Taking on Sony’s big guys, Tamron has announced not one but two cool lenses for the Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras: the Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD for APS-C and the unique and compact Full-Frame super-telephoto lens, the Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD. Both lenses offer superb optical performance in a compact housing, stunning macro possibilities, a silent and fast autofocus and full compatibility with all the advanced and practical Sony camera features.

Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

The 150-500mm F5-6.7 is TAMRON’s first ultra-telephoto zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras that reaches the 500mm focal length. With its compact design, even when extended to the 500mm telephoto end, you can still shoot handheld, especially since the lens alone is just 1725g, plus it is equipped with TAMRON’s proprietary VC [Vibration Compensation] mechanism for high-level image stabilization to help capture that perfect shot. This lens enables users to enjoy handheld shooting with amazing performance and high image quality in the ultra-telephoto realm where conventional wisdom once dictated a tripod was necessary. 

Super high speed autofocus with Tamron VXD motor

To support handheld shooting in the ultra-telephoto range, the new zoom is also equipped with VXD [Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive], a linear motor focusing mechanism that delivers agile performance to keep up with your subject, whilst remaining super quiet. At the 150mm end this is also particularly important as the lens offers a MOD [Minimum Object Distance] of 0.6m for powerful and dramatic close-ups. 

Product highlights

The Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7 lens is an amazing achievement: optically, functionality and in design. We give you here a short overview, and all the fine details and specifications you can find in the full press release.

• Extra compact design: The 150-500mm F5-6.7 is just 209.6mm long with a maximum diameter of 93mm, astoundingly compact size for a 500mm-class ultra-telephoto zoom for full-frame mirrorless cameras.
• High image quality: The optical construction features 25 elements in 16 groups. The generous and effective use of special lens elements including one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion), five LD (Low Dispersion), and two Hybrid Aspherical lens elements thoroughly control aberrations including axial chromatic aberrations.
• Quiet and fast VXD Autofocus: The 150-500mm F5-6.7 features the same highly acclaimed VXD linear motor focus mechanism that was first introduced in the 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A056). VXD delivers extreme high-speed and high-precision movement and ensures exceedingly responsive performance.
• Ultra stable with VC (Vibration Compensation): The slim, compact 150-500mm F5-6.7 is equipped with TAMRON’s VC mechanism. The lens features a VC mode selection switch with three settings (Mode 1: Standard, Mode 2: Exclusively for Panning, and Mode 3: Framing Priority.
• Tele-macro capability as close as 0.6m: The 150-500mm F5-6.7 offers excellent close-up shooting capabilities for an ultra-telephoto lens. The MOD is 0.6m at the 150mm end and 1.8m at the 500mm telephoto end. The maximum magnification ratio at 150mm is exceptionally high at 1:3.1.
• Additional features for greater convenience: Arca-Swiss compatible tripod mount with strap attachment holes included, Lens hood with flexible protective front portion, New switch design for improved operability and TAMRON FLEX ZOOM LOCK mechanism to support greater usability.
• BBAR-G2 Coating minimizes ghosting and flare
• Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating
• Compatible with many Sony camera-specific AF features and functions 

NEW Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD [APS-C]

The new 11-20mm F2.8 zoom is the world’s first ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras that features an aperture of F2.8. Despite its fast F2.8 aperture, the lens is very small, at just 86.2mm and feels perfectly balanced attached to a compact APS-C mirrorless camera body, making it the ideal ultra-wide-angle lens for regular use. At the 11mm ultra-wide-angle end, the lens exhibits stunning close-range shooting performance, achieving a MOD [Minimum Object Distance] of 15cm and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4. This feature invites wide-angle macro shooting that exploits the creative effects of naturally occurring distortion that only ultra-wide-angle lenses can provide.

Shoot any time and anywhere

The new 11-20mm F/2.8 RXD zoom is protected by Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating making them ideal for outdoor shooting. Its 67mm filter size is identical to Tamron’s 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras and also most of the series of full-frame mirrorless cameras that also sit nicely on APS-C cameras too.

Compatible with camera-specific features and functions

Tamron’s new 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD is compatible with many of the advanced features that are specific to certain mirrorless cameras. These include the following:

• Fast Hybrid AF
• Eye AF
• Direct Manual Focus [DMF]
• In-camera lens correction [shading, chromatic aberration, distortion]

Product highlights

The Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 lens is an amazing achievement: optically, functionality and in design. We give you here a short overview, and all the fine details and specifications you can find in the full press release.

• World’s first F2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras: The 11-20mm F2.8 is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with an aperture of F2.8 across the entire zoom range. Meanwhile, it is compact, lightweight and very practical.
• Compact and lightweight for superior usability: The 11-20mm F2.8 is only 86.2mm in length and weighs just 335g. For a fast-aperture F2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, this is a remarkably compact and lightweight combination.
• Outstanding optical performance: The 11-20mm F2.8 construction includes 12 elements in 10 groups. Two precisely located GM [Glass Moulded Aspherical] lens elements assure high resolution across the entire image, from edge to edge.
• Powerful Close Focus at 11mm: The 11-20mm F2.8 boasts a MOD [Minimum Object Distance] of 15cm at the 11mm focal length setting and 24cm at the 20mm end. At the widest 11mm setting it has an astonishing maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.
• A user-friendly unified 67mm filter size across the series: The 11-20mm F2.8 is so light that the total weight of it and the 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD standard zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras together is only approximately 860g. The combination of these two lenses covers an extreme range of focal lengths from 11mm to 70mm [equivalent to 16.5mm to 105mm on full-frame cameras] with a fast, wide-open aperture of F2.8 at every focal length.
• Quiet and Rapid RXD focussing – ideal for Video too: RXD [Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive] uses an actuator to precisely control the rotational angle of the motor, allowing it to directly drive the focusing lens without passing through a reduction gear. A sensor that precisely detects the position of the lens enables high-speed and accurate AF, which is ideal when shooting continually moving subjects or recording video.
• Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating
• Compatible with many Sony camera-specific AF features and functions 

Availability and price

The Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD is expected to be on sale from the 24th of June 2021 for an SRP price inc Vat of £819.99. 

The Tamron 150-500 F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is expected to be on sale from the 10th of June 2021 for an SRP price inc Vat of £1379.99.