Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens (Sony E)

The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens (Sony E) is a compact, versatile ultra-telephoto zoom lens designed for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, upending conventional wisdom for lenses in this class by packing genuine 500mm reach into an astonishingly handheld-friendly package. It’s well suited to capturing a wide array of subjects, from landscapes and birds to sports and wildlife.

Optically, the lens covers a 150-500mm focal range with a variable maximum aperture of f/5 at the wide end narrowing to f/6.7 at full telephoto, down to a minimum of f/22-32, delivering a diagonal angle of view of 16°25′ to 4°57′. The 25-element, 16-group optical design includes extra-low dispersion (XLD), low-dispersion (LD), and hybrid aspherical elements, controlling chromatic and other aberrations for sharp, high-contrast results throughout the zoom range. Tamron’s BBAR-G2 coating, applied to every element, along with a fluorine-coated front element, suppresses flare and ghosting while resisting smudges and moisture. A rounded 7-blade diaphragm contributes to pleasing bokeh.

Autofocus is handled by Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor, delivering fast, precise, and quiet focus acquisition and tracking performance. Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization system offers three selectable modes, Standard, Panning, and Framing Priority (which stabilizes the viewfinder image for easier framing), facilitating handheld shooting even at the full 500mm telephoto position. A Flex Zoom Lock mechanism lets photographers lock the zoom ring at any focal length by simply sliding it, preventing unwanted zoom creep during transport or handheld shooting.

A standout feature is the lens’s close-focusing capability, with a minimum object distance of just 23.6 in. (0.6m) at 150mm, yielding a maximum magnification of approximately 1:3.1, extending to 70.9 in. (1.8m) and 1:3.7 at 500mm, enabling dynamic telephoto macro-style shooting. Build quality includes moisture-resistant, weather-sealed construction with a metal mount, along with a removable, rotating Arca-Swiss-compatible tripod mount for balanced support. The lens measures approximately 93mm in diameter by 209.6mm in length (extending to roughly 283mm at 500mm) and weighs approximately 1,725g (60.8 oz.) without the tripod mount, and accepts an 82mm filter thread.

As a full-frame E-mount lens, the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD delivers its full telephoto field of view on Sony full-frame bodies while remaining compatible with Sony APS-C E-mount cameras at an effective 225-750mm equivalent focal range.

Key Features
– 150-500mm ultra-telephoto zoom for Sony full-frame E-mount
– Maximum aperture f/5-6.7 (variable)
– 25 elements in 16 groups, including XLD, LD, and hybrid aspherical elements
– BBAR-G2 coating; fluorine-coated front element
– VXD linear motor autofocus
– VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization with 3 modes (Standard, Panning, Framing Priority)
– Flex Zoom Lock mechanism
– Rounded 7-blade diaphragm
– Moisture-resistant, weather-sealed construction
– Removable, rotating Arca-Swiss-compatible tripod mount
– Minimum object distance of 23.6 in. (150mm) / 70.9 in. (500mm)
– Maximum magnification of approximately 1:3.1 (150mm) / 1:3.7 (500mm)
– 82mm filter thread
– Compact design for a 500mm lens (approximately 209.6mm length; 1,725g without tripod mount)
– Compatible with Sony full-frame and APS-C E-mount cameras (225-750mm equivalent on APS-C)