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Tamron sets price for 150-600mm supertele: $1,069

The third-party lensmaker's new supertelephoto won't cost much more than an earlier 200-500mm model with no image stabilization.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
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Tamron's SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011) supertelephoto zoom lens
Tamron's SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011) supertelephoto zoom lens Tamron

Tamron will start shipping its SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD starting on January 17 in the US for a price of $1,069, the company said Sunday.

That's not too much higher than the company's $950 AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP lens, which has a more restricted zoom range but no image stabilization. However, greater zoom ranges often come with optical compromises such as worse sharpness, distortion, and chromatic aberration.

The new supertelephoto has a flexible zoom range, though its aperture range of f5 at 150mm to f6.3 at 600mm means it's not as fast as premium professional supertele models. It's geared for wildlife and sports photographers and is relatively affordable, compact, and light.

The lens, announced in November, has 20 lens elements and new coatings designed to cut down flare and ghosting. It weighs 1951g (68.8oz) and is 257.8mm (10.1 inches) long. Its Vibration Compensation (VC) technology is designed to counteract camera shake. It's got a nine-blade circular diaphragm to improve the look of out-of-focus areas, and its close-focus distance is 2.7m (106.3 inches).

Tamron will offer versions for Canon, Nikon, and Sony SLR cameras.