Field Test : Tamron 50-400 f/4.5-6.3 for Nikon Z
Here we are going to look at the Tamron 50-400 and see what it’s all about.
First let me start by saying that compared to my recent posts about Tamron lenses, this post will be pretty short and sweet. The reason is because I only had the lens for a couple of weeks during which my home state of Florida was hit by two hurricanes, with the second one passing directly over my area. While we are ok, I had a few other priorities. And while I did get a good feel for the lens, I was unable to really push its’ abilities as I have done with other lenses. But with that said, let’s get into it.
Specs by the Book (a.k.a. the Tamron website)
The lens is designed to work on full-frame mirrorless cameras, with a focal range that goes the distance from 50 – 400mm. It has a 9 bladed aperture ring, for a maximum of 4.5-6.3 to a minimum of 22-32. The Nikon version weighs 41.6oz., or 2.6 lbs. and it has a filter size of 67mm. It has three switches for zoom lock, Auto/Manual focus, and one Custom Utility that can be programed with their FREE Tamron Lens Utility software, plus a Focus Set button.
This time around I only used the lens with one camera, the full frame mirrorless, Nikon Z8. Editing is minimal, limited to only basic color correction, with no sharpening, dehaze, or contrast adjustments.
Trial By Fire
The lens happened to be delivered on a Friday afternoon the day before Girls in Aviation Day. A single day event for which I am on the planning committee that works for nearly 6 months out of the year to prepare for. For this particular year, my priority was directing the operation of two sUASs, as well as documenting the event. So needless to say, there was absolutely no room for error. It makes me happy to say that it worked great, the extreme range makes it perfect for an event such as this. Enabling me to get closer shots, and to back up enough to get candid moments is great detail. It worked well both indoors and outside which allowed me to cover more of the event. Not having to constantly switch lenses or bring extra camera bodies makes this lens very useful.
In another real world scenario, I was scheduled to lead a photo walk at a local nature preserve. A situation where I would normally bring a camera backpack, but this time I decided to pack lighter and only use the 50-400. Which very much paid off in the end, because due to the recent excessive rainfall, we all ended up getting our feet wet and doing a bit of bushwhacking, which would have been much more difficult had I been carrying extra equipment.
For the rest of the images, I practiced on some of my favorite subjects (mostly ones that don’t fly). When testing out the zoom, it stays quite sharp throughout its full range.
The following set of images were all shot from the same position, by standing in one place then gradually zooming in.
Overall the lens is quite impressive, and something that would prove be an asset to every type of photographer. The price point of $1,299 USD makes it a competitive option.
At the time of this post, the 50-400 is one of 6 native Z mount lenses produced by Tamron within the last two years. Of this line-up I have now tried 4 and own 2. It’s no question that Tamron is an industry leading optics manufacturer, engineering new tools without sacrificing quality for versatility. And having tools you can rely on makes a great deal of difference when out in the field, I look forward to their continued support and development within the Nikon Z system.
You will find a couple links at the bottom of this page where you can see more detailed information about the lens. You can also look through a couple of image galleries and let the photos speak for themselves.
