Who It’s For:
The Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 is Tamron’s latest affordable (comparatively speaking) 500mm lens. If you need a lens that will give you an incredible reach, at a fraction of the cost of the big boys, then this is definitely the lens for you.
What We Like:
Price: This lens is quite a lot cheaper than comparable offerings from Nikon or Canon.
DX Reach: On a DX camera, this lens has a comparable reach of 320-800mm
Build Quality: This lens is part of Tamron’s SP lens group, which means it has the build quality of a professional lens.
Transport Lock: The lens allows you to lock it at the 200mm focal length for travel.
What We Don’t:
Speed: AF performance is pretty slow at times
AF: in addition to relatively slow speed, the focus ring rotates, meaning this lens is a little outdated and loud.
Size: At 200mm this lens is fairly compact, but by 500mm, you better have a tripod handy.