What is the best Tamron lens for Sony E-mount wildlife photography?

Question

So Ive been staring at lens reviews for like three hours straight and my head is honestly spinning lol. Im heading out to Yellowstone in about three weeks and I finally realized my current setup is not gonna cut it for anything further away than a squirrel. I really want to get some solid shots of elk or maybe some bison without being that tourist who gets way too close and ends up on the news.

I have pretty much settled on getting a Tamron for my Sony a7IV because the native Sony GM glass is just way out of my budget right now. I was looking really hard at the 150-500mm Di III VC VXD because it seems like the most reach I can get for the price but then I read a few threads saying the aperture drops to f/6.7 really fast and it might be a bit of a brick to carry around all day. Then I saw the 50-400mm which people seem to love for the versatility but is 400mm actually enough for wildlife? I dont want to get out there and realize I am constantly cropping in and losing all my detail.

Here is what I am looking for specifically:

Budget: Staying under $1300 if possible maybe a bit more if its worth it.

Use case: Mostly larger mammals like elk and moose but I wouldnt mind trying to snap some birds if the AF is fast enough.

Portability: I am gonna be doing some 5 to 7 mile hikes so I dont want something that feels like a literal boat anchor around my neck.

Sharpness: I really want something that stays crisp even at the long end.

I also saw the 70-300mm which is way cheaper and lighter but I feel like 300mm is just gonna leave me wanting more especially on a full frame body. Is the 150-500mm actually that heavy in person or am I overthinking it? Or should I just go for the 50-400mm and hope for the best with the reach? Just wondering what you guys think is the best balance for a trip like this...

MysticKernel · Accepted Answer

I caught this thread a bit late but wanted to weigh in from a cost-to-performance perspective. Given your $1300 limit and the hiking requirement, the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is likely your most logical choice. While 500mm is nice for birds, the 400mm focal length is honestly fine for large mammals in Yellowstone like bison and moose, especially on a high-resolution body like the a7IV where you have plenty of room to crop. There are a few practical reasons why this makes sense for a budget-conscious hiker:

Weight management: It weighs about 1,155g, making it significantly easier to carry on 7-mile hikes compared to the heavier 150-500mm models.

Versatility: The 50mm starting point means you wont have to swap lenses as much if a bison wanders near the trail or for incidental landscape shots.

Value: You can often find this lens for under $1,200, leaving you room in the budget for a high-quality shoulder strap like the Peak Design Slide Camera Strap to save your neck. If you are worried about that extra 100mm of reach, I suggest looking into used markets or open-box deals at reputable camera shops. Buying used can sometimes save you $200, which you could put toward a solid monopod to help with stability. For large wildlife, reliability and ease of use in the field usually trump that extra bit of zoom that can be tricky to keep steady if you are tired toward the end of a long day.

Sunburstafw · Answer

Honestly, make sure to consider the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD. You really need that 500mm reach, but be careful because it gets super heavy on those seven mile hikes.

DataDrake · Answer

Just saw this and man, the weight struggle is so real. I get so frustrated having to choose between getting the shot and having a spine that actually works the next day! It is honestly exhausting carrying four pounds of glass for miles just to maybe see an elk. It drives me crazy that the lighter lenses usually lack the reach we need and the heavy ones feel like literal boulders...

The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is a specs beast! The MTF charts are actually amazing for a zoom and that VXD motor is insanely fast for tracking birds.

Since you are worried about the weight during those 7 mile treks, look into the Cotton Carrier G3 Camera Vest. It shifts the load to your torso so the setup does not feel like a boat anchor on your neck. It is a total lifesaver for reliability on long days.

Grab a B+W 67mm Master Clear Filter MRC Nano to keep that front element safe. Yellowstone dust is no joke and you want that reliability when you are out in the brush! You are gonna love the image quality! That lens stays so crisp even wide open at the long end, and the versatility of having that 50mm start is just fantastic for bison near the road.