Lightest in its class: Tamron announces new 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD full-frame telephoto zoom
posted Friday, September 15, 2017 at 11:15 AM EDT
Earlier this year, Sigma and Sony each announced a 100-400mm lens, with the latter a high-end lens as part of Sony's G Master lineup. Now Tamron is getting in on the 100-400mm race with its new 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A035) lens, which is actually a bit faster than the newest Sigma at the wider end of the focal length range.
While we don't have pricing information for the new Tamron 100-400mm lens, we do know that it'll release by the end of the year, if all goes as planned, and we have a variety of specifications about the new zoom optic. The full-frame lens includes 3 Low Dispersion (LD) glass elements for aberration reduction and Tamron's proprietary eBAND coating for "superior anti-reflection performance." We don't know the full optical details of the lens yet, but we do know that it has a close focus distance of only 59 inches (1.49 meters) for a magnification ratio of 1:3.6.
At 39.3 ounces (1,114 grams), the Tamron 100-400mm appears to be quite portable given its focal length range. Tamron is stating that it is the "lightest weight in its class" (among 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 lenses for full-frame cameras) and that it uses magnesium material in "key areas" of the lens barrel to reduce weight and improve durability. On the topic of durability, the new Tamron 100-400mm lens will be moisture-resistant and have fluorine coating.
The lens includes Vibration Compensation (VC) and a high-speed Dual Micro-Processing Unit (MPU) to help deliver fast, reliable autofocus. Further, the lens is compatible with Tamron's 1.4x teleconverter and its TAP-in Console which allows for customization to focus and other aspects of the lens' performance. There is also an optional Arca Swiss compatible tripod mount available for the lens.
The Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A035) will be released by the end of this year for an undisclosed price. The lens will be released for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts. You can learn more here.