The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD lens offers impressive versatility. With its zoom range starting at 50mm and stretching all the way to 400mm, it covers an 8x zoom ratio, allowing you to capture tight shots and wide scenes without needing to switch lenses.
Coming to you from Dustin Abbott, this comprehensive video review highlights the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD's capabilities on the Nikon Z mount, where it competes against Nikon's pricier 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S. One major selling point for the Tamron is its price—about half of Nikon’s offering. This makes the lens particularly attractive for users looking for similar optical performance without breaking the bank. According to Abbott, this lens delivers solid image quality, maintaining sharpness and clarity across its extensive zoom range, a feature not always common in lenses with such a wide range.
One standout feature of the lens is its close focusing capability. At the 50mm end, it offers an impressive 1:2 magnification ratio, allowing you to get detailed close-up shots. Even at 400mm, it manages a 1:4 magnification ratio, which can be highly useful for those distant subjects that still require a bit of intimacy in detail. Abbott points out how this feature adds another layer of versatility to the lens, something that many zoom lenses cannot match.
In terms of build, Abbott notes that the Tamron lens feels solid and professional, with features like weather-sealing and a 67mm filter thread that’s compatible across many Tamron lenses. He also covers the autofocus performance, driven by Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive), which provides fast and quiet focusing. When paired with the Nikon Z8, Abbott found the autofocus to be reliable even in fast-tracking situations, making it suitable for wildlife or sports photography.
One downside, however, is that the lens is not compatible with teleconverters, limiting its reach for those who want even more telephoto range. Additionally, it has a slower maximum aperture compared to its Nikon counterpart, especially at longer focal lengths, which may impact low-light performance for some users. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Abbott.
