Tech Heads, I have a lens question.

[Bonhomme Richard]

I ordered a new zoom lens. It's a Tamron AF70-300MM F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2. The DI is a new version of their standard AF70-300MM F/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2 which they claim has an improved coating on the lens for use with digital cameras. The lens can be used with both digital and film. I am currently using a nikon n80 film camera but in the future I expect to also get a digital, so any lens I buy now I want to be able to use it for film and digital.
My question is.....Is this just marketing hype about using the lens for digital and film (I would have thought that I could use their standard lens for both) or will there be a real difference? The reason I am asking is that the new lens will not be available until June or later and I'm a bit impatient.
Are there lens problems (aberrations) when switching from film to digital?

[F.Gordon]

1. I'm not a tech head

But I swing BI and have noticed no difference from film to digital. Then again.... maybe I'm not paying any attention. Only difference is the change in focal length because my digital is a 1.6 crop.

Oh. Wait. Thinking.... I have no CA show up on "L" lens but I do get it on the "non-L" lens from time to time. This may be what Tamron is talkin' bout. So it might be part marketing and part factual. ("L" lens being better Canon lenses) With the software thingees today the CA is fairly easy to remove so it shouldn't be a concern.

BTW: I think you made an excellent choice with that Tamron. I've seen amazing photographs come out of that. Course'... there's always that little matter of the person behind the lens but I think you'll really be pleased with it.

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. Thanks for the reply.

This is what Tamron has to say about DI

"This new lens is a Di type lens using an optical system with improved multi-coating designed to function with digital SLR cameras as well as film cameras."

I've done some research and read many good reviews of the standard lens. I'm just not sure if it is worth waiting for the DI version.
I shouldn't be so impatient as I have an old Vivitar zoom that I can use manually.

[regnaD kciN]

3. To reiterate what F.Gordon said...

...the main thing you have to be careful for is the crop factor. Since you have a Nikon, you'd be eventually switching to a Nikon DSLR. Everything Nikon makes for the digital market has a crop factor of 1.5, which means that your 70-300 would work out to a 105-450 on a Nikon digital body. If you don't mind losing the wide end of that zoom, go for it!