Tamron’s 25-200mm Gets New Firmware Update

credits: Tamron

Tamron has released a new firmware update for its 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2, and it brings a pretty unusual improvement. While lens firmware updates normally focus on things like autofocus performance or compatibility, Firmware Version 3.00 actually makes the lens much better at close-up photography at the wider end of the zoom range. With the update installed, the lens now reaches 1:2 (half-macro) magnification from 25mm to 70mm, while the 35-50mm range can now achieve an even higher 1:1.7 maximum magnification.

The company has not broken down exactly how much the close-focusing performance has improved across every focal length, but the difference at 50mm is especially impressive. Before this update, the maximum magnification at 50mm was 1:3.1. After installing the new firmware, that jumps to 1:1.7, allowing you to get much closer to your subjects without changing lenses.

That is a meaningful upgrade because working at 50mm gives you a much more comfortable shooting distance than 25mm. You can stay farther away from your subject, making it less likely that you will cast shadows over it, while also avoiding the stronger wide-angle distortion that comes with shooting close at shorter focal lengths. On top of that, 50mm generally produces a more natural-looking perspective. Firmware Version 3.00 is available now through the Tamron Lens Utility software for Windows and macOS.