I was lucky to get a ticket to a Tamron Touch and Try Lens event recently to try out their 150–500mm F/5–6.7 Di III VC VXD. Having recently moved from the Fuji X-Mount to a Sony E-Mount, this was an excellent opportunity to try third-party lenses, as my new lens collection currently only consists of 1st party Sony lenses.
The location was the spectacular ProHides, which offers Wildlife Photography Hides and Workshops, located on the boundary between Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, giving photographers a unique opportunity to photograph the diverse wildlife and learn new skills.
The morning at ProHide near Swindon began with a warm welcome from James, the experienced resident photography guide at Prohide (and Landrover Safari driver, landscape gardener, plumber, you name it, he does it), and Jeremy, the knowledgeable and passionate Tamron representative, who introduced the key features of the 150–500mm and other Tamron Lenses. After coffees, we were soon clambering into a Land Rover and then had the opportunity to test out the lens in a practical setting, capturing the wildlife and Farmlife ProHide offers for a few hours.
Throughout the morning, I used the impressive 150–500mm Tamron lens to photograph various wildlife, from birds in flight to grazing cows, pigs, flora and insects. The event also provided valuable insights and tips from James, enhancing my personal photography and wildlife knowledge. Ignoring the Tamron event that led me here, the experience at ProHides is educational and inspiring, with the bonus of being surrounded by the farm’s natural beauty.
You need to be aware that I’m not much of a wildlife photographer, as I lack the patience to take it seriously. However, regarding the lens, I was immediately impressed by the sharpness and clarity of the images the Tamron 150–500mm lens produced. The autofocus was quick and accurate, even when capturing fast-moving subjects. The vibration compensation reduced most of my camera shake, especially at longer focal lengths. But I did have to bump up my Shutter Speed and ISO higher to compensate my inexperience in using such a large lens handheld. Most of my photos here have been cropped, denoised, and/or sharpened, but as I got used to the lens my photos improved during the day.
I was impressed by the lens’s build quality. It felt solid in my hands and was surprisingly lightweight for its size, even paired with my minuscule Sony A7CR. However, the additional A7CR bottom grip and thumb grip immensely helped. I was impressed to hear that the lens was weather-sealed, and if it did start to rain, it was protected from the elements.
I was very impressed with the performance of the Tamron lens on the day, so much so, I have already ordered the Tamron 150–500mm lens as my first third-party lens.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience; I highly recommend attending a Tamron Touch and Try Event if possible. Learning more about and using Tamron products at a great location like ProHides is a great opportunity.
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