Tamron has been long recognized as an innovative source for mega-pixel lenses for critical ITS applications, affording them keen insight into industry needs and trends. Trending steadily higher are projections for the worldwide number of installed ITS cameras. Increasing in concert with forecasted camera count is growing demand for substantially higher ITS installation versatility - without compromise in optical performance.

Common ITS installations now suffer from considerable limitation when they combine an FA camera with a fixed-focal length lens. Because fixed focal length lenses offer a single angle of view, changes in the output view can be achieved only by physically changing the camera"s mounting location. Instead, Tamron"s new 1/1.8", 15-50mm, F/1.4 lens with remote zoom and focus delivers remarkable versatility while resolving many installation challenges, and has been designed specifically for this dynamic market.

A compact design enables PTZ dome installations, making the Tamron DE005 3 mega-pixel integrated zoom lens ideal for new systems and an efficient means to seamlessly upgrade existing cameras.

According to Tamron, the new lens has an ideal focal length for traffic surveillance, and is of a rugged and durable construction assureing peak performance over an extended life cycle.  The 15-50mm focal length is suitable for license plate recognition and for identification of vehicles and individuals.  It has been engineered to match with the 1/1.8" sensors common to traffic surveillance system cameras and can accommodates larger imager sizes.

The new lens has been designed to be highly versatile and is compatible with PTZ domes. Even when needing to achieve a 50mm telephoto focal length, a 90mm chassis can still be accommodated.  The lens-to-camera integration simplifies the installation and eliminates back focus adjustment requirements.  In addition, advanced stepping motors enable precise remote control operation and reduce on installation time and costs, particularly as auto focus is enabled.

The optics have been engineered for low light surveillance, with a specialised optical formula that minimizes the narrowing of the aperture at higher zoom ratios.  An aperture of F/1.4 is achievable from 15-35mm and F/1.6 at 50mm.  Image integrity is realised by eliminating colour smear and diminishing chromatic aberration.