Earlier this week, Tamron unveiled the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for Sony E-mount cameras, a lens that will offer significant power, versatility, and affordability to Sony users.
The 150-500mm f/5-6.7 is Tamron’s “first ultra-telephoto zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras that reaches the 500mm focal length.” But despite the super-telephoto range, the 150-500mm is surprisingly compact. At 500mm, the lens reaches 11.1 in (28 cm), and when retracted to 150mm, it clocks in at a portable 8.3 in (21 cm) for a travel-ready package.
While the f/6.7 maximum aperture may frustrate professionals, enthusiast sports, wildlife, and bird photographers will love the opportunity to get up close and personal without splurging on Sony’s $2000 USD 200-600mm lens. At 150mm to 300mm, you can capture wider photos of your subject; zoomed in to 400mm and 500mm, you can grab crisp detail shots and wildlife portraits.
And though the Tamron 150-500mm will work just fine on Sony full-frame cameras, when mounted on an APS-C camera – such as the Sony a6600 – the lens delivers a whopping 225-750mm range, perfect for photographers seeking to shoot small, skittish subjects such as birds.
Of course, image quality remains to be seen, but Tamron confidently claims that the 150-500mm packs “amazing high image quality,” boasting “exceptionally high resolving power across the entire image.”
As for autofocus, the 150-500mm “provides high speed, high precision, and excellent quietness,” thanks to Tamron’s VXD focusing technology.
Sure, a wider maximum aperture would be useful, especially for low-light wildlife and sports photography. But wider apertures come with eye-watering costs, plus Tamron has added Vibration Compensation (VC), which ensures sharp images even when shooting handheld in limited light.
While the Tamron 150-500mm doesn’t come cheap, it’s not pricey, either (relatively speaking). You can preorder the lens for just $1399 USD, though expect to receive your copy after June 10th (also, Tamron notes that “the release date or product supply schedule could change” due to COVID-related problems).
So if you’re an enthusiast photographer in need of a super-telephoto zoom, I highly recommend you check out the Tamron 150-500mm.
Now over to you:
What do you think of this new lens from Tamron? Will you be interested in purchasing it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
