Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD
Announced October 29, 2020
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is a highly portable and affordable telephoto zoom that offers solid image quality for its price class. While it lacks built-in optical stabilization and advanced physical controls, it remains an excellent, lightweight option for photographers needing extra reach on a budget.
Weighted from 28 reviewer scores
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus
- High performance-to-dollar value
- Sharp central image quality
- Weather-resistant construction
Cons
- No optical image stabilization
- Soft corner performance and vignetting
- Prone to lens creep
- Lacks physical buttons and switches
- Slow maximum aperture limits low-light performance
- Launch price $549 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3
- Mount & coverage Sony E, Nikon Z Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 80 cm (0.19x)
- Filter thread 67mm
- Autofocus motor RXD
- Weight & size 545g · 77 x 148 mm (3.03 x 5.83 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 28 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
Is this product missing a reputable review? Share a link to a review article or YouTube video for consideration.
- PetaPixel 8.5/10
If you are new to telephoto lenses, or simply seeking an affordable and very portable telephoto zoom for traveling with, the 70-300mm Di III RXD lens from Tamron is one of the best performance to dollar telephoto lenses you can find.
-
It fills a gap in Nikon's line-up of Z-Nikkors and is affordable, light, and pretty well equipped with a customizable focus / function ring, thorough weather sealing, and a maximum magnifications of 1:4.6 at a very good working distance.
-
On balance, it’s fair to say that Tamron cut corners with the 70-300mm’s handling, considering the total lack of extra buttons, switches, or dials. However, they kept the build quality at a pretty high level, and the size and weight of the lens are exactly right.
-
This is far from the sharpest lens on the market, but, all things considered, it’s an excellent buy and represents great value for money.
-
While the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD Lens does not produce the greatest image quality we've seen, the image quality it produces is exceptional for its size, weight, and price class.
-
If your needs for telephoto don’t require a longer focal range than 300mm, and you have a camera with IBIS, then the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 RXD is a lens you should look at long and hard.
-
[T]he Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD offers a decent enough performance for its price and it's good to see a lower budget 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD full-frame lens out there for Sony shooters, it can produce fairly sharp images and there are no serious image quality [...]
-
Despite the focal range of 70-300mm being a very popular one, the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD stands alone as the best value, by a huge margin, for full-frame Sony-shooting photographers.
-
Yes, the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 is a bit of a conundrum. It's reasonably priced compared to the S-line Nikkors, but that also means it doesn't deliver the same level of optical performance.
-
The new Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD lens is a pure delight to use. It does its job admirably, without any glitches or vices getting in the way of enjoying our photography.
-
Tamron have scored another hit with the 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD, and it's very much worthy of our Highly Recommended award.
-
[I]f you're going to stick to outdoors and just shoot outdoors and you want to shoot your kid running around, you want to shoot the grandkids, you want to photograph birds in the trees [...] this could be a great option for you.
-
On balance, it’s a good lens that’s well worth the asking price, but it’s less impressive than other recent Tamron E-mount optics.
-
The Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is a telephoto lens that costs and weighs less than competitors, with serviceable image quality for a modern optic.
- Photo Review 8.8/10
The relatively light weight of Tamron’s 70-300 f/4.5-6.3 Di RXD III lens lens, coupled with its affordable price tag, will make it popular with photo enthusiasts. Support for Sony’s sophisticated focusing functions is an added bonus.
-
[...] I think this is a fantastic lens if you're in need for an all-rounder long focal range and you tend to work in brighter lighting situations.
-
So if you have a lower budget and you're looking for a really decent telephoto zoom lens with 300 millimeter range, which is quite good, I would recommend the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD.
-
[F]or 549 dollars this is a fantastic value for a fantastic lens that I just don't hesitate to recommend, especially if you're wanting to get something that you can jump into wildlife photography or just get a lens that gives you a lot of zoom range [...]
-
It really stood out for me that it really works so well with the autofocus features of my Sony camera.
-
The Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD lens, I'm sure, will become a very popular lens due to its low price point and portability factor, yet it still delivers quality images and video as you've seen today.
-
[Y]ou've produced a nice budget lens and it does come a recommendation from Rick and it does come with a recommendation from me.
-
Again pixel peepers out there will always find something wrong with every lens, but for the majority of us out there who just want to take good photos this Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD, it's a winner.
-
For the budget-conscious photographer, or for those wishing to have the smallest and lightest camera kit, the Tamron 70-300mm is a bargain of a lens.
-
[...] I think this is actually a nice option for things like everyday use, for things like wildlife and sport.
-
If you are a beginner and looking to get into wildlife photography for the first time, or even if you are just looking for a telephoto lens that you can handhold for hours on end when traveling, the Tamron 70-300mm lens is the perfect travel lens for you.
-
I love this focal range, it is a range that just keeps giving, and Tamron really nailed it with this lens.
-
If you're looking for a telephoto zoom lens that is versatile, but gives you a great bang for your buck, then I can highly recommend this lens.
-
After using the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD lens for about three months, I can tell it's a great lens for the value, and indeed you can make great images out of that range.
