Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 | DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS LENS

Brandon Taylor
Jun 10, 2024
3 min read

Tamron consistently delivers high-quality, affordable lenses, and the new Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 is no exception. Building on their success with lenses like the 20-40mm, 17-50mm, and 70-180mm, Tamron introduces this innovative telephoto zoom lens. With a focal length starting at 50mm and extending to 300mm, combined with a lightweight design, this lens offers unique versatility. In this blog, we’ll explore what this lens can do, who it’s for, and why it might be your next essential piece of gear.

Build Quality and Usability

◉ Impressive Build and Lightweight Design]

The Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 is impressively lightweight, weighing just 1.46 pounds, which is comparable to the weight of the Sony A7III. This makes it incredibly portable for a telephoto zoom lens. The design resembles the Tamron 28-75mm G2, featuring a comfortable grip and a well-balanced feel when mounted on a camera. Although it has a simple design with only one button, a zoom ring lock switch, and a USB-C port for the Tamron utility app, it lacks a focus range switch, which could have been beneficial. Overall, at around $1,000, it offers great value, especially with its excellent weather sealing.

Focal Length Versatility

◉ A Wide Range of Creative Possibilities

The biggest draw of this lens is its versatile focal length. The 50-300mm range (equivalent to 75-450mm in full-frame terms) covers a broad spectrum, from standard to telephoto. This versatility means fewer lens changes and more flexibility in capturing different scenes. Pairing it with a wide-angle lens like a 16-35mm can provide a comprehensive focal range, minimizing the gaps between lenses and offering more creative options. The 300mm end allows for unique, compressed shots, making it a must-have for those looking to add a distinct perspective to their photography.

Image Quality

◉ Sharpness and Detail

Since the release of the 28-75mm G2, Tamron has consistently delivered crisp image quality, and the 50-300mm is no exception. The lens provides sharp and clean images, even when cropped. The color rendering has a slight warm tone, characteristic of Tamron lenses, which many photographers appreciate for its natural look.

◉ Optic Performance

This lens excels in optical performance, effectively minimizing issues like purple fringing, even in high-contrast scenes. It handles backlighting well, with controlled flare and ghosting, contributing to the overall clean and sharp images.

Minimum Focus Distance

◉ Half-macro experience

With a minimum focus distance of 0.22m at the wide end and 0.9m at the telephoto end, this lens offers a half-macro shooting experience. This allows photographers to capture detailed close-up shots, adding to the lens’s versatility. However, for stable footage at close distances, using active image stabilization is recommended.

Auto Focus and Image Stabilization

◉ Fast and Reliable AF

The autofocus performance of the Tamron 50-300mm is impressive, adapting well to both standard and close-up subjects. It tracks subjects efficiently, thanks to Tamron’s strong autofocus system, which pairs well with Sony’s real-time eye tracking. The autofocus operation is quiet, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with video recordings.

◉ Effective Image Stabilization

While the lens itself doesn’t include optical stabilization, it works well with Sony’s in-body image stabilization systems. Tests with the Sony A7III and ZV-E1 demonstrated that active image stabilization significantly improves stability, especially at the 300mm focal length.

Conclusion

The Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 is a versatile, lightweight, and high-performing lens that offers excellent value for its price. With its broad focal range, impressive image quality, and reliable autofocus, it is an ideal choice for photographers looking for flexibility without sacrificing performance. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic amateur, this lens deserves a place in your camera bag.

How was it? The Tamron 50-300mm F4.5-6.3 might just be the lens you’ve been waiting for. Don’t underestimate its potential – give it a try and see the difference it can make in your photography. Feel free to leave your comments and questions below.

Please stay tuned for more in-depth reviews and comparisons on the latest camera gear!

*includes affiliate links