Tamron has consistently proved its dedication as a third-party lens manufacturer to its range of customers. From their cost-effective prices to better build quality and autofocus, the company has won over many photographers in today’s age. Furthermore, its lenses continue to fit like a glove with certain cameras, further proving how far they have come. Among the exciting lenses they have released recently is the ultra-telephoto zoom lens for Sony mount: Tamron 50-400mm f4.5-6.3. Today, the company launched a new update, moving this lens from good to great.
Before we get into the update, let us remind you how Tamron 50-400mm f4.5-6.3 had an issue with autofocus. Our review of the lens mentioned: “The trade-off for the wider range than the typical 100-400mm is some occasional autofocus struggles. The lens easily focuses on even challenging subjects at 100mm. At 400mm, it will still capture tack-sharp wildlife, but subjects moving quickly towards the lens are a struggle.” It meant that photographers often had to choose subjects that did not come straight towards the camera at 400mm. Although it may seem like an issue, this struggle is usually expected at such focal lengths, as there are more glass pieces to move for the autofocus.
Now, in a bid to change that, Tamron has launched two new improvements with its latest firmware update: autofocus and continuous shooting speed.
- Improved AF Performance: Firmware version 4 will improve the autofocus when you zoom for both still images and videos in AF-C (Continuous Autofocus) mode. The update will help with smoother and more reliable autofocus tracking, which is ideal for dynamic subjects.
- Continuous Shooting at Up to 120 FPS: This is for Sony a9 III users. The update will help support photographers to shoot continuously at up to approximately 120 frames per second when the focus mode is set to AF-S, DMF, or MF. The faster burst rates will also aid in precise focus tracking in those specific focus modes.
The firmware update for Sony comes shortly after Nikon’s, which was announced in August 2024. Back then, the company improved autofocus for subject detection, particularly for birds. The update could be useful in all-auto point mode, as long as no object was blocking the bird.
With each update, Tamron continuously tries to improve itself, further committing to the needs of the photographers. So, when someone buys its lenses, they are certain the company will not bail on them. This is exactly why the company stands out from the other third-party manufacturers.
Those who want to download the firmware, head to Tamron’s Lens Utility page.
