Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF SP AF

 
Lens Reviews / Tamron Lenses i Not yet tested
200-500mm $801
average price
image of Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF SP AF

(From Tamron lens literature) This is a new zoom lens from Tamron that lets you bring your far away subjects up close while compressing the distance between the main subject and the background for professional-looking results. Even while covering up to a 500mm that enables you to take ultra telephoto shots of subjects further than the eye can see, its design is extremely lightweight and compact. When mounted on an APS-C size digital SLR camera, it provides a focal length equivalent to a 760mm for super ultra telephoto imaging.

Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF SP AF User Reviews

8.1/10 average of 9 review(s) Build Quality 8.3/10 Image Quality 8.7/10
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by susanpettit (1 reviews)
    great results
    no is

    I own Bigma and Tamron 200-500. Use with Canon 5D. CS3 records that Tamron is 200-486.

    I did tests to see if whether Tamron or Bigma is of longer zoom. Tripod, focus on same subject. Very obviously, if Tamron is 486mm, Bigma at the very most is 450mm, a good chance even shorter at 440mm.


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    reviewed October 29th, 2015 (purchased for $850)
  • 8 out of 10 points and recommended by ophiramitai (3 reviews)
    very sharp along the whole zoom range, no distortion, no CA, lock to prevent zoom creep
    Zoom ring movement too long, requires a "big" twist of the wrist, no focus limit switch, aperture is small

    I have been using this lens for 3 weeks.
    It has surprisingly good IQ.
    It's not heavy for the class and easy to handle.
    I miss a focus limit switch to keep the lens from hunting from close focus to infinity.
    I missed some shots because of this.
    Also the zoom ring requires quite a long twist of the arm which is almost impossible to use in the field when trying to zoom from 200 to 500 mm or back.
    If it's important to anyone the lens has a"wow factor" because it's so long and massive looking. Especially with hood on.

    reviewed August 8th, 2015
  • 6 out of 10 points and recommended by mikekovach (1 reviews)
    Excellent results from 200-500, no distortion, CA or loss of detail.
    Difficult to hand hold at full extension.

    I have been using this lens on a Sony A700 and have never had an issue with the quality of the images. I do wish that the lens has SSM and a much faster focus. With that said, I found for my sensor setting the ISO at 800, SS at 500-1000 and aperture between F9\F16 really improves the sharpness of the images. From my experience with this lens on the A700 ISO 800 and 1600 seems to be the best fit. On the down side the huge hood far to large, in fact, during overcast days, or if the sun is at your back using it is not necessary. I have learned to manual focus with my drive button hand since the focus ring in neat the body, make for a much quicker focus response. Also, I never shoot in modes other than A or M with this lens and I always use Spot metering. These things turn the lens and its use into a fine tool on the camera I use.

    reviewed January 4th, 2010 (purchased for $1)
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by alemdar (2 reviews)

    Pros :
    Tamron SP AF 200-500mm sharpness,contrast and colors lens.
    Cons:
    İmage Stabilizers.

    reviewed July 30th, 2009 (purchased for $950)
  • 8 out of 10 points and recommended by David Bickle (4 reviews)
    shoot wide open and pics are very usable.

    I have used this lens for about two years now on a D200. The images are sharp and very usable. This monstor is hand holdable in good light however I use a tripod or monopod when exceeding 300mm in focal length.
    This is a very good lens in the price range.

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $850)
  • 8 out of 10 points and recommended by Stuke (2 reviews)
    Great quality and build, smooth rings, sharp pictures, excellent lens bag
    slight looseness at lens connection on Sony A700, long with hood on

    Received it today, nicely packaged, and immediately set to work taking pictures. I like the strong build, great attachment ring to my monopod, and excellent balance at that. On my Sony A700, the lens is a tiny bit loose when twisted and snapped on the camera body. This doesn't affect pictures but gives a slight uncomfortable feeling when handling the camera/lens on a stabilizer (monopod/tripod).

    You need an external flash rather than the built in flash to avoid dark regions due to the lens (with and without the hood...when extended to 400+mm zoom).

    Free hand, I shot sharp images out to 400mm but after that I needed to prop myself or move to a stabilizer for sharpness. At 500mm, I found I need to run with MF rather than AF; but, if I changed the AF mode to spot (rather than wide), AF worked OK.

    After researching this against the Sigma 50-500mm, I'm very satisfied I chose this lens...you will be too!

    reviewed August 7th, 2008 (purchased for $880)
  • 9 out of 10 points and recommended by buphaintr (2 reviews)
    Very sharp 200-450. light weight
    Slow AF with my Eos 20D, corner sharpness

    I started dSLR two years ago as a hobby.
    Telephoto is not my favorite, so Tamron 200-500 is my first and only telephoto experience. This len is also my first 3rd party len.
    I got this len one week after Christmas. It is very sharp from 200 to 450. Sharpness declins at corner rapidly of the picture.
    I had no chance to test outdoor since there is raining almost every weekend. I tested indoor on 5 meter s far from subject with flash on, I love the results including at 500 zoom. Handheld is perfect.
    AF is slower than other my canon lens on 20D.


    Before I bought this len, I decided between fixed lens (canon 300mm f/4 L and 400mm f/5.6L) and Canon 100-400L. I prefer zoom over fixed lens (even they are sharper), then after compared many reveiws between tamron and canon 100-400, I final with tamron with a cheaper and an extra zoom. Canon might sharper, but tamron is sharp enough for my test. :)

    I am really happy so far. I am waiting for an outdoor test.

    reviewed January 7th, 2007 (purchased for $800)
  • 8 out of 10 points and recommended by zooomlenz (6 reviews)
    Light weight, Sharp, Cost
    No IF

    Excellent sports lens for a photographer on a budget. Extremely sharp considering it's not a Nikon ED or a Canon L lens. I've used this lens for outdoor sports mainly soccer and found it to be very manageable. The only con I have is that internal focus would be nice as when this monster is racked out completely it's a bit long. Otherwise go for it!

    reviewed December 11th, 2006 (purchased for $879)
  • 8 out of 10 points and recommended by Powerdoc (7 reviews)
    Sharp, well build, easy to handhold
    no USM, no IS

    This lens is a true alternative to the bigma. it's very sharp on both the 20 D and the 5D from 100 to 400, and it's sharp at 500, even if you need to stop down for increasing the sharpness in the corners. The maximum chromatic abberation is encountered at 500 mm, but it's not that bad.

    It's well build, easy to handhold (1200 g), have a not so bad AF (but not USM). The zoom ring, and the MF ring are smooth. If you want something sharper at 500 than this zoom, you have to take a prime.

    reviewed February 9th, 2006 (purchased for $1,200)