TAMRON’s First Z-Mount Lens Under Development – 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

Lens News

by Francesco AndreolaSeptember 5^th, 2022

TAMRON finally embraces the Z-mount ecosystem and does so by announcing the development of a 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Nikon full-frame mirrorless cameras. It should be available in fall 2022.

The Japanese third-party lens manufacturer TAMRON has been particularly active lately with the release of two quite unique zoom lenses for Sony E-mount cameras, the 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD and the impressive 50-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD.

Now, the company has announced that a Z-mount version of another one of their popular E-mount lenses, the 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD, will soon hit the shelves. While the Nikon Z-mount lens ecosystem is growing at a fast pace, this news opens up new possibilities for Nikon shooters looking for more affordable third-party options. Let’s take a closer look.

TAMRON 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Nikon Z-mount

Just like its E-mount sibling, the Z-mount version (product code: A047) of the 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD covers the full-frame format, hence it is compatible with Nikon’s RAW-enabled Z 9. As Nikon cameras are becoming increasingly capable on the video side, this lens can be appealing to traveling sports and wildlife filmmakers.

The lens is equipped with the company’s proprietary RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) AF technology, which should provide fast and precise tracking of subjects even in video mode, without interfering too much with on-set sound recording. Moreover, it supports firmware updates via the TAMRON Lens Utility software.

Physical and optical design

This 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD sports an extremely compact and lightweight design for a telephoto lens. Indeed, it measures ⌀77mm x 150.3mm/⌀3 x 5.9” in size (at 70mm) and weighs about 580g/20.5oz.

The optical scheme consists of 15 elements arranged in 10 groups. These include a single LD (Low Dispersion) element that is claimed to reduce all sorts of aberrations down to a minimum. Also, the glass components are treated with a special anti-reflection coating (BBAR – Broad-Band Anti-Reflection).

The lens barrel has a moisture-resistant construction, which should grant extra peace of mind when shooting outdoors under inclement weather. The lens is sealed near the lens mount and in other areas where moisture and light rain could penetrate.

Price and availability

The official launch date of the new TAMRON 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Nikon Z-mount cameras is set for fall 2022. However, when launching new products, the company has been recently warning customers of possible delays due to potential supply chain issues.

There’s currently no official information regarding the price of this upcoming lens. For reference, the existing Sony E-mount version is pretty affordable, being listed on B&H for $499.

Have you ever used a Nikon mirrorless camera for your video work? What do you think of TAMRON embracing the Z-mount ecosystem? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!