Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC (IF) Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras

by Tamron

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches ; 2.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007YZLHG
• Item model number: AF08M-700
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 8, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

A powerful zoom for capturing close, detailed views of faraway subjects, this high-magnification beauty is the perfect choice for nature and sports shooters. Remarkably light and compact, it compresses the apparent distance between objects within the frame, giving stunning pictorial effects.

Take ultra telephoto shots of subjects further than the eye can see

This is a zoom lens from Tamron that lets you bring your far away subjects up close while compressing the distance between the main subject and the background for professional-looking results. Even while covering up to a 500mm that enables you to take ultra telephoto shots of subjects further than the eye can see, its design is extremely lightweight and compact. When mounted on an APS-C size digital SLR camera, it provides a focal length equivalent to a 760mm for super ultra telephoto imaging.

SP AF 200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di Highlights

Enhance the ease of your polarizing filter use

Filter Effect Control (FEC)to Enhance the Operational Ease of your Polarizing Filter Use
The Filter Effect Control is designed to rotate the filter to the desired position while the hood is attached. This is accomplished by turning the FEC ring that in turn rotates the portion of the filter mount where the filter is mounted.

Digitally Integrated (DI) Lenses for Top Imaging Performance
Di (Digitally Integrated Design) is a Tamron designation that applies to lenses that have been optimized for digital capture using advanced multi-coating techniques and optical designs that assure excellent image quality across the entire picture field. Because of these characteristics, Di lenses provide outstanding performance on cameras with full-frame and APS-C format sensors as well as on 35mm film.

Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating Shooters
Tamron SP (Super Performance) series is a line of ultra-high-performance lenses designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality. In creating SP lenses Tamron’s optical designers put their foremost priority on achieving superior performance parameters—they are all designed to a higher standard with little regard for cost constraints. As a result, Tamron lenses bearing the SP designation feature impressive and innovative designs that have established an enviable reputation for excellence among those knowledgeable photographers that demand the very best.

Internal Focusing (IF) System
Internal focusing provides numerous practical benefits to photographers including a non-rotating front filter ring that facilitates the positioning of polarizing and graduated filters, and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing. Even more important, Tamron’s Internal Focusing (IF) system provides a much closer minimum focusing distance (MFD) throughout its entire focusing range. In addition, IF improves optical performance by minimizing illumination loss at the corners of the image field, and helps to suppress other aberrations that become more troublesome at different focusing positions.

Low Dispersion (LD) glass reduces chromatic aberration

Low Dispersion (LD) Glass for Greater Lens Sharpness
Low dispersion (LD) glass elements in a lens help reduce chromatic aberration; the tendency of light of different colors to come to different points of focus at the image plane. Chromatic aberration reduces the sharpness of an image, but glass with an extremely lowdispersion index, has less of a tendency to separate (defract) a ray of light into a rainbow of colors. This characteristic allows the lens designer to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the center of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (towards the edges of the field) that often occurs at short focal lengths (the wide-angle end of the zoom range.)

Product Description

This is a new zoom lens from Tamron that lets you bring your far away subjects up close while compressing the distance between the main subject and the background for professional-looking results. Even while covering up to a 500mm that enables you to take ultra telephoto shots of subjects further than the eye can see, its design is extremely lightweight and compact. When mounted on an APS-C size digital SLR camera, it provides a focal length equivalent to a 760mm for super ultra telephoto imaging. Specifications: Model: A08 Lens Construction: 10/13 Angle of View: 12deg.-5deg. Minimum Subject Distance: 1:5.0 Diaphragm Blade Number: 9 Minimum Aperture: F/32 Minimum Focus: 2.5m (98.4 )(Entire zoom range) Macro Mag. Ratio: 1:5.0 Filter Diameter: mm-diameter86 Weight: 1237g (43.6 oz.) Diameter x Length: mm-diameter3.7 x 8.9 in. mm-diameter93.5 x 227.0mm) Accessory: Lens Hood, Detachable Filter Effect Control Mount: Minolta

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lens!, July 13, 2006

By 

James H. Handcock "Montana Bookman" (kalispell, mt United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC (IF) Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

It is a perfect companion to the 18-200mm Tamron I use, and is faster at the 200mm mark.

I enjoy wildlife and outdoor photography. The crop factor gives me the equivalent of a 750mm zoom, and the eight foot minimum focusing distance lets me take some great shots of wild flowers and such.

From all I coud find when I researched the lens, to get a noticeably better lens you had to pay out several times as much money.

The only drawback to the lens is that, at least in the Minolta mount, demand exceeds supply and there is waiting list for the lens.

It is well worth waiting for, however. :)

I have a number of shots taken with this lens on a Minolta 7D.[...]

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lens for photographing wildlife, January 16, 2009

By 

Gadfly (El Paso, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC (IF) Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I ordered my lens for over night delivery because I was going on a trip. To my horror I discovered that I ordered it in the wrong mount! When I checked my order with Amazon it stated that my order was being prepared for shipment and could not be canceled or changed. So I clicked that "phone me" button and sure enough Amazon called in less than a minute. The lady could not change my order but she did cancel it.
I ordered the lens with the proper mount and received it the next day.
Excellent build quality.
Comes in a quality case that is well padded.
Fast focus and SHARP!
With Sony's built in image stabilizer I am able to get sharp pictures even at 500mm hand held.
Can't ask for much more than that!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tamron 200-500mm lens, December 17, 2007

By 

dbuk2 (Destin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tamron AF 200-500mm f/5.0-6.3 Di LD SP FEC (IF) Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I have had this lens for a few months.
The lens is great for birding and other nature shots.
I have been very pleased with this lens.
To get a better lens means spending quite a bit more cash.
It is light and I use a shoulder rig in a canoe for a lot of my work.
On the downside it takes complete sunshine to get good, sharp shots.
The color and the contrast are a little weak , but can be easily "fixed " in photoshop.
For the money this lens is a no brainer.
Just look at the pics. !
Now for an L lens !!!