Tamron Unveils the ‘World’s Smallest’ Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sony E-Mount

After announcing its plan to create this exact lens almost two months ago, Tamron has officially launched the 70-300 f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD: the “world’s smallest and lightest telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.”

Admittedly, this isn’t the most exciting lens given its maximum aperture of f/6.3 at the telephoto end, but Tamron hopes that the versatility of this “highly practical lens” will win over enthusiasts who want 300mm of reach on the cheap.

Optically, the lens is made up of 15 elements in 10 groups, including a Low Dispersion (LD) element that’s been “precisely arranged to suppress axial chromatic.” This, combined with Tamron’s Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) Coating, promises to deliver excellent resolution from edge-to-edge, especially at 300mm.

Physically, the lens measures just 5.8 inches (148mm) long a weighs a measly 19.2 oz (545g), but it still offers full weather sealing and features and RXD autofocus motor that can take full advantage of Sony’s much lauded hybrid autofocus system.

But enough specs, here are a few full-res sample images from the Tamron website (click to enlarge):

The point of the lens, explains Tamron, is to make telephoto photography more accessible for the mirrorless crowd:

With the introduction of this lens, all photographers, from first-time users of dedicated telephoto zoom lenses to experienced enthusiasts seeking a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom, can comfortably enjoy the advantages of a powerful, versatile zoom without worry about size or weight.

The Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is scheduled to begin shipping on October 29th and will cost you $550, although the company warns prospective buyers that “the release date or product supply schedule can change… due to the current global health crisis.” To lean more about the new lens, head over to the Tamron website.