SP AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF)

Wider and longer than others in its class, this compact, lightweight, high-performance lens for DSLRs with APS-C size sensors provides 35mm equivalent coverage from 16mm ultra-wide to 37mm semi-wide, a remarkable 2.4x zoom ratio. With a maximum coverage of over 108°, this state-of-the-art classic is the perfect solution for expanding your visual horizons. Capture magnificent vistas and extraordinary close-ups, bold compositions and unique perspectives – creating images impossible with standard wide-angle lenses that come fitted with most SLR kits today. The lens delivers outstandingly sharp, colourful photographs with special optical glass materials such as large-aperture glass-moulded aspherical elements and hybrid aspherical elements.

Super Performance series

Performance takes priority for superb image quality

Internal Focusing

Focusing elements inside the optical design make for better handling

In many lenses, the front elements move back and forth to alter the focus distance. With an internal focusing (IF) mechanism, the focusing elements are inside the optical design. Because the front lens elements remain static, the lens’ actual length does not change. This provides several benefits both to the image and during photography:

• The barrel is not subject to stray light entering from external helicoids that can adversely affect image quality
• A non-rotating front filter thread makes it easier to use filters such as graduated filters and polarisers
• A flower-shaped lens hood will remain in the correct position to most effectively shield the lens from stray light
• Better balance and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing
• Generally, a much closer minimum focusing distance throughout the zoom range
• Improved optical performance by minimising loss of illumination at the corners of the image field (vignetting)
• Suppression of other aberrations that become more troublesome at different focusing positions.

Integrated focus cam optimises internal focusing

Tamron’s Integrated Focus Cam is a precision mechanical component that optimises the co-ordinated movement of the Internal Focusing (IF) system with the Multiple Cam Zoom Mechanism. This ingenious mechanism ensures accurate and seamless positioning of all the internal elements within the lens and coordinates them with the external zoom and focus controls.

Covers the broadest range ever – from 10mm ultra wide-angle to 24mm – in its class*

The new Tamron ultra wide-angle zoom lens covers the 35mm full-size format equivalent of 16-37mm, for the first time in this class of zoom lenses. This focal length range – 10mm ultra wide-angle to 24mm semi wide-angle – enables the user to enjoy hassle-free wide-angle photography.

Ultra-compact, lightweight design

The new zoom lens covers a wider focal length range, has a greater zoom ratio, and offers a faster maximum aperture than the older SP AF11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di II zoom lens (Model A13) and enhanced optical quality. Despite the higher specifications, the new zoom lens is lightweight and compact and accepts the same 77mm filter as its predecessor.

Closest focus distance of just 24cm across the zoom range

Because a close-focusing capability is essential in wide-angle photography, Tamron engineered a 0.24m (9.4″) minimum focus distance across the zoom range. This capability gives the user freedom to create images with an exaggerated perspective at the 10mm ultra wide-angle end and shoot with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5 at the 24mm semi-wide-angle setting, the largest magnification ratio in its class.

Flower-shaped hood is supplied with the lens to shield stray light

Included as a standard accessory, the flower-shaped hood matches the rectangular shape of the image sensor to most effectively block the interference of superfluous light rays entering from outside the borders of the image area, helping to ensure sharp, clear, flare-free images with crisp detail in the shadow areas.

• Tamron’s conversion value is 1.55x.
• Di (Digitally integrated design)-II lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with APS-C sized smaller image sensors. Di II lenses are not designed for use with 35mm film cameras and digital SLRs with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm.

*As of August 2008, according to Tamron’s research on ultra wide-angle lenses designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras.

Special glass for high optical performance

This zoom lens uses a high-precision, large-aperture glass-moulded aspherical lens element and three hybrid aspherical elements to minimise spherical aberration, coma, and distortion. In addition, a pair of LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements and an HID (High Index high Dispersion) glass element together compensate for on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations, delivering high optical quality.

Low Dispersion

Sharpens edges by reducing ‘colour fringing’

Chromatic aberration occurs when a lens element refracts different wavelengths of a ray of light – its rainbow colours – at very slightly different angles. This results in the ‘colour fringing’ that reduces the sharpness of an image. LD elements are made from special glass materials with extremely low dispersion indices (i.e. the refraction of a ray of light into rainbow colours is extremely narrow). Thus they effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the centre of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (toward the edges of the field) that often occurs at short (wideangle) focal lengths. Although costly, LD glass materials result in clear, vivid image quality.

Aspherical

Far superior image quality – while reducing lens size and weight

Tamron uses several hybrid aspherical lens elements in its lenses bearing the Aspherical designation. The benefits are two-fold: first, their non-spherical shapes virtually eliminate spherical aberration and image distortion. Second, as one hybrid aspherical lens element can take the place of multiple elements without compromising performance, they allow the lens to be much more compact. As a result, these innovative optics have played a crucial role in delivering uniformly high image quality across all apertures and focal lengths of extraordinarily compact ultra-zoom lenses.

High Index High Dispersion

Minimises chromatic aberrations

The use of HID glass elements in a lens minimises on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations that are the greatest hindrances to achieving high image quality. HID glass has allowed Tamron to produce complex lenses such as long-range zooms that are conveniently compact and lightweight while delivering outstanding performance.

Optimal angles of incidence of light at the imaging sensor

The new ultra wide-angle zoom lens uses a new optical system designed to confine the changing angles of incidences of light rays reaching the imaging sensor within a certain scope over the entire image field, from the centre to the periphery, addressing the effects of variances caused by zooming.

Enhanced peripheral illumination

Peripheral light fall-off that becomes an image-degrading factor in wide-angle photography is minimised to ensure high optical quality from the centre to the periphery.

Outstanding resolution

As an SP Di II class lens, it provides high optical quality in resolution, contrast, and flatness of image field.

Internal surface coatings reduce ghosting and flare

The lens uses newly developed multiple-layer coatings and internal surface coatings (i.e., multiple-layer coatings on cemented surfaces of plural lenses) to reduce the image degradation caused by the reflection of light rays entering from the lens front and affected by the imager.

*Values given are for Nikon mounts. **Nikon mount has a built-in AF motor.