Tamron A20 User Manual

Road Trip to Nature

Road Trip to Nature

Seaside to Lakeshore with Tamron VC

Seaside to Lakeshore with Tamron VC

California, USA

California, USA

AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3
XR Di VC

Digitally Integrated Design

Exposure: F20, 1/25 sec, 100 ISO, 42mm, Manual

LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO

Vibration Compensation Mechanism

Model A20

Model A14

URL http://www.tamron.com/

E

The All-In-One Tamron

On the Road Again:

28-300mm VC Lens

Planning your next short road trip? You’ll want to take a lot of photos to document your travels,
whether you’re heading to the seashore, braving the desert heat, roughing it in the mountains or at
the lake—or, if you’re a true adventurer, all of the above.

It would take a special lens to get the variety of photos you’re looking for: You’ll need something
that’s lightweight, versatile enough to cover a great focal length range, and enables you to shoot
under nearly any lighting conditions, from dusk till dawn.

The Tamron 28-300mm VC is that lens. Its 28-300mm range allows you to capture everything from wide­angle scenics by the shore or in the mountains to macro shots of local animals and plant life. Its low-light
ability, ideal for everything from a dim hotel lobby to a shadowy mountain cabin, lets you handhold your
camera at slow shutter speeds and still produce sharp, high-quality images with vivid colors.

In addition to the flexible focal length range, one of the highlights of the new lens is Tamron’s propri­etary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism. The VC feature, which is highly attuned to detect
hand shake, significantly decreases vibration so that your pictures remain extra-sharp in even the
most challenging photographic situations.

Preparing and Packing

You’ll want to minimize your gear for this mini-vacation, so that means you’ll need to pack light. When
he heads out on his own road trips, photographer Don Gale takes along a small camera bag with his
Tamron 28-300mm VC lens, a polarizer, a graduated neutral-density filter, media cards, a car adapter
charger, and extra batteries. “I’d normally take a whole variety of lenses, but now with the 28-300mm
VC, I can just take the one lens on a trip like this,” he says.

Protecting your equipment from being stolen
out of your hotel room is obviously important,
but protecting it from the elements found in
Mother Nature is just as critical. “You may be in
the desert, at the beach, and in some
extremely high elevations,” Gale says. “You get
salt air and vapor when you’re near the ocean.
Or depending on the year, you may encounter
dry spells that could lead to forest fires, which
produce a lot of ash."

Other standout features of the 28-300mm VC lens include a minimum focusing distance of 0.49m
(19.3”) over the entire zoom range, a top-class close-focusing capability for a high-power zoom lens,
and a 1:3 maximum macro magnification ratio at the 300mm telephoto end.

Add to all these refinements the lens’s light weight, and you’ll find that the 28-300mm VC lens is the
only lens you’ll need from seaside to lake shore.

2

The All-In-One Tamron 28-300mm VC Lens

Gale’s main tip for keeping gear in working order doesn’t involve fancy photographic secrets.
“This isn’t a real professional technique, but it works,” he says. “I use a two-gallon air-tight bag,
which does a couple of things. It physically protects the camera and lens from the ocean spray,
from sand in the desert, and from rain and ashes.

But it also protects against extreme temperature changes: If you seal it up real tight and you’re
going from hot to cold, or from cold to hot, the condensation will form on the outside of the bag;
you won’t get that buildup of vapor on your lens or viewfinder.”

On the Road Again: Preparing and Packing

3

Snapshots by the Shore

A quaint seaside town as the first stop on your photographic road trip will enable you to
fully experience the 28-300mm VC lens’s flexibility, portability, and superior image quality.
The lens masters every environment it encounters, whether it’s a jam-packed beach, or the
dock at a beach or the neighborhood marina. Use the lens for your early-morning sojourns
to the seashore, where you can shoot in macro mode to show off local sand critters, or
zoom out for shots of kids splashing in the surf or during your strolls through city streets.
Bring the lens along for evening outings, where it will capture spectacular sunset views and
the fireworks show with stunning clarity. The 28-300mm VC lens will prove to be the only
lens you’ll need for your entire seaside stay.

200mm

200mm

200mm

200mm

42mm

42mm

Exposure: F13, 1/10 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

Show off all of the majestic residents of a
crowded marina with a wideangle look.

Wide-angle shots create
foreground distortion, while
a small aperture ensures
the plant stays in focus.

300mm

Exposure: F8, 1/25 sec, 200 ISO, 300mm, Manual

42mm

VC:OFF

Exposure: F13, 1/25 sec, 100 ISO, 200mm, Manual

Trekking across the Pacific Coast sand dunes before sunrise can lead to amazing photo opportunities.
But walking on sand is no easy feat, and heavy inhaling and exhaling from this early-morning exercise can
create unwanted camera shake. The 28-300’s VC mechanism helps keep everything sharp — even when
the ground beneath your feet isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

65mm

60mm

60mm

Exposure: F11, 1/13 sec, 400 ISO, Aperture Priority

The 1:3 maximum macro
magnification ratio is ideal
for zooming in on resident
crustaceans.

Exposure: F22, 1/13 sec, 100 ISO,

Take advantage of available light streaming in
through your hotel window to capture relaxed
portraits of family members.

Exposure: F4.5, 1/10 sec, 200 ISO, Program

VC:ON

Aperture Priority

Capture appetizing imagery
with the 28-300 VC lens,
which maximizes your
hand-holding capabilities so
you can photograph your
repast from your seat.

300mm

300mm

42mm

Exposure: F16, 1/20 sec, 100 ISO,Manual

Walking on sand is no easy feat _but the
28-300's VC mechanism helps you keep
everything sharp, despite the camera shake
created by such vigorous exercise.

Exposure: F25, 1/20 sec, 100 ISO,Aperture Priority

Hit the beach before sunrise: The early-morning
light and shadows will increase the sand's
contrast and texture.

28mm

28mm

Exposure: F8, 1/20 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

A wide-angle shot incorporates indigenous plant life
for context.

4

Snapshots by the Shore

5

35mm

Exposure: F10, 1/20 sec, 100 ISO, 35mm (Left) / 300mm (Right), Manual

Use a polarizing filter to cut down on glare from the water at
sunset.

300mm

300mm

42mm

Exposure: F16, 1/320 sec, 200 ISO, Aperture Priority

A beachfront patio can provide inspiration for a
wide-angle scenic.

33mm

Exposure: F8, 1/30 sec, 400 ISO, Manual

Using a flash for intimate portraits can cause pictures to look
sharper, while the ambient light records the background. The VC
feature ensures that anything lit with the ambient light isn't blurred.

6

50mm

50mm

Exposure: F7.1, 1/13 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

From your hotel window, the 28-300 VC
lens lets you record everyone that's
moving as a blur, while everyone else
who's standing still remain sharp.

28mm

Exposure: F6.3, 1/10 sec, 200 ISO, Manual

Even the soft lighting of a hotel lobby is no
match for the 28-300 VC—this lens can
practically shoot in the dark.

300mm

300mm

Exposure: F16, 1/200 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

Scope out where the light is best and react.

92mm

Exposure: F5.0, 1/8 sec, 800 ISO, Aperture Manual

A postcard-perfect pictorial of the coastline as the day winds down
is achievable under dusky lighting conditions with the 28-300mm
VC lens.

Snapshots by the Shore

300mm

300mm

Exposure: F16, 1/60 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

Expand your hand-holding ability with
the 28-300 VC, which allows you to
capture spontaneous action shots.

7

300mm

Exposure: F7.1, 1/20 sec, 800 ISO, Manual

If you’re privy to a pyrotechnics show while on vacation, keep in mind that there will be a center point
to the main explosion, followed by another three to four seconds of embers spiraling to the end of
their trail. Keep your shutter open the entire time to record the whole exposure and the ensuing
ember shower.

Exposure: F32, 1/30 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

You may not be able to avoid the crowds on the
beach, but by compressing the shot vertically and
keeping the aperture small, you’ll be able to capture
every multicolored umbrella and well-motioned beach
body in stellar detail.

200mm

200mm

Exposure: F29, 1/20 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

Pull back on the zoom to create unusual compositions.

65mm

42mm

42mm

Exposure: F6.3, 1/10 sec, 200 ISO, Manual

Work both white sand and sky into your shot,
tapping into the wideangle end of the lens to
show an entire vertical vista in a single frame.

42mm

42mm

Exposure: F5.6, 1/6 sec, 800 ISO, Manual

You’re on vacation, but the streets of your destination location are as busy as ever. Show off all the
automotive activity by waiting until the moment a red stoplight turns green – then you’ll be able to
illustrate the movement at the front of the pack by blurring the cars at the head of the line.

300mm

Exposure: F22, 1/15 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

Fading light is no problem for the 28-300mm
VC lens, which is able to capture every detail
in the water and in the sails of this graceful
sloop at 300mm.

8

Snapshots by the Shore

9

Mountain and Lakeshore Scenes

Leave the luxury of room service behind and head into the wild for the last leg of your road trip,
where you’ll ascend into the mountains to camp out on the lakeshore. With the 28-300mm VC, it’s
easy to document the natural beauty that surrounds you: From the early morning rays of sunlight
reflected in the still waters to the last marshmallow being toasted over the campfire, this versatile
lens ensures you’re able to capture that indescribable feeling you only get when you’re communing
with Mother Nature. The lens’s close-focusing macro capabilities allow you to zoom into the most
delicate stamens of a wildflower (and the image-stabilization feature keeps that same flower still
and sharp), while its wideangle end lets you show off the beauty of the high-altitude landscape in
its entirety, from peak to pond. Plus, the lens is light enough to carry around all day as you hike on
mountain trails, scale waterfall beds, and wriggle into the underbrush for the best shots.

135mm

135mm

VC:OFF

Exposure: F14, 1/25 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

Create a compositional series by shooting over a period of ten minutes, allowing the clouds to glide by
while you remain in one place.

119mm

119mm

VC:OFF

Exposure: F8, 1/25 sec, 160 ISO, Manual

When shooting local flora, get down to plant level to frame your shot. The VC feature keeps everything
sharp as you're snaking along the ground.

VC:ON

VC:ON

135mm

135mm

119mm

119mm

60mm

Exposure: F9, 1/15 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

To capture local fishermen in silhouette,
take a meter reading for the highlights,
and the shadows will simply go dark.

135mm

Exposure: F13, 1/25 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

Shoot down on a lake from a higher
vantage point and wait for ripples in the
water for artistic effect.

300mm

300mm

Exposure: F9, 1/6 sec, 1000 ISO, Manual

Exposure: F9, 1/30 sec, 200 ISO, Manual

Usually a tripod is recommended for taking landscape
images with a smaller aperture to achieve greater depth of
field and a polarizer as well as a 2-stop neutral-density
graduated filter that cut out more light and lower your
shutterspeed even further. But VC allows you to capture the
details and the rich, deep colors of the landscape being
reflected in the lake at sunrise.

Rethink what your photographic
instincts tell you. If your subject
matter is vertical, shoot it
horizontally for a compelling
composition.

35mm

35mm

Exposure: F/7.1, 1/15 sec,
400 ISO, Manual

The close focusing ability
and VC feature of the lens
will allow you to capture
unlikely abstracts, even in
a shower curtain.

To capture the velvety beauty of cascading waterfalls,
shoot early in the morning so you can use a long
shutter speed—anything that's moving (the water) will
blur, while everything else will remain sharp.

300mm

Exposure: F16, 1/200 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

28mm

10

Mountain and Lakeshore Scenes

11

Exposure: F22, 1/40 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

300mm

300mm

Exposure: F8, 1/20 sec, 400 ISO, Manual

Capture the serenity of
sunset on the lake by setting
up a wide-angle shot of the
rippling water juxtaposed
with the shoreline.

Search out different angles in which to photograph
local wildlife. A high perch on a barren tree serves
as the perfect composition for the raven in this
image. Silhouetting your subject and using an
out-of-focus telephoto look are both effective ways
to isolate your subject.

154mm

Exposure: F25, 1/40 sec, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority

Use wide angle to highlight other visitors
against the stunning natural backdrop of
your surroundings.

Desert Scenes

The next leg of your road trip will immerse you in arid desert climates, where you’ll bear witness to
sweeping vistas, hauntingly desolate surroundings, and striking colors that remain vibrant over time,
despite the brutal heat and sunlight beating down upon the landscape. Use the 28-300mm VC lens
in this often-unforgiving environment to hone in on the intricate details of the rocky edifices; use the
out-of-focus telephoto effect to isolate the occasional lone sagebrush; and shoot as wide as possible
to incorporate both the red-rock peaks and the brilliant blue sky into your images.

Look for the natural lines and
shapes that exist in nature. The
winding road leading through the
brush landscape into the
mountains in this image breaks up
what may have otherwise been a

28mm

monotonous shot.

Exposure: F13, 1/400 sec, 320 ISO, Program

28mm

Wait until nightfall and
let some light filter in
from a lantern about
20 feet away to
illuminate your franks
and beans around the
campfire.

12

Mountain and Lakeshore Scenes

Exposure: F5.6, 1/15 sec, 100ISO, AE

184mm

70mm

Exposure: F6.3, 1/25 sec, 800 ISO, Manual

Cut out extraneous elements in your images
to focus solely on your subjects, whether it’s
their aesthetically appealing asymmetry or
the dominant outboard motors.

28mm

28mm

Exposure: F16, 1/30 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

Position sagebrush in the foreground to
add depth to your image.

39mm

39mm

Exposure: F16, 1/30 sec, 100 ISO, Manual

A towering red-rock sand cliff can serve as a welcome photographic
subject amid the flat desert landscape. This is one of the few
locations where bright midday sun is ideal for shooting. Shoot at a low
ISO and with a polarizing filter to achieve the best tonal quality and
noise levels.

Desert Scenes

13

28-300mm with VC

What's Di ?

What's VC?

Vibration Compensation-Blurr-Stopping Power

AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3

Model A20

Specifications

Model
Focal Length
Maximum Aperture
Angle of View

Horizontal: 65˚28'-6˚52' (45˚0'-4˚26')
Vertical: 46˚15'- 4˚21' (30˚34'-2˚35')

Lens Construction
Minimum Focus Distance
Max.Mag.Ratio
Overall Length
Maximum Diameter
Filter Size
Weight
Diaphragm Blades
Minimum Aperture
Standard Accessory
Compatible Mount

*Values given are for Nikon cameras.
The images in this leaflet are taken with prototype model.
The cosmetic design and specs are subject to change without notice.

AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC – Different Angles of View

Taken with a full-size camera

A20 for Canon
28-300mm
F/3.5-6.3
Diagonal: 75˚23'-8˚15' (52˚58'-5˚20')

( )=

the figures when used on APS-C sized digital camera

18 elements 13 groups

0.49m (19.3”)
1:3 (at f=300mm, MFD:0.49m)
99mm (3.9")*
ø78.1mm (3.1")

ø67mm

555g (19.6oz.)*
9
F/22~F/40 (28mm~300mm)
Flower-shaped hood
Canon, Nikon

XR Di VC

C

When 28-300mm Di VC (model A20) for Canon is used in combination

*

with the following cameras, the Vibration Compens ation Mechanism will
not function properly:

Digital SLR: EOS-1Ds (Mark I I and Mark III ARE compatible)
Film SLR: EOS- Rebel T2 (300X, Kiss7), Rebel K2 (3000V, KissLite)

When 28-300mm Di VC (model A20) for Canon is used in combination

*

with some of the EOS Series (film camera), the VC function may not work
100QD, 10QD, 850, 750QD, 650, 620, 630 (630QD, 600)

AF motor is built in for NII models. Aperture ring is not equipped.

*

LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO

.

New Standard of Lenses
for Digital Cameras

Di (Digitally Integrated Design) is a designation Tamron
puts on lenses featuring optical systems designed to meet
the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras
as well as film cameras.

What's XR?

By reducing the total length of the
optical configuration, we succeeded
in developing optics that allow for a
smaller lens diameter while maintaining the same aperture
values as previous lenses for overall compactness. Optical
power distribution was enhanced in a compact package
through the innovative use of XR (Extra Refractive Index)
glass, resulting in minimum aberration.

Achieving the same aperture value with a smaller size

With a short barrel, it is possible to obtain the same visibility
(aperture value) as with a long barrel. By using this principle,
we were able to shorten the optic system length for a more
compact overall lens design while maintaining aperture values.

long barrel
(optics)

barrel (rear view) barrel (side view)

Vibration Compensation
Mechanism

Camera vibration, or camera shake, is the term used to
describe the reason a photo comes out blurry when the
photographer moves just as he or she presses the shutter
release button. The resulting image usually looks fuzzy or
out of focus. Camera vibration is the primary cause of
poor image quality in hand-held photography.
Thanks to the proprietary actuator and algorithms Tamron
has built into this lens, the viewfinder always gives you
smooth, steady images. The reliable viewfinder image
ensures that you, the photographer, will not be distracted
from your most important task — using your camera for
maximum creative effect.
Tamron's proprietary Vibration Compensation mechanism
uses a three-coil system. Three driving coils move the VC
lens electromagnetically, based on signals originating
from the movement of three steel balls. The lens element
that compensates for vibration is held in place only by the
steel balls, so there is little friction and the movement is
quite smooth. With the element movable in a plane
parallel to the image via electronic control alone, a simple
mechanical design is realized. This ensures that the size
of the lens itself is remarkably compact.

Gyro sensor
for detecting
pitching

VC
microcomputer

Control
circuit
board

VC actuator

Magnet and yoke

Gyro sensor
for detecting yawing

Steel balls

28mm 50mm 100mm 200mm 300mm

Taken with an APS-C size digital camera

28mm

(

Equivalent to 43mm

)

(

Equivalent to 78mm

50mm

)

100mm

(

Equivalent to 155mm

200mm

)

(

Equivalent to 310mm

)

300mm

(

Equivalent to 465mm

short barrel
(optics)

VC Lens
(Compensation
Optical System)

Driving coil
and position detection sensor

Advanced optical designs include XR,
LD, AD and Aspherical glass

XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass is effective in reducing the optical
length of the lens through high refractivity. LD (Low Dispersion)
and AD (Anomalous Dispersion) glasses minimize loss of
sharpness caused by color blurring at the tele end of the focal
range, while ensuring vivid, quality imaging. The Aspherical lens
technology compensates for spherical aberration to achieve

)

outstanding image quality. At the same time, reducing the number
of elements results in a more compact, lightweight lens package.

1514

Shooting at 28mm allows you to capture the beauty of your entire
surroundings, from the pristine lake at the foot of the mountains
to the craggy peaks.

http:// www.tamron.co.jp/en

Exposure:F9,1/10sec,200ISO,28mm,Manual

PBS-EG-411-U-0801-0300