| The Tamron SP AF 60mm F/2 Di II LD[IF] Macro | | | | just due to the fact that they are only one focal |
| 1:1 lens is available for purchase. What's in a name, | | | | length. This takes some of the technological |
| anyway? What's with all those letters? Are they | | | | guesswork out of how to make the image quality |
| really important? | | | | excellent at every focal length of the zoom. |
| Below are the descriptions for the letters: | | | | 2. Depth of Field. The plane of focus, being a |
| - SP = High performance specifications | | | | macro lens, was narrow enough, even at the |
| - AF = auto focus | | | | smaller apertures to produce a nice blurring, or |
| - F/2 = aperture designation for the largest | | | | bokeh, effect. |
| aperture(lens opening) | | | | This statement by the manufacturer is major: |
| - Di II = designed for digital SLR cameras only | | | | The Tamron 60mm Macro lens is the only lens in |
| (cannot be used on a film camera) | | | | the World that can boast an F/2.0 aperture at |
| - LD = Low Dispersion glass | | | | that focal length. There are several lenses that |
| - IF = Internal focusing | | | | have an aperture of F/2.8, but none have F/2.0. |
| As you can see, the letters indicate lots of | | | | It is a macro lens, but that is not the only type of |
| technical jargon. Are they critical? They certainly | | | | photography you can do with this lens. It is a |
| are. | | | | very fine portrait lens, as well. Many |
| Since the letters stand for the lens specifications, | | | | photographers use a 50mm lens for portraits, but |
| they allow us to know exactly what goes in to | | | | this one performed admirably for taking sharp |
| the Tamron 60mm Macro lens. | | | | portraits. |
| If VC and USD were in the list, this lens would be | | | | Are there any concerns? |
| even better. VC stands for Vibration | | | | There actually is one feature that has caused |
| Compensation, and USD stands for Ultrasonic | | | | some negative comments. The lens has auto |
| Silent Drive. This would add something similar to | | | | focus with a manual override. That means that |
| Image Stabilization and Fast Focus. But if you add | | | | you can use the camera to get the focus |
| those two elements, you would essentially price | | | | automatically, but if you feel that you can tweak |
| this lens out of the ballpark for its intended users. | | | | the focus manually to get it sharper, you can do |
| Intended users? APS-C type camera owners are | | | | that. The complaint is that the reviewing |
| the intended users... I know, more letters. But | | | | photographers had trouble with this feature, |
| APS-C cameras are those digital SLR cameras | | | | because the lens tended to try to revert back to |
| with a modified sensor that is less than "full | | | | auto focus. |
| frame". APS-C cameras include the likes of the | | | | This is not an uncommon problem with macro |
| Digital Rebels in the Canon line and the D5000 in | | | | photo lenses. The problem is a result of the very |
| the Nikon line. | | | | nature of macro photography. The camera is so |
| The fabulous part about being for APS-C cameras | | | | close to the subject that it tends to have trouble |
| is that those cameras now have a really GREAT | | | | finding the focal point. With the Tamron 60mm |
| macro lens available to them. | | | | Macro lens, the testers agreed that they were |
| There are two features, in particular, that have | | | | able to master this problem, but it was somewhat |
| been mentioned in each review of the Tamron | | | | of a negative in their evaluation. |
| 60mm Macro lens. | | | | The general consensus is that the Tamron 60mm |
| 1. Super quality images. All reviewers agreed that | | | | Macro lens is an excellent lens for entry level and |
| the image quality was beyond their expectations. | | | | mid level digital slr cameras. It gives |
| Since all dedicated macro lenses are prime | | | | photographers a super starting place for close up |
| (meaning single focal length rather than zoom | | | | photography without having to mortgage their |
| lenses), they usually produce better image quality | | | | first-born. |