Introduction
The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 is a price range supertelephoto zoom lens at the moment accessible for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fuji X mirrorless cameras. Regardless of the substantial 500mm focal size, the lens is comparatively light-weight and small. It’s considerably extra moveable than both the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 or the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3, that are arguably its two closest opponents.
Granted, the utmost focal size favors the Nikon and the Sony. I wouldn’t say that the variations between 500mm and 600mm are night time and day, nevertheless it’s sufficient to place a couple of extra megapixels on distant topics. And as you’ll see all through this evaluate, that’s not the one small compromise of the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7.
Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless so much to love about this lens, and the largest factors in its favor – worth, measurement, and weight – are particularly interesting. The precise worth varies by lens mount, nevertheless it’s at all times decrease than name-brand options: $1200 for Nikon Z, $1400 for Sony E, and $1500 for Fuji X. In right now’s evaluate, I’ll cowl every thing it’s essential to know concerning the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 and whether or not it’s the suitable lens for you.
This evaluate at Pictures Life is a joint effort. Like at all times, I examined the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 within the lab to deliver you measurements of sharpness, chromatic aberration, vignetting, and distortion. Then my good friend Adam Sheridan introduced the lens on a safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe to deliver you the pattern photographs on this evaluate.
Usually, I check lenses myself each within the lab and within the discipline, however I feel you’ll agree that the wildlife photographs right here have been price altering issues up a bit! Many of the handling-related impressions are Adam’s, and a lot of the picture high quality notes are mine. Adam will even publish a separate article tomorrow that dives into the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 in comparison with his regular Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3.
Construct High quality
The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 feels sturdy and well-built whereas holding it. Although it’s a third-party price range lens, it doesn’t really feel prefer it. The supplies and tolerances all give off a optimistic impression.
That is additionally a fairly mild lens, no less than contemplating the zoom vary. Together with the tripod collar, the Tamron’s weight ranges from 1865 grams to 1880 grams relying on the lens mount (4.11 to 4.14 kilos). That is noticeably lighter than the options. For instance, the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 weighs 2140 grams (4.72 kilos), and the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G weighs 2245 grams (4.95 kilos).
Much more than the burden distinction, it’s the dimensions distinction that stood out to me. The Tamron is barely 8.4 inches lengthy when totally retracted (21 centimeters). That is a lot smaller than the Nikon Z 180-600mm (12.4 inches / 31.5 cm) or the Sony 200-600mm (12.6 inches / 32.0 cm). The small measurement and weight makes the Tamron uniquely suited to carrying abroad or becoming in a backpack with different gear.
One other huge optimistic of the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 is that its tripod foot is already Arca-Swiss suitable. This implies you don’t have to cope with the additional problem of shopping for a alternative foot or attaching a separate Arca-Swiss plate. It’s a helpful function that some smaller lens firms have embraced (Tamron, Sigma, and OM System amongst them), whereas the large three are nonetheless missing (Canon, Sony, and Nikon).
Nevertheless, not every thing is ideal concerning the construct high quality of the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7. A noteworthy downside is that the lens makes use of an externally-focusing design, the place the inside barrel extends as you zoom in. This design is hardly distinctive to the Tamron, however particularly for a supertelephoto that you could be need to use in dusty or wet circumstances, it isn’t ideally suited.
By comparability, the Nikon Z 180-600mm and the Sony FE 200-600mm are each internally-zooming lenses. This does contribute to their bigger sizes, nevertheless it additionally makes them extra versatile instruments in dangerous climate.
Dealing with
The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 has some handling-related points that you need to learn about earlier than shopping for. The primary could sound quite simple, nevertheless it’s one thing that grew fairly annoying over time: the lens hood.
So as to take advantage of this lens’s small measurement whereas touring, there’s a great probability that you just’ll find yourself reversing the lens hood commonly. Then you definately’ll need to rapidly re-attach the hood within the regular course for taking pictures. The issue is that the hood on the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 merely doesn’t connect very simply.
There are two causes for the problem. First, the hood can solely be locked in two spots, not like many lens hoods that may be locked in 4. Second, the locking tabs themselves are very small, and it’s simple to overlook them whereas the lens hood rotates at some odd angle and doesn’t really lock. Possibly I’m simply being choosy, however this contributed to a extra irritating expertise utilizing the lens.
One other handling-related concern with this lens is how simple it was to have interaction the zoom locking mechanism by chance. On the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7, the zoom ring locks whenever you push it ahead with slight strain. That is supposed to be a function, nevertheless it felt extra like a malfunction. I discovered it very simple to by chance press the ring ahead whereas zooming in, locking it quickly in place. Granted, it didn’t take lengthy to unlock once more – however in the event you’re attempting to rapidly zoom right into a distant animal, even a few missed seconds could make a giant distinction.
Other than these two points, I had no issues with the dealing with of the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7. The lens has ample controls and switches, giving you quick access to an important focusing-related settings. Lastly, the picture stabilization system labored properly, functioning simply as easily as a first-party lens. It truly is simply the unusual lens hood and the zoom locking mechanism that aggravated me concerning the lens’s dealing with.
As a result of the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 has a USB port, it’s potential to replace the firmware or in any other case calibrate the lens utilizing Tamron’s lens utility.
Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Specs
- Full Title: Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (Sony model is A057, Nikon is A057Z, Fuji is A057X)
- Mount Kind: Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fuji X mounts
- Focal Size: 150mm to 500mm (3.3× zoom)
- Angle of View (Full Body): 16°25′ to 4°57′
- Most Aperture: f/5 at 150mm; f/6.7 at 500mm
- Minimal Aperture: f/22 at 150mm; f/32 at 500mm
- Aperture Blades: 7, rounded
- Filter Dimension: 82mm
- Lens Parts: 25
- Lens Teams: 16
- Particular Parts: 1 extra-low dispersion, 5 low-dispersion, 2 hybrid aspherical
- Anti-Flare Coatings: BBAR-G2 coating on each component
- Fluorine Coated Entrance Factor: Sure
- Digital Diaphragm: Sure
- Vibration Compensation: Sure
- Inside Focusing: Sure
- Management Rings: Zoom and focus
- Perform Button: No
- Inside Zooming: No
- Focus Motor: VXD linear focus motor
- Minimal Focus Distance: 60 cm (24 inches) at 150mm; 180 cm (71 inches) at 500mm
- Most Magnification: 0.32× (1:3.1) at 150mm; 0.27x (1:3.7) at 500mm
- Mount Materials: Metallic
- Climate/Mud Sealing: Sure
- Size: 210mm for Sony, 212mm for Nikon, 210mm for Fuji (8.3, 8.4, and eight.3 inches)
- Diameter: 93mm, all variations (3.7 inches)
- Weight: 1880g for Sony, 1875g for Nikon, 1865g for Fuji (4.14, 4.13, and 4.11 lbs)
- MSRP: $1400 for Sony, $1200 for Nikon, $1500 for Fuji
- Lowest Sale Seen: $1200 (verify present worth)
I ought to be aware that the utmost aperture development on the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 is good and easy. It’s f/5 at 150mm, f/5.3 at 200mm, f/5.6 at 300mm, f/6.3 at 400mm, and f/6.7 at 500mm. That is higher than another zooms that rapidly drop whenever you zoom in somewhat.
Lastly, remember that the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 will not be suitable with teleconverters.
The subsequent web page of this evaluate covers the optical traits of the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7, together with focusing efficiency and sharpness assessments within the lab. So, click on the menu under to go to “Optical Efficiency”: