Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC Price Drop: Now $449

The Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC lens got a price drop: now it’s $499 at Adorama and B&H.

Product description from Adorama’s page:

Tamron 60TH ANNIVERSARY MODEL 18-270MM Di II VC PZD THE WORLD’S LIGHTEST, SMALLEST 15X ZOOM, WITH TAMRON’S FIRST PZD (PIEZO DRIVE) AF SYSTEM 

A light, compact, ultra-high-power 15x zoom lens with PZD (Piezo Drive) the first Piezoelectric internal autofocus motor by Tamron exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized sensors.

The acclaimed Tamron 18-270mm VC ultra zoom for APS-C format DSLRs has reached an astonishing new level of compactness, performance,and speed with the addition of PZD (Piezo Drive), an innovative ultrasonic autofocus motor based on an advanced piezoelectric design. The result is a lens that’s considerably lighter, and noticeably shorter and slimmer (filter diameter: 62mm) than any previous lens in its class, and provides faster, quieter auto-focusing.

Signature features that have made this amazingly versatile lens the world standard in its class have been retained. They include a 28-419mm equivalent (15X) zoom range, an improved, lightweight, compact Vibration Compensation (VC) system, macro focusing to 0.49m (19.3 inches) throughout, and, of course, superlative imaging performance.

Compact and Easy to Carry 15X All-in-One Zoom with Outstanding Feature Set 

The 18-270mm Di II VC PZD boasts the world’s highest zoom range at 15x magnification for a lens with its compact size and light weight, with the added value of Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization. At 15.9 ounces, measuring 3.8 inches in length (from mount face to the tip of the lens), and 2.9 inches in diameter with a filter diameter of Ø62mm, it’s a compact and easy-to-carry lens. A minimum focusing distance of 19.3 inches throughout the zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.8.

Tamron’s new PZD (Piezo Drive) autofocus technology delivers silent, high-speed autofocus in a compact lens 
Ultrasonic motors are divided into two categories depending on the principle that generates the energy to move the drive: traveling wave motors and standing wave motors. Traveling wave motors include the ring-type ultrasonic motor used in the recently launched SP 70-300mm VC USD as well as other lenses, but this lens employs a newer technology, the PZD (Piezo Drive), which functions on the standing wave principle.

A standing wave ultrasonic motor utilizes high-frequency voltage to extend and turn the Piezoelectric (Piezoceramic) element, thus moving the entire element in a standing wave movement. The metal tip is the contact point of the element to the rotor, and moves in an elliptic motion from the swiveling motion of the moving element, and the friction from this motion turns the rotor. Standing wave ultrasonic motors have the distinct advantage of being smaller than their traveling wave counterparts, and therefore allow a more compact SLR lens size.

VC (Vibration Compensation) 
Tamron’s VC mechanism employs a three-coil system, whereby three driving coils activate the shake-compensating VC lens group electromagnetically via three steel balls. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with the steel balls, achieving smooth movement with little friction. This provides a stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking performance that eliminates the blur from handheld shots for cleaner, crisper shots.

New VC Mechanism (Moving Coil Method) 
Tamron’s original VC image stabilization mechanism utilized a moving magnet system whereby a heavy magnet was positioned near the moving VC lens element. In the new VC unit, the positions of the magnet and the coil are reversed, and because of this, the VC optical lens element is attached to the coil. The new VC mechanism employs a moving coil mechanism with a lightweight coil, and the lighter coil reduces the load on the drive system. Thus, the lighter, more compact new VC unit contributes to the lens’s overall light weight and compact size.

The Tamron 18-270mm is commonly used for Close up filming, Landscape/scenery, Panoramic filming, Shooting indoors, Shooting outdoors, Sports/action, Upgrade, Weddings, Wildlife photos and more.The Tamron 18-270mm is most used by customers who consider themselves to be a Parent, Photo enthusiast, Tech savvy among others.The Tamron 18-270mm is popular because customers like the following qualities of the Tamron 18-270mm: Compact, Consistent output, Durable, Easily interchangeable, Easy to use, Fast / accurate auto-focus, Improves picture quality, Lightweight, Strong construction to mention just a few.