Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Pre-order Open

The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lens for Sony’s full-frame E-mount cameras is available for pre-order, which was announced in July. It is the first model in a new class of super-telephoto zooms for mirrorless camera systems with an image sensor in a full-frame format.

It’s 8x zoom covers a wide focal length range: from the 50 mm standard lens with a relatively large angle of view and normal depth effect to the 400 mm super-telephoto lens, whose narrow image section allows a greatly enlarged image. That makes the lens very versatile and suitable for wildlife and sports photography. Because it is relatively compact and not too heavy, it can also be used for travel photography.

Despite the wide focal length range, this new super telephoto zoom for mirrorless Sony full-frame cameras is as compact as a conventional 100-400mm zoom. The 50-400mm is quite compact with a length of only 183.4mm (at 50mm position) and a low weight of 1155g and is still supposed to offer high performance at all focal lengths.

The optical design of the new 50-400mm Di III includes several special glasses that ensure high imaging performance over the entire zoom range. The lens features VXD autofocus technology (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) developed by Tamron, which is particularly based on a quiet and fast-acting linear motor. The VC image stabilizer (Vibration Compensation) helps to achieve sharp image results in shooting situations with little light. The short close-up distance of 50-400mm enables macro shots on a scale of 1:2 (0.5x magnification). With a focal length of 50 mm, the shortest focusing distance is only 25 cm.

The new super-telephoto zoom impresses with its ease of use and a revised housing design. The tube has a scratch-resistant surface and is comfortable to hold even when taking pictures for a long time, the adjustment elements are optimally placed and can be operated intuitively. Like the other lenses in Tamron’s E series, the 50-400mm has the same filter size as Tamron (Ø 67 mm), so the filter and protective cap fit all lenses in the series.

Price and availability

The Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is now available to pre-order on the Bhphotovideo.com store at $1,299.

Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD specifications

• 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: 1:2
• Focus Type: Autofocus
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Front Filter Size: 67 mm
• Weight: 1.2 kg

Last year, Tamron announced two full-frame lenses: 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD and 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 for Sony E mount cameras.