Photography gear briefs & discussion links
Tamron's compact 500mm zoom, first for Sony E, from 2021. Launched at $1,399 (US). Who it suits: wildlife and bird photographers who want long reach without a 600mm-class lens.
Why it exists. Tamron Americas announced this ultra-telephoto zoom for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras on April 22, 2021, and Tamron lists it at $1,399 (US) (Tamron Americas release).
It covers 150–500mm with VC stabilization and a VXD linear focus motor, and focuses as close as 0.6 m at the wide end.
Who should buy it? Wildlife and bird photographers who want 500mm reach with stabilization.
Tamron Americas announced the lens on April 22, 2021, for release on June 10, 2021 (Tamron Americas).
It uses 25 elements in 16 groups and a 7-blade aperture. Specs below are from Tamron's spec page.
Key specs for the Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III VC VXD (Model A057), from Tamron. Source for each row in brackets.
| Format / range | Full-frame, 150–500mm, f/5–6.7 [Tamron] |
|---|---|
| Optics | 25 elements in 16 groups [Tamron] |
| Aperture | 7 blades [Tamron] |
| Autofocus | VXD linear motor [Tamron] |
| Stabilization | VC [Tamron] |
| Close focus | 0.6 m (W) / 1.8 m (T) [Tamron] |
| Filters | 82mm [Tamron] |
| Size / weight | Φ93 × 209.6 mm; 1,725 g [Tamron] |
| Announced / price | April 22, 2021; $1,399 (US) [Tamron Americas] |
One photo taken with the Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, shared on Flickr under a Creative Commons license. That is all we could find that met our license and EXIF checks. Select the photo to enlarge it. For more, browse the DPReview sample gallery for the Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III VC VXD.
Tamron: Launched at $1,399 in 2021 (US).
Who it's for: Wildlife and bird photographers who want 500mm with stabilization at a moderate launch price.
Looking at other wildlife lenses? See our Lenses by purpose guide.
APERTURE NOTES is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.
