Tamron brings its versatile 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD zoom lens to the Fujifilm X-mount. Originally announced for Sony E-mount in April 2021, the lens will offer a wide field of view of 225-750mm on Fujifilm cameras. And thanks to a surprisingly compact size, it shouldn’t feel out of place on the brand’s smaller cameras.
Design & build
Tamron’s 150-500mm telephoto lens for X-mount is just 3.7 inches in diameter and 8.3 inches long in its most compact form and 11.1 inches when zoomed to 500mm. The lens weight is 3.77 pounds, which is pretty impressive for such a long-range telephoto lens. The compact size should make ultra telephoto photography much more accessible and attainable.
The lens zoom ring has a short throw distance of just 75 degrees from 150mm to 500mm, which allows for quick focal length adjustments so you don’t miss critical moments. The barrel of the body provides a zoom lock to hold the current zoom position and a focus limit switch. There is also a “MF Speed” switch. This allows you to adjust the speed of the manual focus ring for better control. It should be especially handy for detail shots when you want exceptionally precise focus.
Related: Tamron’s long-range 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 full-frame zoom is coming this fall
Tamron has equipped its new 150-500mm lens with its powerful Vibration Control (VC) system (Tamron’s name for image stabilization) to help achieve sharp images. A “VC Mode” selector offers three settings – standard, panning and framing priority – so you can choose which best suits the current situation.
A VXD linear motor (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) drives the autofocus, which should lead to fast and precise recordings. Tamron also points out that the AF motor should work both quietly and with minimal vibration, which video shooters will certainly appreciate, as well as photo shooters in quiet environments.
The lens features a moisture-resistant construction and uses a fluorine coating on the front element for added protection. There’s also an Arca-Swiss compatible tripod collar, as well as strap mounting holes for easy portability.
optics
The optical design of Tamron’s 150-500mm telephoto lens includes 25 elements in 16 groups. These include an XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) element, five LD (Low Dispersion) elements and two hybrid aspherical lens elements. The combination of elements helps reduce chromatic aberration, color fringing and distortion. And each element is coated with a BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating to improve contrast and reduce flare.
While it doesn’t offer true macro capabilities, it can focus down to 23.6 inches at 150mm and 70.9 inches at 500mm for some attractive telephoto detail shots. The maximum magnification ratio is 1:3.1 or the full frame equivalent of 1:2.1. The rounded seven-blade aperture should hopefully create attractive bokeh.
Who the Tamron 150-500mm
The compact size of Tamron’s 150-500mm lens, given its focal range, makes it ideal for those who want long reach without breaking their backs. It is perfect for taking nature and wildlife photos while hiking or for travel photography. Also, the affordable price point makes it more widely accessible.
Prices & Availability
The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for X-mount is available for pre-order now for $1499. The units should be shipped by mid-October.
