Tamron has announced the impending release on 27 June of the 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lens, a unique 6x telephoto zoom lens for Sony E mount cameras.

Angled  view of the Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lens. (Source: Tamron.)

The new lens has been developed for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras and will be released on 27 June, 2024. User feedback claimed ‘the view angle is somewhat lacking at the wide end’ when using a 70-300mm zoom, an issue addressed with the new lens. It is also very compact, with a length of just 150 mm and a class-leading light weight of 665 grams. The optical design of this lens features 19 elements in 14 groups and includes two XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) and two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements for efficient control of chromatic and other aberrations. Tamron’s BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating has been applied to suppress ghosting and flare, including in backlit situations.

The autofocus drive is equipped with Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism, which is quiet and highly responsive. Half-macro shooting is possible at the 50mm focal length, thanks to a minimum focus of 22 cm, which provides a 1:2 reproduction ratio. At the 300mm position, the minimum focus is 90 cm, with a magnification ratio of  1:3.1. Built is VC stabilisation effectively suppresses camera shake that tends to occur when shooting in the telephoto range, including when the lens is used on a cropped-sensor camera. At focal lengths up to 100mm, AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies provide additional compensation with videography in mind.

Other features of the new lens include a 67 mm filter size, the same as most other Tamron lenses for mirrorless cameras, a Focus Set Button for assigning camera and Tamron Lens Utility  functions, an enhanced overall lens design for user-friendly operation and a Zoom Lock mechanism for preventing unwanted barrel extension when the lens is carried facing down. This lens is also moisture-resistant and has a fluorine coating on the front of the lens to repel moisture and dust. It is compatible with many of the Sony camera-onboard features and functions, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF.

The Tamron 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lens has an RRP of AU$1,699 and is available to order now through most camera shops.