
Once you consider a brilliant telephoto lens, you consider massive, heavy lenses which can be cumbersome to hold round. And whereas there are some lighter weight variations available on the market, Tamron seeks to have one of the crucial compact but, with the 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3.
Providing a novel focal size vary that’s nice for capturing every little thing from nature, to road images, to journey images and wildlife, the Tamron 50-400mm for Sony E mount is sharp, quick and will get the job executed.
Execs
- A light-weight, compact footprint is ideal once you’re on-the-go
- Sharp and great particulars
- Performs nicely in inclement climate, with full climate sealing
- Customizable button with three presets, by Tamron’s Lens Utility software program
Cons
- Some minor vignetting
- Autofocus can take some adjusting and getting used to
- Tripod collar isn’t included
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 — Technical specs
All technical specs for the Tamron 50-400mm have been taken from the B&H web site:
- Minimal focus distance: 9.8″ / 24.9 cm
- Most magnification: 0.5x
- Minimal aperture: f/22–f/32
- Macro copy ratio: 1:2
- Aperture blades: 9, rounded
- Optical development: 24 parts in 18 teams
- Picture stabilization: Sure
- Filter dimension: 67mm (entrance)
- Weight: 40.7 oz / 1.2 kg
- Size: 183.4mm / 7.2 in
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 — Ergonomics and construct high quality
Like most of Tamron’s lenses, the 50-400mm is fairly easy on the outside. You’ll discover a vibration compensation (VC) swap that means that you can select from two presets, along with turning it off. There’s additionally a customized swap with three choices, which helps you to customise the aspect button performance by Tamron’s Lens Utility software program. This can be utilized to set the button to be a spotlight limiter at varied totally different distances.
The zoom ring is fairly giant and is positioned on the fringe of the lens. It rotates properly and with out a lot pressure wanted.
The lens does characteristic climate sealing at each the barrel and mount. I used the lens in some stop-and-go rain and skilled no points with it performing nicely and locking on to my topics.
I’ve just lately seen just a few questions surrounding Tamron’s open USB-C port on the aspect. Relaxation assured, that’s climate sealed too.
Oddly sufficient, the lens doesn’t include a tripod collar, because it’s an additional buy that runs $129. I’d have appreciated to see this included, nevertheless, this seemingly would’ve raised the value of the lens. And given its compact footprint and lighter weight, it’s not all the time essential.
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 — Within the discipline

The Tamron 50-400mm is a light-weight, easy-to-use lens. It doesn’t matter what you’re capturing, it’s best to really feel comfy utilizing this lens, in addition to customizing it to fit your wants.
Along with being nice at capturing wildlife, the lens additionally excels as a macro lens, providing a 1:2 macro copy. With a minimal focus of 9.8 inches, Tamron is unquestionably elevating some eyebrows with the capabilities of this lens, because it actually works out to be an ideal choice for the on a regular basis nature shooter or journey photographer. I had a number of situations the place I went from photographing up-close objects to shortly turning round and capturing a fowl from afar. And it was completely no drawback for this lens.
Picture stabilization works nicely, even when capturing fast-moving objects in a rush. Relying in your topic, I’d intention for a quicker shutter pace regardless, particularly if you wish to freeze movement.
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 — Autofocus efficiency
The Tamron 50-400mm carried out fairly nicely in my autofocus exams, even whereas capturing quick birds, horses or butterflies. I did have just a few misses initially, which I chalk as much as my lack of expertise and never having my focus monitoring settings right. As soon as I dialed these in and expanded my focus space, it was a lot simpler to seize and monitor my topics with ease.
For essentially the most half, I used Animal and Chicken Monitoring with my Sony a1, and I used to be shocked at what I used to be in a position to seize.
Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 — Picture high quality
Picture high quality from the Tamron 50-400mm is top-notch. The lens encompasses a stellar sharpness and a really good depth of discipline with some round bokeh balls.
Distortion management and vignetting

Whereas lens profiles aren’t presently accessible for the 50-400mm in Lightroom, there may be some minor vignetting current within the corners, from what I can see. That is one thing I choose, because it helps to attract your eye to the topic.
Ghosting and flaring

Except you’re capturing straight into the solar, I wouldn’t be involved about ghosting or flaring. There’s some minor flaring, and once more a little bit of ghosting on this scenario. However 9 instances out of 10, this shouldn’t be one thing you’ll have to be fearful about.
Sharpness
The Tamron 50-400mm is tack-sharp, capturing particulars in addition to the priciest tremendous telephoto lenses on the market.
Bokeh
Whereas not a bokeh powerhouse, the 50-400mm does produce some good round bokeh balls, and affords some great compression for a strong depth of discipline look, even when capturing at f/6.3.
Colour rendition
Like different Tamron lenses, the 50-400mm leans heat and could be very pleasing to the attention.