SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD

This 4x ultra-telephoto provides an even greater focal length range than Tamron’s compact 200-500mm (Model A08). Its extra-long focal length range from 150mm to 600mm presents exciting possibilities for bird, wildlife and sports photography. Its compact size and newly designed tripod mount make it surprisingly easy to handle for a lens with such an extensive reach. Like all Tamron’s latest premium SP (Super Performance) lenses, the Model A011 is enhanced by VC (Vibration Compensation)* image stabilisation and USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) for speedy, precise autofocus. State-of-the-art eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating, a nanotechnology-based coating technique recently developed by Tamron, significantly reduces the unwanted light reflections that cause flare and ghosting. Designed for full-frame DLSRs, this lens has a stunning equivalent focal length range of 233mm to 930mm when mounted on an APS-C size DSLR.

*The Sony mount does not include VC, since Sony digital SLR bodies include built-in image stabilisation functionality. The product name for Sony cameras is “SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di USD (Model A011)”, without the VC designation.

Super Performance series

Performance takes priority for superb image quality

Tamron has upgraded the cosmetic design and finish of this lens for a more high-end look suited to its premium New SP quality. A subtle linear-patterned rubber grip on the zoom and focus rings and an attractive, stylish tungsten silver name-brand ring accentuate the visceral presence with of this lens with understated elegance and class.

Vibration Compensation

Stabilises camera blur for sharp images in low light

If you’re shooting handheld when light is low, especially with longer lenses, your camera’s shutter speeds can extend to a point where the image may turn out blurred due to camera shake. Tamron’s VC tracks this shake and neutralises it for sharper images without the inconvenience of a tripod or the artificiality of a flash, in much lower light. Tamron’s unique VC mechanism uses a proprietary actuator and algorithms to deliver an extremely stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking. The tri-axial system uses three driving coils to move internal optical components within the VC lens electromagnetically, based on signals originating from three ball bearings, made from either steel or ceramic. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with the balls, achieving smooth movement with minimal friction. Tamron’s original moving magnet system employed a heavy magnet positioned near the moving VC lens element. The improved VC reverses the positions of magnet and coil and attaches the VC optic to the coil. This moving coil is lighter than the magnet, and as this reduces the load on the drive system, both the VC unit and the lens are lighter and more compact.

Ultrasonic Silent Drive

‘Travelling waves’ generate a fast, smooth AF movement

This extremely quiet motor is ideal for photography of events, weddings, theatre or musical performances, as well as crucial moments on the golf course – any situation where autofocus noise is obtrusive. Major improvements in autofocus response and tracking ability over standard DC motors make for instantaneous focusing and spontaneous shooting of rapidly moving subjects. Tamron’s USD works with the high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations that are produced by a ring called a ‘stator’. Energy from the vibrations is used to rotate an attached metallic ring known as the ‘rotor’. Piezoelectric ceramic is a material that produces ultrasonic vibrations when voltage of a specific frequency is applied is arranged in a ring formation on the stator. This electrode configuration of piezoelectric ceramic causes two ultrasonic vibrations to occur in the stator. By effectively combining these two ultrasonic vibrations, it is possible to convert the energy from the vibrations that produce simple motion into energy known as ‘deflective travelling waves’, which move around the circumference of the ring. The friction between these deflective travelling waves created on the metallic surface of the stator and the surface of the rotor produces force, causing the rotor to rotate. Attached to the rotor is the focusing lens, which is given a fast, smooth autofocus movement.

600mm focal length in a compact, easy-to-handle profile

Ingenious optical design features minimise the movement of lens groups within the lens when zooming. This reduces the amount of barrel extension needed to cover the complete focusing range, making the entire lens more compact.

Full-time manual focus

This mechanism allows users to make fine focus adjustments manually at any time, even when AF is engaged.

Easy-to-use tripod mount

The tripod mount has been completely redesigned to provide superior stability, durability, ease of use and portability.

World-class image quality

Employing 20 elements in 13 groups and boasting an advanced optical design, the A011 delivers a superior balance of resolution and contrast for sharp, clear images. The front group contains three LD (Low Dispersion) glass elements (two in the first group, one in the third) for enhanced optical correction effectiveness, enabling the lens to thoroughly compensate for on-axis aberrations at the telephoto end. The lens also adopts eBAND Coating*¹, developed from state-of-the-art coating technologies, and conventional BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating to greatly suppress ghosting and flare even when shooting under adverse lighting conditions.

Low Dispersion

Sharpens edges by reducing ‘colour fringing’

Chromatic aberration occurs when a lens element refracts different wavelengths of a ray of light – its rainbow colours – at very slightly different angles. This results in the ‘colour fringing’ that reduces the sharpness of an image. LD elements are made from special glass materials with extremely low dispersion indices (i.e. the refraction of a ray of light into rainbow colours is extremely narrow). Thus they effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the centre of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (toward the edges of the field) that often occurs at short (wideangle) focal lengths. Although costly, LD glass materials result in clear, vivid image quality.

eBAND Coating

Advanced lens coating produces even sharper, crisper images

This new coating technique developed by Tamron deploys a nano-structured* layer with dimensions smaller than the wavelengths of visible rays of light. Called eBAND (extended Bandwidth & ANgular-Dependency), its ultra-low refractive index, combined with the sophisticated multiple-layer coatings underneath, yields significant anti-reflection properties, absolutely minimising flare and ghosting to deliver sharp, crisp images.

*1nm = 1/1,000,000mm

Rounded diaphragm

The rounded outline diaphragm of the lens is retained even when closed down 2 stops less than maximum. Blur highlights in a photo reflect the shape of the aperture, and they are a much more prominent feature at wider apertures. Particularly noticeable in longer lenses, this important optical design element results in more attractive, natural-looking images.

*Values given are for Nikon mount. ** Length is the distance between the front tip of the lens and the mount face.