Tamron announced two new E-mount lenses this evening, including a new full-frame compact telephoto 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD and 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD the first ever ultra-wide f/2.8 lens for Sony APS-C.
The 150-500mm lens is surprisingly compact at only 8.3″ long, extending out to 11.1″ when zoomed to 500mm, and even with VC, it weighs just 3.8lbs (or a bit over 4 pounds with the tripod foot connected). Tamron claims that the lens produces extremely high resolution images with the generous use of special glass in the complex lens formula which contains 25 elements in 16 groups (including XLD, LD and Hybrid Aspheric elements). Like Sony, Tamron has moved away from traditional ultrasonic motors to fast, accurate linear motors (VXD, in this case) for focusing in the new 150-500mm lens. a switch on the lens body can switch between three VC (Vibration Control) system modes. The lens has dust and weather sealing, too.
Tamron’s 11-20mm f/2.8 lens is also nice and compact, weighing under 12 ounces at 3.4 inches long, making it a good match for Sony’s APS-C bodies and a good companion to Tamron’s excellent 17-70 f/2.8 VC. The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 lens is also replete with special glass elements (including two GM elements, one XLD and two LD) in its 12 element design which produce a minimum object distance of only 5.9 inches, allowing for a 1:4 magnification ratio for wide-angle macro work. A moisture-sealed housing, RXD stepping motor, and a flourine coating on the front element (with 67mm filter threads) round out the feature list.
Both lenses will be available in late June, with a $1399 price tag on the 500mm lens and an $829 tag on the 11-20mm f/2.8.
