FOR our very first gear review here at Shutterzone.net…we’ll be taking a look at the Tamron SP 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF lens.

Announced in 2003, the Tamron 200-500mm lens was an instant hit. It provided a lower priced alternative to the Camera manufacturers own long lenses. I like long lenses for birding, as you can NEVER have enough reach when you’re shooting birds…so naturally it was inevitable that I would have this lens in my arsenal eventually.

This lens provides a good telephoto range, covering you from a medium telephoto 200mm, up to a comfortable long reach of 500mm. It’s a little slow on the long end, having a maximum aperture of f/6.3. It’s very light for such a long lens, weighing in at only 1237 grams (about 2.7 lbs). This is compared to Canon’s 100-400 L IS (1380 grams, 3.1 lbs) and Sigma’s 50-500mm (a whopper at 1840 grams, 4.1 lbs). The length of the lens is about 9 inches long without the hood (add another 6 inches when the hood is attached). The lens has a minimum aperture of f/32, and has a minimum focusing distance of 2.5 meters.

The lens looks good based on the specifications…but as everyone knows, what’s important is how it operates in actual use, and of course, Image Quality is a huge factor as well. So how does this lens perform? STAY TUNED!

Like what you see? You can buy the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF by clicking the links below:
Canon EOS Mount
Nikon F Mount
Sony/Konica-Minolta Mount