Affordable Telephoto Zoom

The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lens (model A067) was launched worldwide on September 19, 2024.

- Rohinton Mehta

The lens is available in Nikon Z-mount as well as Sony E- mount. The lens under review is the Nikon Z-mount.

Design & Build Quality

By design, the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is a 'twist-zoom' that extends substantially when the focal length is changed from 50mm to 400mm. To keep the lens light in weight, the outer body is constructed with engineering plastic. Though it may not feel as sturdy as some other more expensive zooms, the build quality is adequate for the purpose. The lens mount is made of metal. Focal lengths are legibly marked at 50, 70, 100, 135, 200, 300 and 400mm. Filter diameter is 67mm and the lens is designed in Japan but made in Vietnam.

Key Features

Tamron's latest 8x zoom lens - the compact and reasonably lightweight 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD -- is constructed with 24 elements in 18 groups that include 2 x XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion), 3 x LD (Low Dispersion), 1 x GM (Glass Molded) Aspherical element, and 1 x Hybrid Aspherical element. These special elements offer great control over axial chromatic aberrations. Additionally, Tamron's own BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection, Generation 2) lens coating is used to minimize flare and ghosting even in back-lit situations. Autofocus and subject tracking is controlled using Tamron's VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism that is quiet as well as responsive. Tamron's Vibration Correction (VC) feature helps when handholding the lens in situations where shutter speeds are inadequate for obtaining sharp photos.