Tamron replaces its 70-300mm lens with a brand new 50-300mm lens

The new Tamron 50-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD ($799) is a class-leading 6x telephoto zoom lens. Instead of using a traditional 70-300 mm zoom range like its predecessor, the new lens lets you zoom out a bit wider without sacrificing any light. It keeps the same f/4.5-6.3 aperture without increasing much in size.

The size and build of the Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3

The new Tamron 50-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is the same length and filter size as the Tamron 70-300mm, measuring about 150mm and 67mm, respectively. The only difference in build is the weight, as the Tamron 50-300mm weighs 665g, about 100g more than the 70-300mm. But that’s not such a big difference, which is quite impressive. With a 50-300 zoom range, you would expect the lens to sit more in the middle between the Tamron 70-300mm and the much heavier 1.2kg Tamron 50-400mm.

Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 – optics

The new Tamron 50-300mm optical design includes 19 elements in 14 groups and is optimized for high image quality across the entire zoom range. Out of the 19 elements, there are two XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) and two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements, which efficiently control chromatic and other aberrations. To handle ghosting and flare to a high degree, Tamron coated the glass with the BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2), allowing the capture of fine details even in backlit situations.

Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 – features

Tamron included a lot of useful features in the Tamron 50-300mm. Perhaps the most useful one is the VC mechanism, Tamron’s optical image stabilization mechanism. Additionally, there is a custom button for assigning a camera function and a zoom lock mechanism. These don’t affect image quality, but they do improve the experience and convenience of the lens.

Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 – specs

Price and availability

The Tamron 50-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD will be available for $799 on June 27 for Sony E full-frame and APS-C cameras.