Question 1

Is the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD a good lens?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it's a highly versatile supertelephoto zoom that handles birds, wildlife, sports, and even close-up nature subjects thanks to a 0.6m minimum focus distance. The VXD linear AF motor is fast enough for erratic moving subjects, and the built-in VC stabilisation makes it genuinely usable handheld at 500mm. Reviewers consistently rate it above expectations for a third-party lens at this price point.

Question 2

How does the Tamron 150-500mm compare to the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS?

Accepted Answer

The Tamron 150-500mm starts 50mm wider at 150mm, giving you more framing flexibility at the short end. It's also around 390g lighter than the Sony 200-600mm, which matters on a long day in the field. The Sony FE 200-600mm offers 100mm more reach at the long end and is generally regarded as sharper with better aberration control, so it depends on whether you prioritise weight and flexibility or maximum reach and optical refinement.

Question 3

Is the Tamron 150-500mm good for bird photography?

Accepted Answer

It's a popular choice for bird photography. The 500mm end pulls distant birds close, the VXD AF motor is fast enough to track birds in flight, and the VC stabilisation helps when light drops in the morning or evening — prime bird-watching hours. The 0.6m minimum focus distance also lets you photograph smaller birds or insects at surprisingly close range without changing lenses.

Question 4

How heavy is the Tamron 150-500mm and can you handhold it?

Accepted Answer

The lens weighs 1725g. That's substantial, but the built-in VC image stabilisation makes extended handheld shooting practical, especially at shorter focal lengths. Many wildlife photographers use it handheld for bursts of action and then rest it on a bean bag or monopod during quieter moments. For all-day shooting at 500mm, a monopod or gimbal head makes a real difference.

Question 5

What AF motor does the Tamron 150-500mm use?

Accepted Answer

It uses Tamron's VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear AF motor. Linear motors are known for fast, accurate, and near-silent autofocus — a practical advantage when you're photographing skittish wildlife or shooting video where AF noise would be picked up by the microphone.

Question 6

Does the Tamron 150-500mm work on Sony APS-C cameras?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it uses the Sony E mount, which is shared by both full-frame and APS-C Sony mirrorless bodies. On an APS-C body the crop factor gives you an effective reach of up to 750mm equivalent, which is excellent for distant wildlife and sports. If you shoot APS-C Sony, this lens is fully compatible with your camera.

Question 7

Why do photographers choose the Tamron 150-500mm over the Sigma 150-600mm?

Accepted Answer

The Tamron's 150–500mm range on a mirrorless-native mount (Sony E) gives it a weight and size advantage over older DSLR-derived designs. The native mirrorless VXD motor is also optimised for Sony's AF system, which can give it an edge in tracking speed and accuracy. If maximum reach is your priority, the Sigma's extra 100mm matters; if you want a lighter, more compact package with native mirrorless AF, the Tamron makes sense.

Question 8

What is the minimum focus distance of the Tamron 150-500mm?

Accepted Answer

The minimum focus distance is 0.6m — measured from the sensor plane. That's unusually close for a supertelephoto zoom and makes the lens usable for insects, flowers, and other small subjects at the shorter end of the range, without needing a separate macro lens.

Question 9

Is buying a used Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 worth it?

Accepted Answer

For most photographers, yes. The Tamron 150-500mm is a well-built lens and pre-owned copies can represent significant savings over new prices. On Camera-tweedehands.nl every second-hand lens is professionally inspected and comes with a minimum of 12 months warranty, so you're protected if anything goes wrong. Check the individual listing for the exact warranty period on your chosen copy.

Question 10

Does the Tamron 150-500mm have image stabilisation?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it has Tamron's VC (Vibration Compensation) system built in. VC is especially useful at 500mm, where even small camera movements translate into significant blur, and it makes handheld shooting at longer focal lengths much more practical in everyday conditions.

Question 11

How many aperture blades does the Tamron 150-500mm have?

Accepted Answer

It has 7 aperture blades. Seven blades produce reasonably rounded bokeh at mid-apertures, which helps keep background blur smooth when isolating a subject — useful for bird portraits or wildlife shots where a clean separation between subject and background matters.

Question 12

Which Sony mirrorless cameras pair well with the Tamron 150-500mm?

Accepted Answer

Any Sony E-mount body works, but the lens particularly shines on bodies with strong subject-tracking AF — the Sony Alpha 7 IV, Sony Alpha 7R V, and Sony Alpha 1 are popular pairings. On APS-C bodies you get extra effective reach, making cameras like the Sony Alpha 6700 a compact but capable wildlife combo with this lens.

Cart (0)

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

Get notified when available

Do you have a Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD - Sony FE?

About the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD - Sony FE

Key Specifications

Who is the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for?

Buying a used Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7

Frequently asked questions