Tamron announced the release date of its 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model AO56), a large aperture telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Being touted as the lightest and most compact zoom in its class, the lens will be available in the U.S. on May 14th at $1,199, though the company does admit that due to the spread of COVID-19, the release date or the product supply schedule could be delayed.

[Read: New Camera Lenses, and Pricing, for the Sony E-mount]

This is the third model in Tamron’s series of fast F/2.8 zoom lenses and features a compact and lightweight design with a 67mm filter diameter, the same as Tamron’s 17-28mm F/2.8 (Model A046) and the 28-75mm F/2.8 (Model A036). The optical construction includes several special lens elements that contribute to the lens’s overall imaging performance.

The lens features 19 lens elements in 14 groups, including one extra-low dispersion (XLD) element, five low-dispersion (LD) elements, one glass-molded aspherical (GM) element, and two hybrid aspherical elements. All of these promise extraordinary image quality from edge-to-edge at each focal length, even wide open. And the lens’s very short 33.5-inch MOD (Minimum Object Distance) expands overall versatility and allows for telephoto shooting at a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.6 at the 180mm telephoto end.

Seals are located at the lens mount area and other critical locations to deter infiltration of moisture and/or rain drops and afford moisture-resistant construction. This feature, says the company. provides an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions. The lens surface is easier to wipe clean and is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of dirt, moisture or oily fingerprints, allowing for much easier maintenance. Additionally, the conventional Zoom Lock switch prevents unwanted barrel extension during transportation. 

OVERALL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: A056

Focal Length: 70‐180mm

Maximum Aperture: f/2.8

Angle of View (diagonal): 34°21′-13°42′ (for full-frame mirrorless format)

Optical Construction: 19 elements in 14 groups

Minimum Object Distance: 33.5 in (full-zoom range)*

Maximum Magnification Ratio: AF 1:4.6 (wide) / MF 1:2* / AF 1:4.6 (tele)

Filter Size: φ67mm

Maximum Diameter: φ81mm

Length (the distance from the front tip of the lens to the lens mount face): 5.9 inches

Weight: 28.6 oz

Aperture Blades: 9 (circular diaphragm stays almost perfectly circular up to two stops down from maximum aperture)

Minimum Aperture : F/22

Standard Accessories : Flower-shaped hood, Lens caps

Compatible Mounts : Sony E-mount

* At the 70mm setting only, it is possible to shoot at the close range of as close as 10.6. inches when manual focus (MF) is set on the camera. However, results may be less than optimal since image quality decreases in peripheral areas.