Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD

Summary

The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is a strong optical performer — a super-telephoto zoom (225mm equivalent) with f/5 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$1750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Landscape, Architecture, Macro
  • Avoid for: Street, Travel

Strengths

  • Negligible optical aberrations
  • Exceptionally smooth bokeh
  • Good flare resistance
  • Negligible distortion
  • Weather-sealed construction
  • Fast linear motor autofocus
  • Built-in optical stabilization

Weaknesses

  • Noticeably soft corners wide open

Specifications 18/20

Optical construction25 elements in 16 groups (2 hybrid aspherical, 1 XLD, 5 LD)
CoatingBBAR G2, fluorine
Focal length150-500mm
Max aperturef/5
Sweet spotf/8
Aperture blades7 (circular)
Sunstar points14 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification0.32x
Min focus distance600mm
AF motorLM
OISYes
Weather sealedYes
Aperture ring—
Clickless aperture—
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireYes
Distance scaleNo
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountYes
Weight1725g
Diameter93mm
Length209.6mm
Filter thread82mm
Year2021

Optical Quality 11/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
0.5
Center (stopped)
1.5
Corner (stopped)
1.0
Longitudinal CA
2.0
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
2.0
Vignetting (wide open)
1.0
Vignetting (stopped)
1.5
Bokeh
2.0
Flare resistance
1.5

Sharpness

  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

Rendering

  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
  • Moderate vignetting wide open, typical for the aperture class
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Good flare resistance

Distortion

  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight

All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.

Genre Fit

~LandscapeAdequate~ArchitectureAdequate✗StreetAvoid✗TravelAvoid✓PortraitGood✓SportGood✓WildlifeGood~MacroAdequate

~Landscape Photography3/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
  • Good center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Good flare resistance

~Architecture Photography3/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Good flare resistance

✗Street Photography1/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Slow f/5 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good flare resistance
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration

✗Travel Photography1/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Heavy at 1725g
Secondary
  • Slow f/5 aperture
  • Good flare resistance
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration

✓Portrait Photography4/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Moderate vignetting wide open, typical for the aperture class

✓Sport Photography4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Slow f/5 aperture
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✓Wildlife Photography4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Slow f/5 aperture
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

~Macro Photography3/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.32x)
Secondary
  • Negligible distortion — straight lines stay straight
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Virtually no longitudinal chromatic aberration
  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh

Reviews

Dustin Abbott

Alternatives

Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WRSigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS CFujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WRSamyang 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS Reflex
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