How are Tamron’s interchangeable lenses produced in what kinds of places?
   The key aim of this blog series is to take a look at the actual lens manufacturing sites at Tamron’s plant in Foshan, China, and to show and report on exactly what goes into Tamron lenses’ quality, performance and technologies. I would also like to talk about the kinds of procedures needed for creating an interchangeable lens, and the kinds of special, extraordinary skills and knowhow required.
   In this second article in the series, I will start off with rather basic information on interchangeable lenses in general, which I am eager to share with you readers, although this may be my own personal impression at the core.

   I understand that there are three key requirements upon which Tamron places the topmost priority when designing and producing its interchangeable lenses. The following requirements can be referred to as the most essential, basic conditions when creating interchangeable lenses for Tamron.

1．Performance
2．Quality
3．Functions

   “Performance” means that the lens should have excellent depictive quality.
   In a nutshell, this means a lens that gives you great pictures, something that is naturally of utmost importance for a lens. Basic performance as a photographic lens is required here, including high resolving power, well-balanced contrast, abundant gradation reproducibility, and tone colors without unevenness.
   Rapid progress is currently taking place for ever higher pixel densities and image processing technologies for the image sensors of digital cameras, and there is demand for interchangeable lenses that can, in combination with these new era digital cameras, give full play to truly satisfying depictive quality.
 

   Please allow me to digress a little at this point.
   When attempting to assess the depictive performance of a lens, my criteria mainly consist of two evaluation axes, one of which is imaging performance, with the other axis being perceptive performance.
   Imaging performance is associated with MTF characteristics, resolution and contrast, etc. It can be seen in numerical values, which it is quite possible to judge with an objective and theoretical approach. In contrast, perceptive performance involves background blur effects (bokeh), the depictive quality of tones and gradations, and clarity, etc. More likely to be swayed by personal tastes and preferences, this may be a little more aesthetic and subjective in nature as an evaluation axis.
   At the same time, though, perceptive performance is a very important factor that actually determines the unique character of a lens.

   It is my impression of recent tendencies regarding the depictive quality of lenses that there is simply too much emphasis on imaging performance right now, while perceptive performance is made light of in relative terms. Typical of this tendency are lenses that singularly emphasize high-contrast resolving power.
   This is not to say that we should place more importance on perceptive performance than imaging performance. In my view, the ideal lens is one that strikes a perfect balance between these two performance aspects.

   Well, I will get back on track now.
   The next requirement on the list above is “Quality,” which not only includes ease of use, durability and stability, but also the finish of the lens product and the beauty of its external appearance. There were times in the past when “you get what you pay for” was true regarding interchangeable lenses, and you simply had to put up with the performance and quality of the lens because the price was cheap.
   Such lenses are no longer acceptable nowadays. Today’s lenses need to be reasonable and price-competitive, but they also have to provide you with good value for money. Unless each customer is satisfied in this way, a lens product simply will not sell; these days, this seems to be fast becoming the overall trend.

   On the other hand, it is an undeniable fact that ensuring outstanding quality and performance invariably entails a high cost, which is something that just cannot be avoided. If a manufacturer uses extremely expensive parts and spends a long time hand-crafting each component to create a high-priced lens, it is only natural that the lens has superb quality and performance.
   The key challenge therefore lies in how to create a lens with excellent performance and outstanding quality that satisfies the customer, at a cost that is as low as possible. This is a particularly important issue right now, and it is also what Tamron is probably most committed to when developing its lenses.

   As for “Functions” on the list, in addition to functions such as autofocus (AF) and vibration compensation (VC) mechanisms, they can be very wide-ranging for a zoom lens, for example, such as functions ensuring higher magnification ratios, faster apertures (maximum apertures with higher brightness), more compactness and lighter weight. These functions have a lot to do with the ease of use of a lens, and they constitute a significant part of the product along with optical performance.
   In particular, the functions involving electronic technologies, such as AF and VC (one of the areas in which Tamron is particularly strong), will no doubt achieve further evolutions in step with the technical progress of the camera body going forward.
 

   How, then, does Tamron specifically incorporate these three “most essential, basic conditions for an interchangeable lens” into its actual products? What does it pay particular attention to when creating a lens? Let us now take a closer look at this matter.

   Last year, in 2015, Tamron began releasing its SP series models featuring a new concept regarding interchangeable lenses. The lenses in this series provide a glimpse of Tamron’s philosophy (thinking) and commitment (beliefs) regarding interchangeable lenses for a new era.
   In my view, I would like to draw your attention to the following five key characteristics.

① Ensuring excellent levels for both resolution and depictive quality for tones and gradations.
② Built-in vibration compensation mechanism (VC)
③ Minimum Object Distance (MOD)
④ Spectacular background blur effects with a natural feel
⑤ Reduction in flare and ghosting

   These five characteristics are likely to be the main things to pay attention to in Tamron’s latest interchangeable lenses, and in fact, Tamron itself has highlighted these characteristics. A full grasp of each of these characteristics could shed more light on Tamron’s philosophy and commitment.

   At the same time, though, it is my impression that Tamron as a company is not actually very good at “talking,” and that it has a tendency of being a little too modest, reserved, subdued… A low-key approach or corporate culture, if you will, and it has in fact been like this for years, as far as I know.
   All the wonderful performance and technologies developed through a lot of hard work may not be communicated sufficiently to consumers and Tamron customers with this approach; this is how I have always felt about this matter.

   Not bragging in a loud voice and being satisfied as long as its messages are conveyed to people who do understand may be Tamron’s approach, and while this gracious attitude may be praiseworthy in a way, communicating the virtues of Tamron lenses to consumers a little more proactively would not really hurt. This communication would no doubt lead to Tamron customers gaining a stronger impression of the fun of using the lens and the joy of taking pictures.

   So instead of Tamron who is (seems to be) modest and reticent despite possessing so many wonderful qualities, please allow me to continue and provide some explanations of the five characteristics above that attest to Tamron’s philosophy and commitment. Once you fully understand the meaning and context of each of these five characteristics, I am sure that you will marvel once again at that Tamron lens you are using right now and come to love it even more.
   Please look forward to the next blog in the series, as I hope to delve deeper into this topic in more specific ways.