Tamron Developing First Z Mount Zoom Lens, and It’s a Compact Beast

Tamron has announced the development of their first Z-mount full-frame autofocus lens, it’s an unqualified beast, while at the same time being the smallest and lightest full-frame zoom on the market.

The Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is designed specifically for mirrorless cameras, and fits in the palm of the hand with a weight of fewer than 21 ounces.

“TAMRON’s 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 telephoto zoom lens combines the world’s smallest size and lightest weight together with high image quality based on TAMRON’s concept of “all photographers should enjoy easy and comfortable telephoto photography,” Tamron declared in their announcement.

Similar in design to their E-mount 70-300 DI III RXD, the Z-mount variant has 15 elements in ten groups, including a Low Dispersion lens element to effectively suppress axial chromatic aberration and other optical flaws that occur in telephoto zoom lenses. The elements are also coated with Tamron’s anti-reflection BBAR Coating.

The autofocus is driven by Tamron’s Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive (RXD) which offers fast and accurate autofocus and can maintain a focus lock even when zooming in and out from extreme ends of the focus range.

With this precise alignment and lens coating, the 70-300 lens promises to deliver superior resolution from edge to edge and produce clear images along the entire focal length.

The RXD drive provides extremely quiet lens operation, enabling for use in situations that require little to no noise, like weddings and video shooting, where discretion while capturing the moment is vital. The lens also has a Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm and operates with an f-stop range of F/4.5-F/22.

The lens is designed with Moisture-Resistant Construction, with seals located around the lens area and other critical locations to provide an added layer of protection when shooting outdoors and under adverse weather conditions. The lens can be updated with firmware through Tamron’s Lens Utility software and a Type-A to Type C USB cable.

Meanwhile, the 5.9-inch length, 77mm diameter, and 20.5-ounce weight, make it a solid lens for carrying in a travel bag to grab what Tamron calls “casual snaps” or zoom in for an unexpected nature or sports photography shot.

But the company says that the lens can deliver natural-looking portrait images as well. Here are a few sample images taken with the Sony variant:

There’s no word on the retail price as of yet, however, the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Nikon Z-Mount is almost a twin of their Sony E-mount offering with similar specs. That lens lists for $499.

So, it’s a safe bet that the Z-mount variant will have a similar price level. Tamron states the lens will ship later this Fall.

[source: Tamron]

• Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Nikon Z-Mount  (B&H)
  
• Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens for Sony E-Mount (B&H)