Home  Donate  New  Search  Gallery  Reviews  How-To  Books  Links  Workshops  About  Contact

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3
VR & IS, USM & SWM (2013-)
© 2014-2023 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

Please help KenRockwell..com

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 (covers full-frame, APS-C and 35mm formats, 95mm filters, 59.5 oz./1,687g without collar, 8.9'/2.7m close focus, about $525 used if you know How to Win at eBay. It was $1,100 to $1,700 when new and comes in versions for Nikon, for Canon and for Sony Alpha & Minolta MAXXUM.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially this link directly to this lens at Adorama and at Amazon when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep reviewing these lenses when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take your chances and buy elsewhere. Tamron does not seal its boxes, so never buy at retail; only buy from approved sources. Thanks for your support! Ken.

 

August 2023, December 2014     Tamron Reviews   Nikon Lenses   Canon Lenses   All Reviews

Sigma 150-500mm

Nikon 80-400mm VR AF-S

Nikon 80-400mm VR

Canon 100-400mm II

Canon 100-400mm

 

Introduction       top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

Adorama pays top dollar for your used gear.

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

The Tamron 150-600mm VR/IS is an inexpensive ultra telephoto zoom that works much better than I had expected.

It's surprisingly sharp, doesn't have much distortion, it zooms very well across a large range, its VR (Nikon) and IS (Canon) system works very well, and its silent autofocus really does work very well.

It feels great; zooming is smooth and easy — feeling better than Nikon or Canon's ultra-tele zooms.

Autofocus is fast and sure, and you can grab the focus ring at any time for instant manual focus override.

Autofocus works great. This Tamron works better on my Nikon D810 as far as autofocus and general usage than other third party lenses, none of which has gotten instant focus override to work properly, as it does on this Tamron.

Considering its huge range, this Tamron looks and feels great. Presuming you don't intend to abuse it physically, for the super-low price, this Tamron is an unexpected winner.

If you think you want one and aren't expecting it to take a beating or last more than 10 years, sure, I'd get one. It's much nicer than I expected, and for a 600mm lens that actually works and feels great, the price is a steal.

 

Compatibility       intro     top

As a third-party lens, it may or may not work on your camera.

The biggest concern is that although it ought to work great today, it is much less likely to work on whatever Nikon or Canon you buy 8 years from now.

 

Nikon

The Nikon version (tested here) should work with all Nikon DX and FX cameras, and most autofocus 35mm cameras.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility, and read down the "AF-I/AF-S," "G" and "VR" columns. You'll get the least of all the features displayed in all columns, since "G" (gelding) is a deliberate handicap which removes features and compatibility.

I found my sample sometimes overexposed, but no worries: that's why there's an exposure compensation button on our cameras.

 

Canon

The Canon version is supposed to work with all Canon EOS cameras, meaning every Canon DSLR and every EOS 35mm camera.

 

Sony

The Sony Alpha & Minolta MAXXUM version ought to work on all Sony Alpha cameras. Use an adapter like the LA-EA3 or LA-EA4, and it should work on NEX cameras, too.

 

Minolta

The Sony Alpha & Minolta MAXXUM version ought to work on all Minolta MAXXUM cameras, both digital and 35mm.

 

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

 

Sample Images       top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

Roof tiles RP 17 Dec 2014

Tiles. Nikon D810, Tamron 150-600mm at 600mm, f/6.3 at 1/640 at ISO 180. Full-resolution.

 

Roof tiles RP 17 Dec 2014

Plant. Nikon D810, Tamron 150-600mm at 600mm, f/6.3 at 1/125 at ISO 100. bigger.

 

Specifications         top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

 

Name        top

Tamron calls this the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD.

    SP: Super Performance. Tamron's been calling their lenses this at least since the 1970s.

    Di: More marking fluff meaning it works on digital cameras, too.

    VC: Image Stabilization, also called VR or IS. Tamron calls it Vibration Compensation since Canon calls theirs Image Stabilization.

    USD: UltraSonic Drive, same as Nikons AF-S SWM and Canon's USM.

Model Numbers: A011N for Nikon, A011C for Canon and A011S forthe old Sony Alpha DSLR and and Minolta MAXXUM mount cameras

 

Optics        top

20 elements in 13 groups.

Multicoated.

Rotary zoom. Front extends as zoomed longer:

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm at 600mm. enlarge.

 

Diaphragm        top

Front, Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm at 150mm at f/32.

9 rounded blades.

Stops down to f/32-40.

 

Coverage        top

35mm film, FX and DX.

 

Focal Length        top

150~600mm.

When used on a DX camera, it sees angles of view similar to what a 230~900mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.

 

Angle of View        top

16.4° ~ 4.1° on full-frame and 35mm.

10.5° ~ 2.6° on small-format.

 

Close Focus        top

8.9 feet (2.7 meters) from the image plane.

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio        top

1:5.0 (0.2x).

 

Hard Infinity Focus Stop?        top

No.

You have to let the AF system focus at infinity.

 

Focus Scale        top

Yes.

 

Depth-of-Field Scale        top

No.

 

Infra-Red Focus Index        top

No.

 

Aperture Ring        top

No.

 

Tripod Collar        top

Yes.

Removable.

 

Filter Thread        top

95 mm, plastic.

Does not rotate.

 

Vibration Reduction (VR)         top

Yes.

 

Size        top

Tamron specifies 4.2" (105.6 mm) diameter by 10.1" (257.8 mm) extension from flange.

 

Weight        top

59.495 oz. (1,686.65g), lens only without collar, actual measured.

68.845 oz. (1,951.65g) with collar, measured. (Tamron specifies 68.8 oz (1,951g).)

9.343 oz. (264.9 g), collar only.

 

Hood        top

Plastic bayonet HA011hood, included.

 

Case        top

None included.

 

Included        top

Snap-on 95mm front lens cap.

Rear cap.

 

Quality         top

Made in People's Republic of China.

 

Warranty         top

6 years, USA.

 

Teleconverters        top

Don't try it. f/6.3 is pushing it as it is.

 

Packaging        top

Microcorrugated cardboard box with folded cardboard inserts.

Box, Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Box, Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

 

Announced        top

Late 2013.

 

Available since         top

They were hard to get even in December 2014. They are this popular

 

Tamron Product Number        top

A011:

A011N is Nikon.

A011C is Canon.

A011S is Sony and Minolta.

 

Price, USA        top

August 2023

About $525 used if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

December 2014

$1,070.

It was $1,100 to $1,700 when new and came in versions for Nikon, for Canon and for Sony Alpha & Minolta MAXXUM.

 

Performance       top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

Overall    Autofocus    Bokeh    Distortion   

Ergonomics   Eyeblow   Falloff    Filters   

Focal Lengths, effective    Focus Breathing   

Lateral Color Fringes    Macro    Mechanics    

Sharpness   Sounds and Noise   Sunstars   

Survivability    Tripod Collar    Image Stabilization 

 

Overall       performance     top

The Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is a surprisingly decent performer. It shoots well, and its optics are better at 600mm than cropping from a sharper 400mm lens — although a great fixed lens with a teleconverter should be sharper at 600mm.

 

Autofocus       performance     top

 

AF Speed

AF is plenty fast, a surprise especially at 600mm. It moves and locks-on without wavering.

 

AF Accuracy

AF is right-on with my Nikon.

 

Manual Focus

Manual focus is easy, just move the ring with a fingertip at any time for instant override.

 

Bokeh       performance     top

Bokeh, the character of out of focus backgrounds, not simply how far out of focus they are, is great.

Here are images on full-frame at about headshot distance at each focal length wide-open:

Tamron 150-600mm bokeh

Tamron 150-600mm bokeh

Tamron 150-600mm bokeh

 

Distortion       performance     top

The Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 has minor to moderate pincushion distortion at all settings. It won't be visible unless you look for it.

No camera will be able to correct it automatically; Tamron doesn't make DSLRs and neither Nikon nor Canon are going to add this lens to their firmware.

It's easy to into Photoshop's lens distortion filter using my figures below. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.

FX and 35mm
at 30m/100'

150mm
-2.0
200mm
-2.7
300mm
-3.0
400mm
-2.5
600mm
-2.0

© 2014 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

 

Ergonomics (handling and ease-of-use)       performance     top

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3.

Ergonomics are surprisingly good. For what ought to be a giant lens, it's trivially easy to handhold, zoom, focus and shoot.

The focus scale uses the same color for feet and for meters, so it always takes too long to read.

Zooming is marvelous. It's smooth and easy to turn, even pointed straight up or down.

Just like Nikon's original 80-400mm VR, there are metal nubs left protruding when you remove the tripod collar.

This is a slow lens. Your finder will be darker, especially at 600mm, than with your other lenses.

 

Eyeblow       performance     top

Loads of air is pumped in and out as the 150-600mm zooms. All that air has to go someplace, and so it's pumped in and out of your camera body, and you may have some air blow out of the eyepiece into your eye.

You won't usually care, but the design of the 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is such that air, and thus dirt, are pumped in and out all the time into both your lens and your camera.

 

Falloff (darkened corners)       performance     top

Falloff on FX and 35mm is minor.

It won't be an issue at all on DX (see crop factor).

I've exaggerated this by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background.

 

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff on FX and 35mm at infinity, no correction.

 

f/8
f/11
150mm Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff
300mm Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff
600mm Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 falloff

© 2014 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

Filters, use with       performance     top

There is no problem with vignetting, even with stacks of thick filters.

The filter ring does not rotate.

 

Focal Lengths, actual        performance     top

The effective maximum focal length shortens at closer distances.

This is an optical trick to let this lens to focus as close as it does.

If you compare it to a fixed 600mm lens, you'll see the same angler of view at infinity, but this lens won't actually be a true 600mm as you focus closer.

The other ultra-tele zooms do the same thing.

 

Focus Breathing       performance     top

Of interest mostly to cinematographers focusing back and forth between two subjects, there is almost no focus breathing.

The image from the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 gets very slightly larger as focused more closely, but only very slightly and only at the closest distances.

Unless you're deliberately running a test, this lens has less focus breathing than almost any other lens.

 

Lateral Color Fringes       performance     top

There are no lateral color fringes on the Nikon D810, which corrects them automatically.

At least on Nikon DSLRs which correct this, this lens looks great at every focal length. Lateral color used to be a huge problem with lenses this long, and this Tamron looks great on my D810.

 

Macro       performance     top

Macro gets reasonably close - from nine feet away!

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Full-frame image at 600mm at f/11 at close-focus distance.

 

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Crop from above 36 MP image at 100%. If this is 6" wide on your screen, the complete image printed at this same magnification would be 75 x 50." (6 x 4 feet, or 2 x 1.25 meters!)

Macro is sharp, too. Bravo!

 

Mechanics and Construction       performance     top

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

The Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is almost all plastic, except for the mount and tripod collar.

 

Front Bumper

Rubber.

 

Filter Threads

Plastic.

 

Hood

Plastic bayonet.

 

Hood Mount

Plastic.

 

Front Barrel

Plastic.

 

Zoom Ring

Plastic; rubber covered.

 

Mid Barrel (between focus and zoom rings)

Plastic.

 

Identity

Metal trim ring just in front of focus ring.

 

Focus Ring

Plastic; rubber covered.

 

Focus Scale

Yes, but feet and meters are the same color.

 

Depth of Field Scale

None.

 

Rear Barrel I (between focus ring and tripod collar)

Plastic.

 

Tripod Collar

Metal.

 

Rear Barrel II (between tripod collar and mount)

Plastic.

 

Internals

Seem like plastic and metal.

 

Aperture Ring

None.

 

Mount

Dull-chromed brass.

 

Markings

Paint.

 

Mounting Index

Gray mark painted on barrel.

 

Serial Number

Laser engraved onto bottom rear of mid barrel between focus and zoom rings.

 

US Model Signified by

Hologram sticker on box:

Tamron 150-600mm USA warrenty

 

Moisture seal at mount

Yes.

 

Noises When Shaken

Moderate clicking.

 

Made in

China.

 

Weaknesses

Since the barrels are plastic, one good drop and I presume it will break in two.

If the AF motor dies and Tamron has no parts, you're stuck with a manual focus lens.

 

Sharpness       performance     top

Warning 1: Image sharpness depends more on you than your lens.

Warning 2: Lens sharpness doesn't mean much to good photographers.

While amateurs waste time worrying about lens sharpness, pros know that lens sharpness has little to do with making sharp pictures. This said, the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is quite sharp, except as expected at 600mm, where — news flash — it's not quite as sharp as a $12,000 lens.

Honestly, it's difficult to get perfect results at 600mm of distant subjects because of atmospheric heat shimmer. This has been vexing Man for hundreds of years; most of the time slight differences in air temperature refract light and make ultra tele shots look as if they're shot through water. This isn't the lens, it's nature.

Thankfully this lens is sharp wide-open, which is where we almost always shoot it.

Be sure that your lens is focussing perfectly with your camera. It's always likely that a third-party lens like this will have some focus offset which may need to be adjusted with your camera's AF Fine Tuning.

Sure, if you want perfect results limited only by diffraction at 600mm, then buy a real 600mm lens, but for the people who buy this lens, it works very well at all settings, especially 600mm.

 

Sounds and Noise       performance     top

Focus really is nearly silent. This is a quiet, refined lens.

 

Sunstars       performance     top

With its rounded diaphragm, I don't expect to see sunstars on brilliant points of light.

 

Survivability       performance     top

The Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is almost all plastic.

I suspect it will be easy to break into two pieces if you bang it. This is why this lens only costs $1,100.

 

Tripod Collar       performance     top

The metal collar works fine.

It has some play when loosened.

It does not have 90º clicks.

It removes by sliding it off the rear of the lens.

I really like the little carrying handle it forms, reminiscent of my Nikon 400/2.8 AF-I.

 

Image Stabilization        performance     top

VR and IS is well behaved and works surprisingly well. It settles down quickly, and I have no problems getting sharp shots at 1/60 at 600mm.

Other third-party VR and IS systems I've used have not worked this well; this IS/VR system seems to work as well as Nikon and Canon's.

 

Usage             top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3. enlarge.

 

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3

Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3.ÏÏ

FULL - 15m-∞ Switch

This is a focus limiter.

Leave it at FULL.

Set it to 15m-∞ only if the lens is getting confused and trying to rack itself all the way in and out as you try to focus on distant targets. The 15m-∞ position prevents it from autofocusing closer than 15 meters (50 feet).

 

AF - MF Switch

Auto or manual focus.

Leave it in AF, in which setting you may grab the ring for instant manual override

Use the MF setting only if you want focus to stay where you set it and not move if you tap your shutter button.

 

Compared             top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

I do this for a living, so I only use camera-brand lenses since the price of a lens doesn't matter because I use it every day. See Is It Worth It.

For normal people, this is a very inexpensive way to get to an honest 600mm.

If you really need 600mm, then get this lens over the Nikon or Canon lenses, otherwise, I prefer Nikon or Canon lenses because they work better and last longer.

A funny way to think of it is to think of cars. If you need 400mm, then just like carrying 4 people, you want the Mercedes S-Klasse just as you want the Nikon or Canon lens. If you really need 600mm, just as if you need to carry 6 people, then a Dodge Caravan, like this Tamron, does it better for a fraction of the price.

 

Sigma

This Tamron feels and handles much better than the Sigma 150-500mm.

The Sigma is sharper at 500mm, but its autofocus is much slower.

The Sigma also feels junky compared to Nikon and Canon.

I'd consider the Sigma for things that hold still, but if they're moving, get this Tamron.

 

Nikon

The Nikon 80-400mm VR AF-S has superb optics, ultra-sharp at all settings, but it's mostly made of plastic and costs almost three times as much as the Tamron.

The original Nikon 80-400mm VR is very well made and has swell optics, but it focuses slowly and not very close. The original 80-400 VR is inexpensive to buy used, about $800 if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Canon

The brand-new Canon 100-400mm IS L II just started to ship in December 2014, and mine just arrived. Unlike the Nikon or Tamron, the Canon is made as a pro lens should be: out of all metal. The 100-400 II is a beauty, and I'll bet you that with the 1.4x extender that it can outperform this Tamron optically as well. The new Canon also focuses down to only 3 feet (0.98 meters), giving the Canon 100-400 II a much larger performance envelope than this Tamron.

The original Canon 100-400mm IS L has always been a top lens, and sells for almost a little as this Tamron. This Canon is also a top professional product, and sells today for a song. I'd buy the original Canon in a heartbeat over this Tamron; but that's just me who prefers camera-brand lenses. If money is tight, I'd consider a used 100-400 for about $1,000 if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Recommendations       top

Introduction   Sample Images   Specifications   

Performance   Usage   Compared   Recommendations

The Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is a great lens for the price. It really does feel good in-hand, works well and gives excellent results. Compared to spending twice as much for the Canon 100-400mm II or almost three times as much for the mostly plastic Nikon 80-400mm VR AF-S, this Tamron is a great lens for the next few years.

If you've been considering one, by all means get it. Never buy a third-party lens as a long term investment, but if you're happy to get several years of great pictures out of it for a bargain price, go for it.

Tamron's rear caps are crummy. I'd get a real Nikon rear cap ($3.50) or Canon rear cap ($7) for it.

I'd leave a 95mm UV filter on the lens at all times. I'd specifically get the B+W multicoated 95mm filter. At 600mm, you don't want too cheap a filter. Then again, you're buying a third-party lens because you don't mind taking chances to save some cash. Seeing how a good 95mm filter sells for more than 10% the price of this lens, maybe you want to go commando and forget the filter.

Tamron does not seal its boxes, so never buy at retail since God only knows what has happened or where the lens has been before it's bought by you; only buy from approved sources. One drop from the counter by the customer before you at a retail store before the lens is put back and sold to you can really mess up a zoom like this.

This is a very popular lens, and therefore isn't always in stock. Just order and be patient and resist the temptation to get one at retail if you find it. If it's sitting in a store, there is a reason why.

If you've found my honest opinion helpful, know that my main source of support to share this all-content, junk-free website comes from you using these links to it in Nikon mount, Canon mount and Sony Alpha & Minolta MAXXUM mount, or using any of these links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep reviewing these lenses when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take your chances and buy elsewhere.

Thanks for your support!

Ken.

 

Help me help you         top

I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.

The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.

If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.

If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!

If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.

As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

Home  Donate  New  Search  Gallery  Reviews  How-To  Books  Links  Workshops  About  Contact

21 August 2023, 17-18 Dec. 2014