Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III - Review

Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens for Full Frame Sony Mirrorless Camera: A Review

If you are a wildlife photographer, a sports enthusiast or someone who just enjoys capturing the beauty of nature, a superzoom lens is a must-have in your camera gear arsenal. Tamron, a renowned third-party lens manufacturer, has recently launched the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens for Full Frame Sony Mirrorless Camera that promises to deliver exceptional performance at an affordable price point. In this product review, we will take a closer look at the features and functionalities of this lens and see if it lives up to the hype.

Build Quality and Design

Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens boasts of a compact and lightweight design, which is quite impressive considering it is a 500mm lens. At just 8.3 inches in length and a maximum diameter of 93mm, this lens is highly portable and easy to carry around. The lens weighs only 60.8oz, which makes it easy to handle and use for extended periods without fatigue.

The lens has been constructed with moisture-resistant materials, which makes it highly durable and perfect for use in all weather conditions. Additionally, with a fluorine coating, the lens is highly resistant to dust and moisture, ensuring that it stays in top-notch condition even after prolonged use.

Optical Performance

The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens is designed specifically for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras, and it features a VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism that promises blazing-fast autofocus performance. The motor is incredibly silent and accurate, which makes it an ideal choice for wildlife photography and other situations where noise can scare away animals or interrupt the subject.

The lens provides a 5x zoom that ranges from 150mm to 500mm, providing a high degree of versatility for photographers. With the lens's maximum aperture ranging from f/5 to f/6.7, it may not be the fastest lens on the market, but it still provides decent low light performance when used with Full Frame Sony Mirrorless Cameras.

One of the most significant advantages of Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens is that it provides very minimal lens distortion and chromatic aberration, which means the images come out sharp, crisp and with excellent color reproduction.

Minimum Object Distance (MOD) & Maximum Magnification

The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens features a minimum object distance (MOD) of 23.6” at the 150mm end and 70.9” at the 500mm telephoto end. The maximum magnification ratio provided by this lens is 1:3.1 at the 150mm end, which is quite impressive for a superzoom lens.

Warranty and Customer Support

Tamron USA, Inc provides a Six-Year Limited USA warranty for all its lenses imported officially and distributed by authorized Tamron USA, Inc dealers. The Tamron USA, Inc customer support is known for providing exceptional service, which means that customers can have peace of mind knowing that they will be taken care of if anything goes wrong with their lens.

Price and Value for Money

The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens is currently priced at around $1,399, which is a reasonable price considering the lens's features and functionalities. It is definitely one of the more affordable 500mm lenses in the market, which makes it an ideal choice for photographers on a budget.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight design

• Moisture-resistant and fluorine coating

• VXD linear motor focus mechanism for fast and accurate autofocus

• Excellent optical performance with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration

• Decent low light performance

• Good minimum object distance and maximum magnification ratio

• Affordable price point

Cons:

• Slower maximum aperture than some other lenses in the same category

• Some photographers may find the 500mm telephoto end slightly soft

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens is a great superzoom lens that provides excellent optical performance, fast and accurate autofocus, and a compact and lightweight design. It may not be the fastest lens on the market, but it is a great option for wildlife photographers, sports enthusiasts or anyone who needs a high level of versatility in their photography. With reasonable pricing for its features, this lens feels like a solid investment that any nature or sports photographer should consider.

Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III

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