Tamron is pulling out all the stops for its SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD full-frame DSLR standard prime lens

posted Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 2:00 AM EDT

In celebrating the 40th anniversary of their SP Series Lenses (which stands for "Superior Performance") Tamron is releasing what they call the "ultimate" lens, their new SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD (Model F045) for full-frame DSLR cameras. You may recall that the development of this prime lens was announced in February, but details -- including pricing and release information -- were scarce. As it turns out, the longtime lens maker is pulling out all the stops for their new fast standard prime.

This new lens is designed to deliver "unprecedented high-resolution image quality and beautiful, appealing background bokeh…" and along with its 35mm focal length means it should indeed be well-suited for many different types of photography, including photojournalism, landscapes, sports, street, weddings and more. The lens includes nine aperture blades in its rounded diaphragm, which will hopefully result in smooth, rounded bokeh.

The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD has nine aperture blades as part of its rounded diaphragm, as you can see in the middle image.

In order to deliver detailed images, the lens features 14 elements across 10 groups. Of these elements, there are four Low Dispersion (LD) elements and three Glass Molded Aspherical (GM) elements. Tamron promises that this optical design will reduce chromatic and other optical aberrations "to the greatest extent possible." Further, the lens features a new version of Tamron's Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) coating, dubbed BBAR-G2. This coating is designed to minimize ghosting and flare while maintaining high contrast in your photos.

Here we can see the optical construction of the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 lens and its MTF charts. In total, the lens has 14 elements in 10 groups, including four LD elements and three GM elements.

The lens utilizes Tamron's Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) autofocus drive, which promises fast and quiet autofocus. Like the BBAR coating, the autofocus system features a brand-new innovation. The SP 35mm f/1.4 has a newly-developed Dynamic Rolling-cam mechanism, which minimizes the drive load placed on the focus lens component, which in turn ensures that AF performance remains reliable even when shooting in extreme temperatures. The lens features full-time manual focus override as well, for the times when the photographers wants to make a small adjustment. The minimum focus distance for the 35mm f/1.4 is 11.8 inches (0.3 meters), which results in a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.

Looking at the construction of the lens, it appears to be a durable offering designed for the rigors of professional use. The lens has a new fluorine coating compound, which has higher resistance to water and oil while being easier to wipe clean. The lens itself features a moisture-resistant construction, including weather seals at the lens mount area and additional critical locations. The included lens hood features a locking mechanism as well, which is typically more reliable than screw-on lens hoods.

Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD

The size and weight of the lens varies a bit depending upon which lens mount you purchase (the lens is available in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts). The Canon version is 4.1 inches long (104.8 millimeters) and weighs 28.7 ounces (815 grams) while the Nikon version is slightly shorter and lighter. It is 4 in. long (102.3mm) and weighs 28.4 oz. (805g). Both lenses have a maximum diameter of 3.19 in. (80.9mm). Stylistically, the lens follows other recent Tamron SP lenses, including a sturdy metal mount, built-in focus scale and the use of high-grade materials.

You will be able to get your hands on Tamron's newest SP prime lens starting on June 26. The SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD will launch with a $899 USD suggested retail price, and you can preorder it by clicking the links below.