LEAKED image of the new Tamron 90mm F2.8 Di III VXD 1:1 MACRO Z lens to be announced on September 26

On September 26 at 6am London time Tamron will launch their next new Full Frame lens. It’s the 90mm F2.8 Di III VXD 1:1 MACRO.

Press text:

TAMRON 90mm F2.8 Di III VXD 1:1 MACRO for SONY E-MOUNT & NIKON Z MOUNT (Model F072)
TAMRON’s Legendary 90mm Macro is Reborn for Mirrorless

TAMRON’s new 90mm F2.8 MACRO for full-frame mirrorless offers unparalleled sharpness from center to edge and a velvety bokeh effect. TAMRON introduces its first 12-blade circular aperture, ensuring perfectly circular bokeh and minimal vignetting especially in the macro range. The 12-blade design creates 12 rays for stunning starburst effects when stopped down, making it ideal for dramatic images with point light sources. This compact mid-telephoto macro is just 126.5mm (5″) long and weighs 630g (22.2oz.), has a maximum diameter of 079.2mm. It fits comfortably in the palm making it easy to hold for long periods of time. The lens is equipped with a focus limiter switch that can restrict the AF focus range, enabling faster focusing during AF shooting. This feature also helps prevent the lens from searching focus in full range when losing focus during close-range AF photography. The rotational torque of the focus ring has been carefully calibrated to assist with precise Manual Focus operation. SonyAlphaRumors
This moderate torque makes fine-tuning the focus more exact and ensures that the results are accurate. The new hood design with a sliding window for easy filter use lets photographers rotate filters without removing the hood. The 90mm F2.8 MACRO is compatible with the dedicated TAMRON Lens Utility software. It lets users change lens settings, assign camera functions and update firmware when necessary. In addition, the mobile version is especially useful for macro photography where a tripod is often used. Users may customize functions for various still photography and videography shooting styles. This lens excels in macro, landscape, and portrait photography, offering unique photographic expressions across genres.

Key Features

  • High optical performance and image reproduction
  • Outstanding Flat-Field performance
  • TAMRON’s first 12-blade circular aperture for stunning circular bokeh and starburst effects
  • Compact size, just 126.5mm (5″) long and 630g (22.2 oz.)
  • New hood design with sliding window for easy filter rotationSAR
  • High-speed and high-precision VXD AF with superb subject tracking performance
  • Precise torque for comfortable MF operation
  • Focus limit switch to prevent loss of AF during close-up shots
  • Proprietary software tool TAMRON Lens Utility for lens function customization and firmware updates
  • Focus Set Button for assigning camera function and TAMRON Lens Utility function -Moisture-Resistant Construction and BBAR-G2 and Fluorine Coating
  • Ø67mm filter size, same as most other TAMRON lenses for mirrorless cameras

Specifications of the 90mm Di Ill

  • Maximum Aperture F2.8
  • Minimum Aperture F16
  • Diagonal Angle of View 27° 2′ (for full-frame mirrorless format)
  • Lens Construction 15 elements, 12 groups (4 LD lens elements)
  • Filter Diameter 67mm
  • Minimum Focus Distance 0.23m/9.1″
  • Max. Mag. Ratio 1:1
  • Maximum Diameter 079.2mm
  • Length* 126.5mm/5′
  • Weight* 630g/22.2oz.
  • Diaphragm Blades 12 (circular diaphragm)
  • Standard Accessory Round-shaped hood with filter effect control window and caps
  • Compatible Mount Sony E & Nikon Z mount

*Length and weight are for Sony E-Mount

Compared with the Sony the Tamron can focus 5cm closer (23cm vs 28cm), has 12 blades instead of 9. I suspect price will be lower too.

Thanks to the source for sending me this!

Image of all new 7Artisans Z-mount autofocus lenses

A reader (Thanks!) sent me this image from the IBC show in Amsterdam. It’s a posted displaying all six 7Artisans autofocus Z-mount lenses. The new lenses on top of the existing 50 and 85mm primes are:

AF 35mm F2.8
AF 40mm F2.8
AF 24mm F1.8
AF 35mm F1.8

Confirmed: Chinese manufacturer (probably Viltrox) will soon launch three Z-mount zoom lenses!

A reliable leaker on Weibo wrote this:

Chinese zoom autofocus lenses are under development. Mr. Ma has confirmed through news channels that two domestic brands are currently developing new zoom AF lenses. One of them has approved two full-frame zoom AF lenses and at least one APS-C frame zoom AF lens, and the first launch of the bayonet mount is E and Z.

In addition, the news of domestic F1.4 full-frame large aperture AF lens has been confirmed. If everything goes well, it is expected that one or two F1.4 large aperture AF lenses will be launched in 2024, ensuring one and striving for two, with commonly used focal lengths, and the first launch of the bayonet mount is E and Z.

Companies like Viltrox and 7Artisans already offer autofocus prime lenses. Making zoom lenses is much harder because the autofocus algorithm gets much more complicated. Now it seems like Chinese manufacturers tackled the issue and we are getting three Z-mount zoom lenses this year already!

My bet is that Viltrox will be the first Chinese company launching an AF zoom lens in 2025.