Does the Tamron 50-400mm Deliver for Nikon Z Photographers?

Two years after its initial announcement for the Sony E-mount in September 2022, Tamron recently released the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD for the Nikon Z mount. With a range from 50mm to 400mm, this is a substantial range for one lens. But can it hold up?

Specifications

• Angle of View (diagonal): 46°48'- 6°11' (for full frame mirrorless format)
• Optical Construction: 24 elements in 18 groups
• Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:2 (wide) / 1:4 (tele)
• Filter Size: Φ67mm
• Length: 185.8mm / 7.3 in (Nikon)
• Weight: 1,180 g / 41.6 oz (Nikon)
• Aperture Blades: 9 (circular diaphragm)
• Minimum Aperture: f/22-32
• Standard Accessory: Flower-shaped hood, front cap, rear cap

Introduction and Initial Thoughts

Finally, the Tamron 50-400mm f4.5-6.3 Di III VC XVD is available for Nikon Z mount. It is a unique lens in its own right, sporting a wide range of focal lengths. This lens can find its place in any photographer's bag, but it will significantly benefit many photographers. I come from the days when an all-in-one lens had more negatives than positives, but with time and technology, we're at the end of an era where a lens with a broad range means poor quality. My initial thoughts for any photographer should be: where does the lens fit into my workflow, and does it solve any problems? If you are looking for a lens that you can take on a trip that covers most of the focal range you may need, this lens fills that void. I recommend taking a lens wider than 50mm to cover almost every focal range. This lens would make a great addition to a photographer who mainly travels, is starting to photograph wildlife, and even a portrait photographer.

Build Quality and Design

This is an incredibly compact lens. Given its focal length of 400mm, its short 7.3-inch length, and weight of 40.8 oz, it makes for an easy lens to carry around all day without straining your shoulder! It is made of a high-quality polycarbonate material that adds durability and less weight, even during its heaviest uses. Durable? I say it is! The build quality reminds me of the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 G2 I purchased using a Nikon DSLR. That lens was taken all over the place and took a beating, and I never had any issues with it over its life. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the 50-400mm and would not worry if it was in my bag. The lens also sports a metal lens mount, a massive plus in my book! I wouldn’t expect Tamron to cheap out on a lens of this quality. I have never understood why manufacturers choose to use plastic lens mounts besides their use to keep costs down. The lens mount has a rubber ring to keep out dust and moisture, which is another plus! Again, I wouldn’t think Tamron would have skipped this on this caliber of lens, but manufacturers have done some crazy things over the years!

I was happy with the overall design of the lens. It has a nice feel and is easy to hold. Over the years, I have had a gripe with Tamron and the switches on their lenses. When using my 70-200mm f/2.8, the vibration compensation and manual focus switch stuck up enough that it was easy to catch them on clothing and put the lens in manual focus or shut off the vibration compensation. It looks like this has been taken care of on the 50-400mm, or it's my imagination. Tamron also includes a lock switch to prevent the lens from walking on you as you carry it. I don’t see this as an issue; the lens is tight when zooming in and out. It is possible with rigorous use over time, but this shouldn’t be an issue for many users. But the switch is an excellent addition to the lens. It also includes a custom switch allowing the user to customize this switch to control specific focus-related operations or modes, allowing quick toggling between settings while shooting. The lens also includes a USB-C port, which allows for customization and updating the lens's firmware with the Tamron Lens Utility software. I noticed no rubber cap over this port, exposing it to the elements and dust. The lens includes a typical lens hood and an optional tripod mount with a compatible Arca-Swiss foot, allowing for quick shooting between tripod and hand-held shooting. Overall, the lens has many valuable features and sports a nice ergonomic feel.  

Overall Image Quality

This is what we're all here for anyway, right? Image quality. As mentioned, lenses with such an extensive focal range usually compromise quality. Overall, while shooting this lens, I was thoroughly impressed with the quality this lens provides, considering the extensive focal range. If you are interested in this lens, it is probably because it's a 400mm lens. The lens performs well at all focal ranges, producing very usable and sharp images. I was surprised at the image's sharpness at 400mm and from edge to edge, with little distortion on the wide end. I was expecting usable images with some softness but was surprised to see the photos at the 400mm focal range be impeccably sharp! I wanted to shoot all my pictures in the 400mm range. I must admit I am a near-and-far shooter, meaning I am either shooting with the longest or shortest focal length.

It is equipped with the second generation of BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti Reflection Generation 2) coating, which reduces ghosting and glare when shooting directly into your light source. This was pretty amazing, as I was shooting some backlit scenes on a few occasions. After looking at the images I shot, I noticed minimal flare in the photos, almost no flare!

When it came to the color that the lens produced, I felt it was very natural, and I didn’t have to correct any weird colors in the image. Due to advancements in technology over the years, this is not as big of an issue as it was in the past.

Tamron VC 

The lens is equipped with Tamron’s proprietary VC. I believe Tamron is strong in this game and has been so for the last several years. It was a significant point in my purchasing the 70-200mm f/2.8. When properly handholding the lens, I could handhold some pretty slow shutter speeds. VC is your best friend when handholding the camera at more considerable focal lengths, such as 400mm, as any movement is exaggerated. Tamron has been using AI technology; the lens will use the appropriate compensation characteristics for video at focal lengths of 100mm or less.

Autofocus Performance

The lens utilizes the VXD linear motor focus mechanism, which allows for fast and accurate focusing from MOD to infinity. The autofocus performance will suit wildlife and sports photographers and any photographer or videographer. While I was out using the lens, a flock of geese flew overhead, and it was a perfect time to use the autofocus and 400mm. I transitioned from a landscape image to birds in flight. Honestly, the autofocus lagged and felt a little slow. I didn't have my Nikon Z7II set up for optimal autofocus for birds in flight, which was the issue. I noticed a little hunting of the focus when it came to low light conditions, mainly due to the scene's low contrast. Overall, the autofocus performed beautifully and worked well; I had very few complaints.

Moisture Resistance 

When shooting outdoors in the elements, we want to protect our gear. Tamron has integrated leak-resistant seals throughout the lens's barrel, protecting against moisture and outdoor elements. As I previously mentioned, Tamron also provides a seal around the lens mount.

Macro Capabilities

Again, this lens is pushing the range of all-in-one! When traveling or headed out for a day shoot, you may never know what you might find to photograph. You might be thoroughly surprised to find that this lens also has half-macro 1:2 capabilities and a MOD of 9.8 inches. Would I pull this lens out of the bag for macro shots specifically? No. I look at the macro capabilities of this lens as an added bonus if I come across a photograph that I would want to shoot up close and didn’t have a macro lens with me at that time.

Versatility 

Versatility is a great word to describe this lens. It can get the job done in any situation with a focal range from 50mm to 400mm. If you are going on a trip where you want to keep your setup small, take this lens and a wide angle lens, and you will be covered for any situation. I previously wrote an article on using telephoto lenses in landscape photography. I enjoyed the 400mm focal length for the landscape images I took with this lens. This lens would also be great for nature and landscape photographers who hike long or short distances. With the macro capabilities and longer focal length, it indeed can cover all the bases for the nature photographer. If you're a parent with children in outdoor and daytime sports, this lens will also suit you at an affordable price compared to other lenses on the market for this type of shooting. It just covers your kid's sports and will allow for different uses. Especially if you're not the hardcore photographer out on the weekend and just the family photographer documenting life!

Price and Value 

Price is always a factor in any purchase of gear. This lens comes in at $1,299.00 US. Would I like to see it priced a little lower? Yes, but considering the overall image and build quality, I can see why it is set at this price. Also, it covers many focal ranges, and if you were to purchase separate lenses for all the focal lengths the 50-400mm covers, it would cost a lot more. So, in the end, it is a good price point.

What I Liked

• Versatility.
• Build quality.
• Overall image quality.

What Needs to Be Improved

• Tripod Collar: I wish it were included, as it would reduce overall expenses.
• Price: I still can't complain too much, but a lower price would be welcome.

Conclusion

This versatile lens will suit almost any photographer, from family sports photographers to more advanced nature and landscape photographers, including videographers. The build quality will hold up to the elements and, over time, provide years of use. If you're looking for a lens that is great for travel on your next vacation or photographic adventure, I highly recommend having this in your bag. You may never want to take it off the camera due to its image quality and versatility. You can purchase the lens here.