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Tamron AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical IF - Review / Test Report |
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Lens Reviews -
Nikon / Nikkor (APS-C)
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Page 1 of 3
Review by Markus Stamm, published October 2009
Introduction
The *gasp* Tamron AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD Aspherical IF (can we just call it "T" for short?) is an updated design based on the older 11-18 mm lens, which was offered at a very affordable price, but unfortunately failed to impress optically. The new lens inherits the affordable price, but also features a larger zoom range, so let's find out if it has been improved optically, too.
The build quality is in line with most other Tamron lenses. The body is made out of plastic, which feels solid enough, but is not something to rave about. Both the focus and the large zoom ring operate smoothly.
The Tamron features an internal motor, which means it provides AF functionality with all current Nikon DSLRs (including the motor-free entry level DX cameras). The motor is a classic DC motor (not silent wave driven) and thus it generates a noticeable amount of noise during operation. AF speed is ok (certainly fast enough for an ultra wide angle lens), but lacked precision in our field tests.
The lens doesn't feature an aperture ring (a G-type lens).
The lens extends a little when zooming. It's shortest at around 14 mm, slightly extended at 10 mm and at maximum length at 24 mm. The moving tube is very solid, there is no wobbling. The front lens does not rotate while focusing so using a polarizer is no problem.
| Specifications |
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| Equiv. focal length | 15-36 mm (full format equivalent) |
| Equiv. aperture | f/5.3-f/6.8 (full format equivalent, in terms of depth-of-field) |
| Optical construction | 12 elements in 9 groups inc. 2 LD and 3 aspherical elements |
| Number of aperture blades | 7 |
| min. focus distance | 0.24 m (max. magnification ratio 1:5.1) |
| Dimensions | 83.2 x 86.5 mm |
| Weight | 406 g |
| Filter size | 77 mm (non-rotating) |
| Hood | petal shaped, bayonet mount (supplied) |
| Other features | Features internal motor, offers AF with Nikon's entry level DX cameras |
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