TAMRON 70-300mm A047: First Nikon Z-Mount Lens

TAMRON’s First Nikon Z-Mount Lens

The introduction of the 70-300mm A047 Nikon Z marked an important expansion of TAMRON’s mirrorless lens lineup.

The A047 was developed specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras and became TAMRON’s first Nikon Z-mount compatible lens. It brought TAMRON’s approach to compact telephoto zoom design to Nikon Z photographers, offering a practical focal range for everything from portraits and landscapes to sports, pets and wildlife.

Today, the A047 remains part of TAMRON’s Nikon Z lineup alongside newer full-frame lenses covering focal lengths from ultra-wide-angle to super-telephoto.

70-300mm Telephoto Range

The 70-300mm Nikon Z telephoto lens provides a broad range of focal lengths in a single lens.

At 70mm, the lens offers a useful short-telephoto perspective for portraits, travel photography and everyday subjects. Zooming toward 300mm provides significantly more reach for distant subjects.

The longer focal lengths can also create the compression and shallow-depth-of-field effects associated with telephoto photography.

This makes the A047 suitable for a variety of subjects, including:

• Portraits
• Landscapes
• Sports and action
• Wildlife
• Pets
• Travel photography
• Outdoor events
• Distant subjects

Compact and Lightweight Telephoto Design

One of the defining characteristics of the A047 is its portability.

When introduced, TAMRON positioned the 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD as the world’s smallest and lightest 300mm-capable telephoto zoom for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The Nikon Z version measures 150.3mm in length and weighs 580g.

This compact design makes it easier for photographers to carry a 300mm telephoto lens for longer periods.

For travel and outdoor photography in particular, reducing the size and weight of the camera bag can make a significant difference.

Reach 300mm Without the Bulk

Long telephoto lenses can traditionally be large and heavy, especially when designed for full-frame cameras.

The A047 takes a different approach by using a relatively modest F4.5-6.3 maximum aperture to maintain a compact form factor.

This allows photographers to reach 300mm while keeping the lens significantly easier to carry than many larger telephoto zooms.

For photographers who want to explore telephoto photography without committing to a large professional telephoto lens, the TAMRON A047 Nikon Z offers an accessible alternative.

RXD Autofocus for Nikon Z

The A047 uses TAMRON’s RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) autofocus system.

The stepping motor-based focus system is designed to provide fast and quiet autofocus performance, making the lens suitable for both still photography and video.

The autofocus system works with compatible Nikon Z camera functions, helping photographers maintain focus while shooting a wide range of subjects.

High Image Quality in a Compact Body

Despite its compact design, the 70-300mm A047 was developed with image quality as a priority.

The optical construction consists of 15 elements in 10 groups, with specialized optical elements used to control various aberrations. TAMRON also uses its BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) coating to help reduce unwanted reflections and flare.

This optical design helps the lens produce detailed images throughout its zoom range while maintaining the portability that defines the A047.

Useful Close-Focusing Capability

Although the A047 is primarily a telephoto zoom, it can also focus relatively close to subjects.

The minimum object distance is 0.8m at 70mm and 1.5m at 300mm. Maximum magnification is approximately 1:9.4 at the wide end and 1:5.1 at the telephoto end.

This gives photographers additional flexibility when photographing flowers, details, food and other relatively close subjects.

Moisture-Resistant Construction

The TAMRON 70-300mm Nikon Z is equipped with moisture-resistant construction to provide additional protection when shooting outdoors.

This feature is particularly useful for photographers who regularly work in changing weather conditions, such as landscape, travel, wildlife and outdoor sports photographers.

The lens also features a fluorine coating on the front element to help resist fingerprints, water and other contaminants.

TAMRON Lens Utility Compatibility

The A047 Nikon Z version is also compatible with TAMRON Lens Utility.

The software allows users to customize supported lens functions and update firmware, providing additional control over the lens and helping maintain compatibility with newer camera functions.

This adds flexibility for photographers who want to configure the lens for their individual shooting preferences.

A Practical Lens for Telephoto Photography

The 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD was designed around a straightforward idea: make telephoto photography easier to carry and easier to enjoy.

Its 70-300mm range provides enough reach for many outdoor subjects, while the compact body makes it practical for everyday use.

For travel photographers, the lens can provide additional reach without requiring a large camera bag. For portrait photographers, the 85mm-to-135mm range offers flattering perspectives, while 200mm and 300mm provide greater subject isolation.

Wildlife and sports photographers can also benefit from the 300mm reach when photographing subjects from a distance.