Tamron’s 150-500mm Lens Got A Firmware Update

credits: Tamron

Tamron’s 150–500mm f/5–6.7 Di III VC VXD lens just got a new firmware update and it brings several meaningful technical improvements, especially for Sony shooters. One of the biggest additions is improved autofocus behaviour while zooming, something long telephoto zooms often struggle with due to shifting optical groups. Tamron says the lens now maintains focus more consistently during focal-length changes, which should help in AF-C when subjects move unpredictably. The update also refines AF assist performance, improving responsiveness in low-contrast scenes and situations where the subject’s motion changes rapidly.

The headlines feature, though, is compatibility with the Sony a9 III’s ultra-high-speed 120fps burst shooting. Before, the 150–500mm simply couldn’t operate at those frame rates, limiting its usefulness for photographers hoping to pair the a9 III’s speed with a long-range zoom. With Version 4.00, the lens now supports 120fps bursts, but only when the camera is set to AF-S, DMF, or manual focus. Continuous AF tracking at 120fps still isn’t available, which mirrors the limitations seen on other Tamron lenses updated for the a9 III, such as the 70–180mm f/2.8 G2.

One detail that hasn’t gotten much attention is how Version 4.00 affects stabilisation behaviour. While Tamron doesn’t advertise major VC changes, early testers in Japan report slightly improved stability when panning at longer focal lengths, likely due to changes in how the lens communicates movement data to Sony bodies. The update also improves handshake reliability with newer E-mount protocols introduced since the a9 III’s release, which may help future-proof the lens as Sony continues rolling out high-speed bodies.

You can download the update on Tamron’s utility website here