Tamron has announced the 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD (Model A074), a new all-in-one zoom lens for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras.

Arriving less than two months after Tamron’s 50-300mm f/4.5-6.3 lens for full-frame E-mount cameras, the company’s new 27-300mm f/4-7.1 VC lens delivers a 10.7x zoom ratio while maintaining a compact and lightweight form factor. The lens is five inches (126 millimeters) long at its minimum length and weighs just 21.5 ounces (610 grams).

Despite its high zoom ratio and relatively small size, the lens features the typical Tamron bells and whistles, including the company’s Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive (VXD) linear motor autofocus system and Vibration Compensation (VC) optical image stabilization technology.

The lens also has close-up chops. At 28mm, it can focus as close as 7.5 inches (0.19 meters), resulting in a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.8. At 300mm, the minimum focusing distance is 39 inches (0.99 meters), reducing the max magnification ratio to 1:3.8.

The lens incorporates 20 elements into 13 groups, including a single eXtra Low Dispersion (XLD) element and a Low Dispersion (LD) element to control aberrations, including chromatic ones — the unwanted color fringing that can appear in images. The lens also features Tamron’s Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2 (BBAR-G2) coating to suppress ghosting and flare, promising clear images even in backlit conditions. Tamron promises “best-in-class image quality [for] an all-in-one zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras.”

Tamron believes its new 10.7x zoom lens is well-suited for photographers who prioritize a compact, lightweight kit that doesn’t compromise versatility. Its focal length should work well for landscapes, travel, portraits, sports, and even wildlife photography. Tamron also says that the lens should work for video applications because the autofocus system is smooth and quiet.

The lens has a zoom lock mechanism switch, Focus Set button, and works with Tamron’s Lens Utility Function software. Further, the lens has a 67mm filter thread, the same as many of Tamron’s other lenses for mirrorless cameras.

A 28-300mm full-frame lens for mirrorless cameras is unique. Tamron used to make one for DSLR cameras (Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony A), the 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD, but that was 10 years ago. Nikon also made an AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens for its DSLR cameras back in the day, and Canon offered an EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM lens, too.

That said, Nikon got back into the all-in-one lens game in March with its new Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens. While slower than the old Nikon 28-300mm for F-mount, the new zoom has more reach and is darn good.

If Sony shooters looked at the Nikon 28-400mm with envy, Tamron’s new 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VC should curb jealousy. The Tamron lens is cheaper and offers more telephoto capabilities than Sony’s 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS lens that is currently on sale for $948.

Pricing and Availability

The Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VC lens will be available on August 29 for $899 ($1,199 CAD). At this point, Tamron has only said the lens will be available in E-mount.

Image credits: Tamron