Tamron Unveils the World’s First 18-400mm Lens

Tamron has announced the 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD, which it is calling “the world’s first ultra-telephoto all-in-one zoom lens” with an extremely flexible zoom ratio of 22.2x.

The new lens, available for Canon and Nikon APS-C cameras and with an equivalent focal length range of 28-600mm, is packed in to a surprisingly light and compact body at 4.8in (122mm) long and weighing just 24.9oz (706g). This could be an excellent option for travel and everyday shooting due to the portability and coverage.

In order to achieve such a big zoom ratio, Tamron developed a new moisture-resistant lens barrel design which utilizes three-step extensions. The company claims that compared to the conventional approach, the larger number of cams “ensures comfortable operation and stability while zooming”.

The AF drive system in the 18-400 uses Tamron’s compact HLD (High/Low torque modulated Drive) motor, which provides ‘accurate and quiet’ focusing. The lens also has Tamron’s proprietary Vibration Compensation system, which reduces camera shake by up to 2.5 stops, as well as Zoom Lock to prevent zoom creep.

The lens is truly multi-purpose; from portrait to telephoto to macro. It boasts a minimum focusing distance of 17.7in (0.45cm) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.9. Here’s what the field of view looks like at 18mm, 50mm, 100mm, 200mm, and 400mm:

Here are some official sample photos captured with the lens by photographer Billon Lim:

The new Tamron 18-400mm will be available in the U.S. by the end of July, and will be priced at $649.