Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD

£TBA/$TBA www.tamron.eu After a run of several impressive revisions to existing lenses, Tamron has released this all-new super telephoto optic to take on Sigma’s recent 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM, and to snap at the heels of the venerable – if pricey – Nikon 80-400mm.

Thanks to the use of lightweight magnesium components, Tamron claims this is the lightest 100-400mm full-frame DSLR lens on the market, and though its 1115g mass is only 45g lighter than its rival Sigma, it’s a noticeable 365g less than the Nikon. The Top Trumps numbers game continues with minimum focus distance, where the new Tamron boasts a 150cm figure, beating Sigma by all of 10cm.

Inside the moisture-resistant barrel are three Low Dispersion elements to help reduce chromatic aberration, and Tamron’s eBAND lens coating is employed to suppress reflections, flare and ghosting. The lens also packs Tamron’s latest high-speed Dual Micro-Processing Unit, which is said to deliver faster and more responsive autofocusing, and more effective Vibration Compensation performance.

And if 400mm isn’t quite enough for you, the 100-400mm is fully compatible with Tamron’s 1.4x teleconverter, giving a 560mm focal length on an FX body, and an impressive max effective reach of approximately 840mm on a DX Nikon. The lens can also be paired with the Tamron TAP-in console, which is effectively a docking system that connects the lens to a PC or Mac. The gadget then enables adjustment and customization of the focusing and VC systems, along with effortless firmware updates.

Pricing has yet to be announced, but we’d wager Tamron will be looking to match or even undercut the cost of the competing Sigma super telephoto optic.

First impressions_

If Tamron’s glass is up to scratch, and you can manage without a fast maximum aperture, this could be a potential steal for capturing sports and wildlife.