Control Your Lens Wirelessly with Tamron’s New Phone Dongle
▼ Summary
– Tamron has released a $50 USB-C dongle called Tamron-Link that wirelessly connects compatible lenses to mobile devices and laptops for remote control.
– The dongle works with 16 Tamron lenses that have a USB-C port, offering Bluetooth connectivity with a range of just over 16 feet.
– Its accompanying app enables advanced features like setting focus position markers and timing transitions, useful for automated video focus shifts.
– The app also allows customization of lens functions, such as changing the direction of focus rings and programming lens buttons.
– While not required for basic use, the app facilitates firmware updates and provides precise control for photography and videography without a full crew.
Tamron has introduced a compact USB-C accessory designed to unlock wireless control for its compatible lenses from smartphones, tablets, and laptops. This new gadget, called the Tamron-Link, allows photographers and videographers to customize lens settings and execute remote operations without being physically tethered to their camera. Priced at $50, the dongle is now available and initially works with sixteen of the company’s lenses that feature a USB-C port. While its Bluetooth range is limited to approximately sixteen feet, the device eliminates the need for a connecting cable during a shoot, offering greater freedom of movement.
The core functionality of Tamron lenses remains accessible without this app, but the accompanying software introduces a suite of advanced features particularly valuable for solo operators. For videographers, it enables the creation of sophisticated, repeatable focus pulls. Users can set specific focus position markers and define the exact duration for the lens to travel between them. This allows for automated, dramatic focus shifts, like moving from a person in the foreground to another in the background, without manual intervention during recording. The app also provides the ability to electronically limit the focus range on a lens, a crucial tool for preventing accidental focus on distant background elements when tracking a moving subject.
Beyond these specialized video functions, the app serves as a comprehensive customization hub for lens operation. Photographers can remap the direction of the focus and aperture rings to match their personal preference. The focus ring’s behavior can be toggled between linear and non-linear adjustment modes, providing finer control for precise manual focusing. Additionally, the functionality of any custom buttons on the lens barrel can be reassigned through the software. Even routine maintenance becomes slightly more convenient, as firmware updates can be performed wirelessly via the Bluetooth connection, though the transfer may take marginally longer than a direct USB cable update.
(Source: The Verge)