Tamron
Tamron is a Japanese optical company founded in 1950 as Taisei Kogaku
Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Interchangeable Lens Mounts
- 3 Lenses
- 4 References
- 5 Links
History
Auto Tamron 1:5.6 f=300mm image by John-Henry Collinson (Image rights) |
Tamron is a Japanese optical company. It was founded in 1950 by Takeyuki Arai as Taisei Kōgaku Kiki Seisakusho (泰成光学機器製作所) by Arai Takeyuki (新井健之), and was incorporated as Taisei Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K. (泰成光学工業㈱) in 1952.[1] The company was initially based in Urawa (浦和市) (today part of Saitama City), but it moved to a new plant in Hasunuma, Ōmiya (大宮市蓮沼) (today also part of Saitama City).[1] Early products were usually marked Taisei Kogaku / Taisei Optical.
The main optical designer was Tamura Uhyōe (田村右兵衛), from whose name was derived the Tamron brand, registered in 1957. Many Tamron lenses were made with the T-mount, a universal thread for mount adapters first presented by Tasei. In 1962 a 42×0.75mm screw thread (still in use) replaced the original 37×0.75mm T-mount. It was only in 1970 that the company took the name K.K. Tamron (㈱タムロン).[2]
Acquisition of Bronica
Tamron took shares of the Bronica company in 1995 and fully absorbed it in 1998.[3] The last Bronica products were discontinued in 2005.
Tamron is still active as a lens maker into the 2020s, supporting DSLR and mirrorless bodies with autofocus 3rd-party lenses.
Interchangeable Lens Mounts
The company started making cameara lenses in 1957; and with their first lens, a 135mm f/4.5 (model #280), they introduced the T mount. According to the company, the "T" stands for Taisei.[4] It is often erroneously thought that the "T" stands for Tamron, but Taisei did not change their name to Tamron until many years after the mount was introduced. The T mount is a 42mmx0.75 thread screw mount. According to Tamron, the mount adapter was later modified by another company into the modern T-2 mount adapter, but the threading itself remained the same. A T-2 mount adapter consists of two concentric rings. The inner ring of a T-2 mount can be loosened and rotated so that the lens markings are correctly aligned and visible from the top of camera. The T-2 mount was adopted by many other companies and is still in use today, e.g. for use with telescopes, microscopes, and mirror lenses (which lack any iris mechanism requiring a stopdown linkage).
Tamron is often erroneously credited with the T-4 and TX interchangeable mounts used by companies like Vivitar and Soligor; but Tamron history researchers deny any connection to them, even implying that there may have been patent infringement lawsuits brought by Tamron.[5]. In fact, the evidence points to Tokina as the inventor of the T-4 and TX mounting systems.
The T mount does not provide automatic diaphragm control, and was superseded in 1966 by the Taisei Adapt-A-Matic system, allowing automatic stopdown with various SLR cameras. Taisei filed two patents on the 1966 Adapt-A-Matic system that are important in the history of interchangeable lens mounts.[6][7]
The Adapt-A-Matic system was subsequently replaced by the Tamron Adaptall system in 1976, including open-aperture meter coupling.[8] Then in 1979, the company introduced the Tamron Adaptall-2 system, an evolution of Adaptall, and released the first SP (Super Performance) lenses. [9] Adaptall-2-labeled mounts and lenses are required to support more advanced metering modes; but plain Adaptall mounts for certain simpler lens standards remain compatible within their limitations. Today Adaptall-2 models are among the most commonly-encountered manual focus Tamron lenses, and are still of some interest (particularly for users of less-popular niche lens mounts).
AF mounts
Tamron didn't continue creating interchangeable lens mounts to support system cameras with autofocus. Instead it delivers its autofocus lens types in different versions for the most common camera makers' original AF lens mounts. With certain lens models it has had notable success, for example with its 18-300mm zoom lens for digital camera systems with APS-C sized sensor.
Lens model numbers are followed by a suffix depending on the DSLR camera mount: Nikon (N), Canon (E), Sony (S), Pentax (P). Lenses with a built-in motor also receive the II suffix.
As of 2021 Tamron only supports Nikon, Canon, and Sony SLR mounts, and has expanded its range to mirrorless cameras Micro 4/3, Fuji, Canon, Nikon and Sony.
Lenses
Taisei Kogaku
Tamron Twin-Tele 1:2.8 135mm Lens image by Hans Kerensky (Image rights) |
- Taisei Kogaku 135mm f/2.8 T mount, (ex sn: 376193 )
- Taisei Kogaku Vernon Edonar Auto 28mm f/2.8 (ex sn: 651471)
- Taisei Kogaku Vernon Edonar Auto 135mm f/2.8, silver barrel (ex sn: 665723), dist by Vernon Photographic Corp
- Taisei Kogaku Vernon Edonar Auto 300mm f/5.6 dist by Vernon Photographic Corp
Tamron T and Fixed Mount Pre-1970
Lens | Model | Introduction |
---|---|---|
35mm F/2.8 T mount | 460 | 1961 |
58mm F/1.2 T mount | 380 | 1960 |
135mm F/2.8 T mount | 680 | 1962 |
135mm F/2.8 fixed mount | 680AR | 1962 |
135mm F/4.5 T mount | 280 | 1958 |
135mm F/3.5 T mount | 860 | 1963 |
180mm F/3.5 T mount | JH-35 | 1963 |
200mm F/2.8 T mount | 360 | 1960 |
200mm F/3.5 T mount | 870 | 1963 |
200mm F/5.9 T mount | F0-59 | 1963 |
200mm F/6.3 T mount | F0-63 | 1963 |
250mm F/4.5 T mount | FG-45 | 1963 |
300mm F/5.6 T mount | 670 | 1962 |
300mm F/6.9 T mount | S0-69 | 1963 |
350mm F/5.6 T mount | 750 | 1963 |
400mm F/5.6 T mount | 340 | 1960 |
400mm F/6.9 T mount | F0-69 | 1963 |
400mm F/6.9 T mount | ? | 1963 |
400mm F/7.5 T mount | 490 | 1961 |
400mm F/8 T mount | Y0-8 | 1965 |
450mm F/8 T mount | 880 | 1963 |
55-90mm F/4 T mount | PZ-50 | 1964 |
80-250mm F/3.8 fixed mount | PZ-20 | 1967 |
95-205mm F/5.6 T mount | PZ-60P | 1965 |
95-205mm F/6.3 T mount | 910P | 1961 |
95-250mm F/5.6 T mount | PZ-10II | 1965 |
200-400mm F/6.3 T mount | PZ-70 | 1965 |
Tamron Adapt-A-Matic Lenses
21mm Adapt-A-Matic in 1968 scanned by Voxphoto (Image rights) |
Lens | Model | Production |
---|---|---|
21mm F/4.5 | PFJ-45Au | 1970–1973 |
24mm F/3.5 | PFY-35Au | 1971–1973 |
28mm F/2.8 | PFH-28Au | 1969–1973 |
35mm F/2.8 | PSG-28Au | 1969–1973 |
105mm F/2.5 | JOG-25Au | 1972–1973 |
135mm F/2.8 | JSG-28Au | 1972–1973 |
200mm F/3.5 | 870Au | 1971–1973 |
200mm F/4.5 | F0-45Au | 1972–1973 |
300mm F/5.6 | 670Au | 1972–1973 |
70-220mm F/4 | PZ-30Au | 1969–1973 |
80-250mm F/3.8 | PZ-20Au | 1972–1973 |
85-205mm F/3.5 | PZ-60Au | 1972–1973 |
200-500mm F/6.9 | PZ-150Au | 1969–1973 |
Tamron Adaptall Lenses
Lens | Model | Introduction |
---|---|---|
24mm F/2.5 Adaptall | CW-24 | 1976 |
28mm F/2.8 Adaptall | CW-28 | 1976 |
105mm F/2.5 Adaptall | CT-105 | 1976 |
135mm F/2.8 Adaptall | CT-135 | 1976 |
200mm F/3.5 Adaptall | CT-200 | 1976 |
300mm F/5.6 Adaptall | CT-300 | 1976 |
35-80mm F/2.8-3.5 Adaptall | QZ-35M | 1978 |
38-100mm F/3.5 Adaptall | SZ-38 | 1973 |
38-100mm F/3.5 Adaptall | CZ-38M | 1976 |
70-150mm F/3.8 Adaptall | CZ-715 | 1976 |
70-150mm F/3.5 Adaptall | CZ-150 | 1976 |
70-150mm F/3.5 Adaptall | QZ-150M | 1978 |
70-220mm F/3.8 Adaptall | Z-220 | 1973 |
70-350mm F/4.5 Adaptall | CZ-735 | 1976 |
80-250mm F/3.8 Adaptall | Z-250 | 1973 |
80-250mm F/3.8-4.5 Adaptall | CZ-825 | 1976 |
80-250mm F/3.8-4.5 Adaptall | QZ-250M | 1978 |
85-210mm F/4.5 Adaptall | Z-210 | 1973 |
85-210mm F/4.5 Adaptall | CZ-210M | 1976 |
85-210mm F/4.5 Adaptall | QZ-210M | 1978 |
200-500mm F/6.9 Adaptall | Z-500 | 1974 |
200-500mm F/6.9 Adaptall | CZ-500 | 1976 |
Tamron Adaptall-2 Lenses
Lens | Model | Production |
---|---|---|
24mm F/2.5 | 01B | 1979–1987 |
28mm F/2.5 | 02B | 1979–1992 |
135mm F/2.5 | 03B | 1979–1984 |
200mm F/3.5 | 04B | 1979–1984 |
28-50mm F/3.5-4.5 | 07A | 1980–1982 |
28-70 F/3.5-4.5 | 44A | 1986–1988 |
35-70mm F/3.5-4.5 | 09A | 1980–1983 |
35-70mm F/3.5 | 17A | 1982–1987 |
35-135mm F/3.5-4.2 | 22A | 1982–1985 |
35-135mm F/3.5-4.5 | 40A | 1985–1996 |
70-150mm F/3.5 | 02A | 1979–1980 |
70-150mm F/3.5 | 20A | 1980–1984 |
70-210mm F/3.8-4 | 46A | 1986–1988 |
75-250mm F/3.8-4.5 | 04A | 1979–1982 |
75-250mm F/3.8-4.5 | 104A | 1981–1984 |
70-350mm F/4.5 | 05A | 1979–1984 |
80-210mm F/3.8-4 | 03A | 1979–1982 |
80-210mm F/3.8-4 | 103A | 1981–1987 |
200-500mm F/6.9 | 06A | 1979–1984 |
Tamron SP Adaptall-2 Lenses
Lens | Model | Production |
---|---|---|
SP 17mm F/3.5 | 51B | 1979–1984 |
SP 90mm F/2.5 | 52B | 1979–1988 |
SP 180mm F/2.5 LD-IF | 63B | 1988–1992 |
SP 300mm F/2.8 LD | 107B | 1983–1984 |
SP 300mm F/2.8 LD-IF | 60B | 1984–1992 |
SP 300mm F/2.8 LD-IF | 360B | 1993–2006 |
SP 300mm F/5.6 | 54B | 1979–1984 |
SP 350mm F/5.6 | 06B | 1981–1985 |
SP 400mm F/4 LD-IF | 65B | 1988–1995 |
SP 500mm F/8 | 55B | 1979–1983 |
SP 500mm F/8 | 55BB | 1983–2006 |
SP 24-48mm F/3.5-3.8 | 13A | 1980–1987 |
SP 28-80mm F/3.5-4.2 | 27A | 1983–1987 |
SP 28-135mm F/4-4.5 | 28A | 1983–1988 |
SP 35-80mm F/2.8-3.8 | 01A | 1979–1985 |
SP 35-210mm F/3.5-4.2 | 26A | 1983–1987 |
SP 60-300mm F/3.8-5.4 | 23A | 1983–2000 |
SP 70-150mm F/2.8 SOFT | 51A | 1979–1983 |
SP 70-210mm F/3.5-4 | 52A | 1979–1984 |
SP 70-210mm F/3.5 | 19AH | 1984–1999 |
SP 80-200mm F/2.8 | 30A | 1985–1992 |
SP 200-500mm F/5.6 | 31A | 1984–1992 |
SP 1.4X Tele-Converter | 140F | 1984–1994 |
SP 2X Tele-Converter | 01F | 1979–1999 |
SP 2X Tele-Converter | 200F | 1984–1985 |
==AF lenses== [10]
AF Lenses for Film/Full frame Cameras
Single Focal Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
SP AF 90mm F/2.5 | 52E | 1992 |
SP AF 300mm F/2.8 LD-IF | 60E | 1994 |
SP AF 90mm F/2.5 | 152E | 1996 |
SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Macro 1:1 | 72E | 1999 |
SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Macro 1:1 | 172E | 2003 |
SP AF 300mm F/2.8 LD [IF] | 360E | 2005 |
SP AF 300mm F/2.8 LD [IF] | 360EE | 2005 |
SP AF 14mm F/2.8 Aspherical [IF] | 69E | 2007
|
Wide angle - Standard zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
AF 35-135mm F/3.5-4.5 Minolta-AF | 40D | 1988 |
AF 35-90mm F/4-5.6 | 63D | 1994 |
SP AF 35-105mm F/2.8 Aspherical | 65D | 1994 |
AF 28-70mm F/3.5-4.5 | 159D | 1994 |
AF 28-70mm F/3.5-4.5 | 259D | 1995 |
AF 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6 | 77D | 1998 |
AF 28-105mm F/4-5.6 | 79D | 1998 |
AF 24-70mm F/3.3-5.6 Aspherical | 73D | 1999 |
SP AF 20-40mm F/2.7-3.5 Aspherical-IF | 166D | 1999 |
SP AF 28-105mm F/2.8 LD Aspherical-IF | 176D | 2000 |
SP AF 28-105mm F/2.8 LD Aspherical-IF | 276D | 2003 |
SP AF 20-40mm F/2.7-3.5 Aspherical-IF | 266D | 2005 |
AF 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6 Aspherical | 277D | 2005 |
AF 19-35mm F/3.5-4.5 | A10 | 2005 |
AF 28-105mm F/4-5.6 Aspherical [IF] | 179D | 2006 |
SP AF 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | 190D | 2007 |
AF 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6 Aspherical | 177D | 2010
|
All-in-one Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 Aspherical | 71D | 1996 |
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6LD Super | 171D | 1998 |
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical-IF Super Silver | 271D | 2002 |
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical [IF] Super | 571D | 2002 |
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical [IF] Super II MACRO | 371D | 2002 |
AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | 185D | 2002 |
AF 28-300mm F/3.8-6.3 LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO Silver | 285D | 2002 |
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 LD Aspherical [IF] Super II MACRO Silver | 471D | 2002 |
AF 28-300mm Ultra Zoom XR F/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A06 | 2004 |
AF 28-200mm Super XR F/3.8-5.6 Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A03 | 2004
|
Telephoto - Ultra-telephoto Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
AF 70-210mm F/3.5-4.5 Minolta-AF | 53D | 1989 |
AF 90-300mm F/4.5-5.6 | 62D | 1994 |
AF 70-210mm F/4-5.6 | 158D | 1994 |
AF 70-210mm F/4-5.6 | 258D | 1995 |
AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 | 172D | 1996 |
AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6LD | 372D | 1998 |
AF 80-210mm F/4.5-5.6 | 178D | 1998 |
AF 100-300mm F/5-6.3 | 86D | 1998 |
AF 200-400mm F/5.6 LD-IF | 75D | 2000 |
AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD | 472D | 2001 |
SP AF 70-210mm F/2.8 LD | 67D | 2001 |
AF 100-300mm F/5-6.3 | 186D | 2001 |
AF 200-400mm F/5.6 LD -IF | 175D | 2003 |
AF 80-210mm F/4.5-5.6 | 278D | 2005 |
AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD MACRO 1:2 Silver | 772D | 2005 |
AF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 LD Silver | 872D | 2005 |
AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD MACRO 1:2 | 572D | 2007 |
AF 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 Tele-Macro (1:2) Di |
Di / Di II / Di III Lenses for APS-C
Camera Mounts: Nikon (N), Canon (E), Sony (S), Pentax (P). Suffix II means that the lens has its own focusing motor.
Single Focal Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 | 272 | 2020 |
SP 35mm F/1.8 Di USD | F012 | 2020 |
SP 45mm F/1.8 Di USD | F013 | 2019 |
SP AF 180mmF/3.5 Di LD [IF] MACRO 1:1 | B01 | 2016 |
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 USD | F004S | 2016 |
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD | F004E/N | 2016 |
SP 85mm F/1.8 Di USD | F016S | 2017 |
SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD | F016E/N | 2020 |
SP AF 60mm F/2 Di II LD [IF] MACRO 1:1 | G005E | 2018 |
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 USD | F017S | 2018 |
SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD | F017E/N | 2020 |
TELE CONVERTER 2.0x | TCX-20E/N | 2021 |
Ultra Wide-angle Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
SP AF 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical [IF] | A05E | 2008 |
SP AF 11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Aspherical [IF] | A13E | 2009 |
SP AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II | B001 | 2019 |
SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD | A012N | 2018 |
SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di USD | A012S | 2018 |
17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD | A037E/N | 2020 |
10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD | B023E/N | 2020 |
Standard Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] | A16E/N/P/II | 2020 |
SP AF 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A09E/N/P/II | 2020 |
SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di USD | A007S | 2017 |
SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD | A007E/N | 2017 |
SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] | B005E/N | 2020 |
All-in-one Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A14E/N II/S/P | 2016 |
AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A18E/N II/S/P | 2010 |
AF 28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 XR Di Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A031E/N/S/P | 2010 |
AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A061N | 2010 |
A061E/S/P | 2014 | |
AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | B003E/N | 2011 |
AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO | A20E/N | 2013 |
18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD | B008S | 2017/ |
18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (With gold ring) | B008E/N | 2017 |
28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di PZD | A010S | 2018 |
18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II | B018S | 2018 |
16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD MACRO | B016S | 2018 |
18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC | B011EM/SE
Silver or black |
2020 |
14-150mm F/3.5-5.8 Di III | C001 Silver | 2018 |
28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD | A010E | 2020 |
18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (With tungsten silver ring) | B008TSE | 2020 |
16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di Ⅱ VC PZD MACRO | B016E | 2021 |
Portrait Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
35-150mm F/2.8-4 Di VC OSD | A043E | 2020
|
Telephoto Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 XR Di LD MACRO | A17N/S/P/E/NII | 2020 |
AF 55-200mm F/4-5.6 Di II | A15N/E/S | 2013 |
SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD | A009E/N/S | 2017 |
70-210mm F/4 Di VC USD | A034E/N | 2019/ |
SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di USD | A005S | 2018 |
SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD | A005E/N | 2020 |
SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD | A030E/N | 2020 |
SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD [IF] MACRO | A001P/S/E/N | 2019
|
Ultra-telephoto Zoom Lenses
Lens | Model | End of production |
---|---|---|
SP AF 200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di LD [IF] | A08E/N/S | 2014 |
SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD | A011S | 2018/ |
SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD | A011E/N | 2020 |
SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD G2 | A022S | 2019 |
Gallery
Lens | Model | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Tamron SP 10-24mm 1:3.5-4.5 Di II |
| |||
Tamron SP aspherical AD (IF) 24-135mm 1:3.5-5.6 Macro |
| |||
Tamron AF 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 AL |
| |||
Tamron SP Di AF 90mm 1:2.8 Macro 1:1 | 272E |
|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 See this official history page (1950s).
- ↑ See these official history pages: 1950s and 1970s.
- ↑ See this official history page (1990s).
- ↑ History of Tamron
- ↑ History of Tamron, 1960 to 1969
- ↑ U.S. Patent 3,500,735
- ↑ U.S. Patent 3,657,988
- ↑ Tamron History, 1960-1969, 1970-1979
- ↑ Date of the Adaptall-2: Tamron history at Adaptall-2.com. Date of the SP lenses: this official history page (1970s). Adapt-A-Matic lenses did offer a hacky form of open-aperture metering for Minolta MC mount.
- ↑ Tamron official list of discontinued lenses
Links
In English:
- History page of the official website (also in Japanese)
- Adaptall-2.com, a comprehensive website about Tamron manual-focus lenses, including a Tamron history page
- List of legacy lenses and current line up at Tamron official website
In Japanese:
- Tamron museum (archived) of the official website
- Iida Tetsu no renzu-tan (vol.6) (archived)