SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di LD IF (Model A08) Thank you for purchasing the Tamron lens as the latest addition to your photographic equipment.Before using your new lens,please read the contents of this Owners Manual thoroughly to familiarize yourself with your lens and the proper techniques for creating the highest quality images possible.With proper handling and care, your Tamron lens will give you many years of photographing beautiful and exciting pictures. NOMENCLATURE 1-1.Hood attaching alignment mark (on lens) 1-2.Hood attaching alignment mark (on FEC) 1-3.Hood attaching alignment mark (on hood) 2.Hood attachment mark 3.Lens hood 4.Hood filter ring 5.Zoom ring 6.Zoom lock switch 7.Zoom index mark 8.Focusing ring 9.Distance scale 10. Aperture index (Nikon) 11.Tripod mount horizontal and vertical position mark 12.Tripod mount ring 13.Tripod mount mark 14.Distance index 15.Tripod socket fixing screw 16.Tripod socket 17.FEC attaching ring 18.FEC ring 19.Filter Effect Control (FEC) adapter 20.Aperture ring (Nikon) 21.Aperture scale (Nikon) 22.Minimum aperture lock button (Nikon) 23.Distance index 24.Aperture scale for finder display 25.Lens mount / Lens mount contacts 26.Lens attachment mark (Canon,Minolta) 27.Aperture mark for long focal lengths (Nikon) 28.AF-MF switch (Canon) FOCAL LENGTH 200 500 mm MAXIMUM APERTUREF/5-6.3 ANGLE OF VIEW12 - 5 deg. LENS CONSTRUCTION (GROUPS / ELEMENTS)10/13 MINIMUM FOCUS DISTANCE 2.5 m (8.20ft) (Full zoom range) MAXIMUM MAGNIFICATION RATIO1:5.0 (at 500mm) FILTER SIZE86 mm LENGTH 224.5 mm (Except for the FEC adapter) DIAMETER93.5 mm WEIGHT 1226 g (Except for the FEC adapter) SPECIFICATIONS ATTACHING AND REMOVING THE LENS *How to mount the lens Remove the rear lens cap and align the lens attachment mark on the lens barrel with its counterpart on the camera mount and insert lens.Rotate the lens clock- wise until it click-locks.For Nikon model,align the lens attachment mark on the camera and the aperture index on the lens to attach the lens. *How to detach the lens Pressing the lens release button on the camera down,turn the lens counter- clockwise (in case of Nikon lens,clockwise),and lift the lens off the cameras lens mount. FOCUSING (AUTOFOCUS) Switch the camera to the autofocus mode (AF).Press the shutter button lightly while viewing through the cameras viewfinder,the lens focuses automatically. An in-focus mark will light when lens focuses on the main subject sharply.Press the shutter button further to photograph. *When set on AF mode,be very careful not to hinder the autofocusing move- ments of the lens.Such interference may cause serious damage to the lens mechanism. *Select between the autofocus and manual focus modes by using the AF/MF switch on the camera body when using a Nikon or Minolta lens.The lens for Canon camera has an AF-MF switch on the lens barrel. FOCUSING (MANUAL FOCUS) Switch the camera to manual focusing mode (MF) in case of a Nikon or Minolta. In case of Canon,switch to MF by using AF-MF switch on the lens barrel.Focus by manually rotating the focusing ring while viewing through the cameras viewfinder.The main subject in the viewfinder will be sharp when the lens is focused correctly. * Press the shutter button lightly while operating the lens for focusing.The focus aid mark in the viewfinder will light up when the subject is in critical focus. * At infinity,make sure the image in the viewfinder appears sharp.The infinity position on the lens is made with certain allowances to insure proper focus under a variety of conditions. LENS APERTURE AND AE MODE * Setting lens f-numbers with Canon and Minolta cameras Set the f-number with the aperture setting device of the camera body in accor- dance with the selected photographing mode. * Setting lens f-numbers with Nikon Depending on the photography mode,it is possible to set the aperture on either the lens aperture ring or on the camera body,or both. * Setting aperture on the lens aperture ring Move the lens aperture ring from the smallest aperture,and align it with the mark for the desired aperture. * Setting the aperture on the camera Move the lens aperture ring from the smallest aperture,and set the desired aperture on the camera. FILTER EFFECT CONTROL (FEC) ADAPTER The FEC adapter has been made standard equipment for the A08 and allows a filter to rotate while the hood is attached.By rotating the FEC ring,the filter attached,such as a PL filter,can be adjusted. * The FEC adapter can be attached using the filter screw on the lens.Please note that forcing the screw or tightening too far may strip the threads making it impossible to remove the adapter. * Firmly tighten the FEC adapter when attaching it.If it is not firmly tightened, then it may come off when attaching or removing the hood. *Attaching and Removing the FEC Adapter Attaching 1.Screw the FEC adapter to the hood filter ring in the same way as the filter 2.Rotate the FEC adapter clockwise 3.The FEC adapter attaches to the lens. Re