The Phoblographer

Remarkable Zoom, Handheld: Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 Di III Review


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The super-telephoto is one of the most difficult lenses to master both for the lens builder and the photographer attempting to wield such large glass. While no 500mm will be described as tiny, Tamron managed to shed some weight and length while still packing in a lot of zoom. The Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD weighs 3.8 pounds and is roughly eight inches long. With image stabilization built in, the new telephoto is manageable enough to shoot handheld.
Editor’s Note: This review has been updated on October 10th, 2022.
I took the 150-500mm lens on a hike, photographed two soccer games, and chased hot air balloons — all without a tripod. I instantly fell in love with the 500mm reach that’s not attached to a stick. I was eager to open up the extreme zoom images. So how do the photographs from a handheld 500mm that’s priced lower than many competitors hold up?
Table of Contents
Too Long, Didn’t Read
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Gear Used
Innovations
Tech Specs
Ergonomics
Build Quality
Autofocus
On Fujifilm
Ease of Use
Image Quality
Bokeh
Sharpness
Lens Character
Color Rendering
Fujifilm Tests
Extra Image Samples
Edited
Unedited
Conclusions
Likes
Dislikes
Too Long, Didn’t Read
The Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD does an impressive job putting a 500mm zoom into a reasonably-sized lens. And the lens also manages to control aberration and distortion well. The biggest downside? The narrower aperture and long zoom length mean higher ISOs, along with some corner softness.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Smaller than competing lenses
Handheld telephoto shooting
Versatile zoom range, with close-up ability
Great color and background separation
Reasonable price
Weather-sealing
Fantastic for Fujifilm X mount
Cons
Autofocus has occasional misses with fast action
Soft corners
Gear Used
I used the Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD with the Sony A7R IV. I stashed my gear in the updated Wandrd PRVKE II backpack.
Innovations
500mm is a lot of reach. But, the Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is smaller and lighter than several similar lenses, including the Sony FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G OSS, the Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f5.6E ED VR, and the Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary. The Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 IS USM is slightly smaller. The Tamron also packs in some optical design and coating meant to preserve image quality. But, the biggest innovation about this lens is, well, that’s it’s not quite as big.
Tech Specs
Tamron lists these tech specs for the 150-500mm lens:
Focal Length: 150-500mm
Maximum Aperture: F5-6.7
Angle of View: (diagonal) 16°25’-4°57′ (for full-frame mirrorless format)
Optical Construction: 25 elements in 16 groups
Minimum Object Distance: 0.6m (23.6 in) (WIDE) / 1.8m (70.9 in) (TELE)
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:3.1 (WIDE) / 1:3.7 (TELE)
Filter Size: φ82mm
Maximum Diameter: φ93mm
Length: 209.6mm / 8.3 in (front tip of the lens to the lens mount face)
Weight: 1,725g (60.8 oz) (without tripod mount included) / tripod mount 155g (5.5 oz)
Aperture Blades: 7 (circular diaphragm, the circular diaphragm stays almost perfectly circular up to two stops down from maximum aperture)
Minimum Aperture: F22-32
Standard Accessory: Round-shaped hood, Lens caps, Tripod mount
Compatible Mounts: Sony E-mount
Ergonomics
Monstrous is typically the best word to describe telephoto lenses that reach 500mm. But, while the Tamron 150-500mm f5-6.7 Di III VC VXD isn’t small, it’s smaller than competing lenses. The Tamron is roughly four inches shorter and almost a pound lighter than the Sony FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G OSS, and the maximum aperture at the wide-angle is brighter on the Tamron. The 150-500mm lens weighs 60.8 ounces, or about 3.8 pounds, adding a few ounces for the tripod collar. It will take up a little more than an eight-inch slot in the camera bag.
While lighter than the closest competing lens, the 150-500mm is still hefty glass. It makes the Sony a7R IV front-heavy. After a few hours of use, the grip on the Sony body left a mark...
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The PhoblographerBy The Phoblographer