[Steve]

So Tamron has now developed its own version of Canon's IS or Nikon's VR. Coming from the budget manufacturer who optical quality is usually far beyound the cost of the lenses would suggest I wonder how big an inpact this will have on the medium range zooms that are usually out of the price range of most people. Have thay just made IS/VR affordable to the average photographer?

From their press release of the Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD MACRO

1. VC (Vibration Compensation) Mechanism Reduces Hand-shake
The proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism developed by Tamron features a triaxial configuration using three pairs of driving coils and slide balls around the compensator group of the lens' optical system. Since the compensator lenses are supported with rolling friction of the balls, the response performance is enhanced and the construction is simple, which results in the compactness of the lens. The lens incorporate a highly accurate gyro sensor for detecting hand-shake, which, combined with a 32-bit RISC CPU, offers comfortable anti-vibration effects.

What do you think?

[Steve]

Related to this Nikon has launches a dedicated website to explain the Vibration Reduction function build in their VR-Series lenses and other devices.

Nikon Imaging | Nikon VR

Canon also have information available on their version of this technology

Canon Europe - Image Stabilisation

[Sonsey]

I think this is a good step forward for Tamron, depending on how well the technology works of course...

...Now they just need to develop some sort of fast focus motor and start adding both features to the bulk of their range and they could well see themselves moving quickly up the lens sales charts!