Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens officially announced

Tamron has officially announced the rumored 85mm f/1.8 lens for full-frame cameras, becoming the first model of its kind to offer built-in image stabilization technology.

A bunch of recent teasers have shown that Tamron is preparing to launch two new lenses on February 22. Shortly after that, the gossip mill has managed to leak their names and specifications, while also revealing their photos.

The time has come for the two optics to be unveiled and the first is the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens. According to the manufacturer, this is the first 85mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 for full-frame cameras to come packed with an image stabilization system.

Tamron reveals world’s first stabilized 85mm f/1.8 lens for full-frame cameras

Blurry photos will be a thing of the past as the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens features Vibration Compensation, the company’s image stabilization system that keeps things steady even in low-light conditions.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens features a fluorine coating that repels oil, water, and dirt, making the lens easier to clean.

The optic has been designed for Canon, Nikon, and Sony full-frame cameras. As usual, the Sony version will not employ VC technology because the cameras already have similar systems in place.

The lens supports autofocusing thanks to an Ultrasonic Silent Drive. It is a ring-type motor that will provide quick, accurate, and silent focusing. Nevertheless, users can choose to manually focus at all times, as there is a special button on the optic that overrides the autofocus.

Tamron says that the product is quite rugged. It has a moisture-resistant build that does not allow moisture or dust to enter the lens, therefore photographers can take it with them even in harsh environments.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens delivers superior image quality

Perhaps the most important trait of a lens is its image quality. Features do not matter when the image quality is not good, so Tamron has added LD (Low-Dispersion) and XLD (Extra Low-Dispersion) elements into the lens in order to reduce chromatic aberration.

Moreover, the aperture and focal length combination provides beautiful bokeh that is pleasing to the eye. The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens also comes with Broad-Band Anti-Reflection and Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency coatings to cut down ghosting and flare.

The BBAR and eBAND coatings are joined by Advanced Anti-Reflection Technologies that further reduce reflections. This way, the images will be sharp, crystal-clear, and their contrast will be high, thus meeting the demands of even the most pretentious photographers.

Tamron will release the lens for Canon and Nikon cameras on March 24, while the Sony version is coming at a later date. All versions will be compatible with the new TAP-in Console, a device that has just been introduced and which will allow users to customize their lenses and update their firmware, similar to Sigma’s USB Dock.