Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 VC USD - Review

Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (6 Year Limited USA Warranty) - Review

As a professional product reviewer, I have used and tested various telephoto zoom lenses for Canon digital SLR cameras. Among them, I had the opportunity to use the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens, which caught my attention with its impressive features and lightweight body. In this review, I will share my experience with this lens and why I consider it a great option for photographers, especially those who shoot wildlife, sports or action photography.

Specifications and Features:

Tamron claims that its 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens is the lightest in its class, and my experience with it confirms that. The lens weighs just 1.1 kg (39.3 oz), which is impressive, considering its zoom range. Additionally, Tamron claims that this lens features the widest maximum aperture in its class. The maximum aperture ranges from f/4.5 at 100mm to f/6.3 at 400mm.

One of the most significant benefits of this lens is its image quality. The lens employs three LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements to suppress chromatic aberrations and ensure clear, sharp images even at high magnification. Furthermore, the lens has Tamron's exclusive eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) coating to reduce flare and ghosting, delivering images with high contrast and accurate colors.

The Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens has a 4-stop VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization system that provides stable telephoto shooting, even in low light conditions. This feature is particularly useful when using slower shutter speeds with a long lens, as it reduces camera shake and helps to create sharp and blur-free images. Moreover, the lens has moisture-resistant construction, which protects against water droplets and dust, and a fluorine coating on the front lens element to repel fingerprints and smudges.

Performance:

I tested the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens on my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and was impressed with its performance. The lens worked flawlessly, providing me with excellent sharpness, contrast, and color rendition. I used the lens to shoot wildlife, and I was delighted with the results. The lens captured sharp and clear images, even at 400mm, with beautiful bokeh. The autofocus was fast and accurate, which helped me to capture moving subjects with ease.

I also used this lens to shoot a live sports event, and the 4-stop VC image stabilization system did a great job of reducing camera shake, allowing me to capture sharp and blur-free images, even at lower shutter speeds. The lens's zoom ring was smooth and easy to operate, and the lens barrel was stable at all zoom ranges.

Ease of Use:

The Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens is easy to use, and the lightweight design makes it comfortable to handle even for extended periods. The lens has a zoom lock to prevent the lens from extending unexpectedly while carrying and has a one-touch focus ring that allows you to switch easily from autofocus to manual focus. The lens also has a custom switch that allows you to set the VC function to either mode 1, mode 2, or off.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens is an excellent option for Canon digital SLR camera owners who are looking for a lightweight yet powerful lens for wildlife, sports, or action photography. The lens provides superb image quality, impressive zoom range, and an effective VC image stabilization system while remaining very portable. The lens is also moisture-resistant and has a fluorine coating on the front lens element, providing enhanced weather protection. With its competitive price and six-year limited warranty, this Tamron telephoto zoom lens is an excellent value for money. I highly recommend it to photographers of all skill levels.

Customer Reviews:

The Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 87 reviews on Amazon. The lens has received many positive reviews, with users praising the lens's image quality, zoom range, and the effectiveness of the VC image stabilization system. A few users reported that the lens could have been sharper at the longest focal length, but overall, users seemed satisfied with their purchase.

Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 VC USD

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