Tamron has announced a new USB-C dongle that wirelessly connects compatible lenses to mobile devices and laptops so they can be customized and controlled remotely. It works with 16 of the company’s lenses to start. The $50 Tamron-Link dongle is available now, and while its Bluetooth range is limited to just over 16-feet, it’s one less cable you’ll need to wrangle during a shoot.
The app isn’t needed to use Tamron’s lenses, but it introduces some advanced functionality that can be useful when shooting video without a full crew of camera operators, or still photography when precise settings adjustments are needed. You can set markers for different focus positions and specify how long it takes the lens to adjust between them, creating an automated and repeatable transition where the focus in a video dramatically shifts from one person to another. You can also electronically limit the focus range on a lens, ensuring that you’re not accidentally focusing on something in the distant background while capturing a moving subject.
The basic functionality of lenses can also be customized through the app. You can change the direction of the focus and aperture rings, toggle between linear and non-linear adjustments for the focus ring, and customize the functionality of buttons on the lens. Even firmware updates will be slightly more convenient, although they may take just a bit longer over Bluetooth.