neat, it does not extend at all during focusing which is totally internal, it does not lose much focal length and it's roughly f/3.5 effective aperture at 1:1 which prove that it is not shorter than a true 50mm at this setting. The front thread is only 55mm and does not rotate; the bokeh is free from chromatic effects, and it has virtually no CA when focused.

Basically, it's something very much better than most affordable macro lenses.

David

[redsim74]

I can get one "end of May" apparently, through a proper old school Camera Store. They'll need to order it specially though, so I'll have to prepay the full whack.