Tamron announces new 70-200mm and 90mm lenses

Canon calls it Image Stabilization. Nikon dubs it Vibration Reduction. At Tamron, it's VC -- Vibration Compensation -- and it's just been added to two new full-frame "Di" (Digitally integrated) DSLR lenses, along with XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) and LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements for superior optical performance.

70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD telephoto zoom lens

The full-frame 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD telephoto zoom lens features VC teamed with a USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) motor to minimize its overall length while providing continuous manual focusing. It is composed of 23 optical elements, including one XLD glass element and four LD elements to minimize chromatic aberrations. They are combined with a new optical design that aims to deliver high contrast and high resolution throughout the zoom range. The lens features Tamron's multilayer coating technology that improves lens performance by reducing flare and ghosting, resulting in crisper, clearer images. A rounded diaphragm is used to achieve pleasing blur (bokeh). The 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD weighs 51.9 oz (1,470g), measures a relatively compact 7.4 inches (188mm) in length, focuses to 51.9 inches (1.3m), stops down to f/32, and accepts 77mm filters.

Tamron's VC image stabilization system uses three coils that activate the shake-compensating VC lens group electromagnetically via three tiny ceramic ball bearings. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with these bearings, achieving smooth movement with little friction. The result is a stable viewfinder image and improved tracking performance. It's a major step up from Tamron's previous VC mechanism that relied on a moving magnet.

90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD

Providing true life-size 1:1 magnification, the 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD focuses to 11.8 inches (0.3m) and weighs in at 19.4 oz. (550g). Along with VC and USD, its optics consist of 14 elements arranged in 11 groups, including two XLD and one LD element. It stops down to f/32, accepts 58mm filters, and is 4.8 inches (123mm) in length.

Both lenses are slated to ship by year's end in versions for Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras. Pricing has not yet been announced.