Tamron has announced the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD, a new, versatile zoom that wants to be your go-to lens for any shooting situation. The focal length range is pretty unusual; dare I say groundbreaking.
Starting at the standard 50mm rather than 100mm, this lens differs from other ultra-telephoto zooms you’ll find in the market. While the zoom and the focal length range sound tempting, there are some drawbacks as well. So let’s check them all out.
The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 is designed for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras. This means that, if you attach it to a crop body, you’ll get the 75-600mm equivalent focal length range. The downside, I’d say, is that it only comes in one mount. But it’s possible that Tamron will launch the same lens in other mounts in the future.
Another downside is the weight. Since it’s marketed as a super-versatile and your go-to lens, the 40.7 oz (1.2 kg) hardly make it a lens you can carry around all day while you causally shoot during a photo walk. However, it’s the same weight and size as the majority of 100-400mm lenses on the market. So, if you shot with the 100-400 and want to expand that focal length range without buying another lens… There’s your solution.
The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 is an autofocus lens, equipped with Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor. Tamron promises “excellent quietness and responsiveness,” so the lens should be useful for video as well as stills. Furthermore, it’s compatible with many camera-specific features and functions like Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF. It also packs the image stabilization mechanism VC (Vibration Compensation).
As for the build, the lens features 24 elements in 18 groups, including two XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion), three LD (Low Dispersion), one GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) and one Hybrid Aspherical lens elements. Tamron promises “unfaltering high image quality across the entire zoom range.” If it’s anything like the 15-30mm I used a couple of times, it truly is remarkable.
Here are the specs:
| Focal Length | 50 to 400mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/4.5 to 6.3 |
| Minimum Aperture | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Lens Format Coverage | Full-Frame |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 9.8" / 24.9 cm |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.5x |
| Macro Reproduction Ratio | 1970-01-01 01:02:00 |
| Focus Type | Autofocus |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Filter Size | 67 mm (Front) |
| Weight | 40.7 oz / 1.2 kg |
The new Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 is ready for preorders and it costs $1,299. Shipping is scheduled to begin on 22 September 2022, but due to the never-ending and unpredictable health crisis, the date is subject to change.
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