Hands on with the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III for Sony E - 10 things to know

[@photorectoby]

NOTE - When I tested the FPS I was not engaging AF. Retesting with AF-C and it does drop to 20fps. The Sony 100-400 remains at 30fps with AF engaged. I also notice the AF is a bit faster in the 100-400 in that test. Sorry for the misinformation. Otherwise, I remain positive about this lens and leave for my AK photo workshop tomorrow.

[@sann40]

I have an exact same Tamron my question is which is better of the two I was thinking between Tamron 150-500 or Sony 100-400

[@RyanMenseWildlife]

Everyone keeps saying the 200-600 is its competition but I gotta say I disagree. I think it mainly goes head to head with the 100-400s from Sony and Sigma and is happy to sweep up some potential 200-600 buyers too incidentally. Look at your f-stop breakdown. It’s essentially saying it acts like the 100-400 5.6, but as a bonus it extends beyond that (the tradeoff is no 100mm 4.5, mostly a big whoop for people who buy these). People are looking at it like it’s a lesser 600mm when I think the size and design points to attempting to be a 400mm with added benefit.

[@heathwirt8919]

The zoom lock is a nice feature as it the Arca Swiss mount. Seems odd that the F stop switches from F6.3 to F6.7 when transitioning from 499 to 500 MM.

[@photorectoby]

It's the little touches that really add up. Seems odd but that what it does :)

[@bioliv1]

The clutch mechanism is ingenious! Hope Sony soon will update their 100-400 GM with the same mechanism! The tension ring is horrible, I always have it on the tightest, and still has lens creep when I carry the lens around:-/

[@lorenzo4262]

Hello, how works af in sports shoots like rugby (people run towards you) on a7r3?

[@photorectoby]

The AF is good but if you need fastest AF the 100-400 is a little faster.

[@kfwade]

What is the table stand that you have?

[@photorectoby]

That is a Platypod

[@stripes_in_raw]

I am planning to pair the Tamron 150-500 with the A7R4. Will it be able to handle the resolution ? Please let me know I can't afford the Sony 200-600 & A7R4 or A9 together. My options are A7R3 & Sony 200-600 A9 & Tamron 150-500 A7R4 & Tamron 150-500 Please suggest me what to do. I am switching from Nikon D850 & 200-500mm. I don't use tripod, only handholding. I am not a birds in flight guy. I mainly photograph bigcats in the wild mainly in India & Africa & sometimes static birds. But i need a lens which can keep up with a Cheetah chasing in African plains. I had no problem with the D850 & 200-500 except the lens has too much ghosting haze and fungus problem as it doesn't have any coating or sealing for hot humid dusty environments & front element cannot be opened. In cooler weather the lens performed very good. But here in India its always very hot. Thank you

[@MrChillehead]

I have a Sony a6400 paired Tamron 150-500mm. Its not as sharp as I expected, and often out of focus

[@thedatablogger_in]

Great video. Can I use it with a 1.4x teleconverter?

[@photorectoby]

No. Sorry!

[@carll2222]

Very informative - thanks! I'm looking at this lens for wildlife and airshows. Might get the A7III body for airshows and/or A6600 for wildlife. My A77 has died and frankly, the Sigma 50-500 F4-6.3 APO DG I was using with it (previously with an A700 body) is a slow autofocus beast of a lens. Time to upgrade.

[@carll2222]

PS.... looking forward to your trip to Katmai. I see that the bear cams are live again for this season on Explorer/KZbin. There is another bear viewing platform near Hyder AK on Fish Creek. I've been there several times over the past 50+ years. Always seems to be raining when I'm there with a camera. Amazing scenery on the road into Hyder via Stewart BC Canada.

[@photorectoby]

@@carll2222 Hi Carl. Glad you found the video useful I will followup more after our trip. We are all by boat - leaving Kodiak and anchoring off the coast. I still haven't been to the platforms - its high on my list!

[@doceinstein]

+

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

This lens appears very similar to Tamron's 150-600 G2 for DSLRs. My Canon version works pretty well with my R5 and R6. I hope they come up with an RF version some day. I see this version's buttons are more recessed. The DSLR buttons are very easy to accidentally dislodge. How does this lens work for video? The DSLR version 150-600 doesn't pan smoothly IMO.

[@Andy1076]

How does one sign up to go on trips like this? to see wild nature so up close? 😍

[@photorectoby]

Andy - so sorry I missed this comment. You can see upcoming workshops at mckaylive.com - Many are sold out but news trips are announced often and we will be announcing a return to Katmai summer 2024.

[@mikey7326]

Would that be 30fps continuous A/F though?

[@photorectoby]

Solid question. Let me test more and get back to you.

[@photorectoby]

I was not engaging AF when I tested. As you suspected using AF does slow it down to about 20 FPS and when I use the Sony 10o-400 with identical settings I do get 30 fps.

[@mikey7326]

@@photorectoby Thanks for checking.

[@davidjones8070]

A warning when using this lense..Do Not use the KandF cpl filters. Because of the way the lens hood mounts the filter seats to deep making it almost impossible to remove the filter.

[@sann40]

I have an exact same Tamron my question is which is better of the two I was thinking between Tamron 150-500 or Sony 100-400

[@photorectoby]

The sony is a little faster and a little sharper but it is a very slight difference.