Tamron has released a firmware update for its 25-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens that actually makes a noticeable change to its performance. The company says that now, when you’re shooting at focal lengths between 25-70mm, the lens’ maximum magnification ratio is greatly improved, letting you get much closer to your subject.
When the lens launch, Tamron said it could achieve approximately half-macro, or 1:2, reproduction at its widest end. However, as lens reviewer Dustin Abbot points out, shooting so close at 25mm has practical challenges, and can make it very difficult to get a well-lit photo. By the time you were shooting at 50mm, where you had a more reasonable working distance, the maximum reproduction ratio dropped to 1:3.1, or around 0.32x magnification.
This is where the firmware update comes in. At 35-50mm, the lens can now manage a ratio of 1:1.7, or 0.58x, which is a substantial improvement. Tamron also says that it will achieve at least 1:2 reproduction throughout the 25-70mm range. For those that like to get close to their subject, this makes and already versatile lens a lot more flexible.
It’s rather unusual to see a lens firmware update that noticeably changes how you can use the lens. It’s not entirely unique – we’ve seen Laowa launch a macro lens that couldn’t autofocus in its macro range, only to enable that functionality later via software – but it still remains among the more interesting bits of lens firmware news. Tamron’s press release doesn’t include any technical details on how the company was able to achieve this, but we’ve reached out to see if it can share any. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
The V3 firmware is available to download for free via Tamron’s Lens Utility software.
Press release:
TAMRON Firmware Update Enhances Close-Focusing Performance of the 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 (Model A075)
July 29, 2026, Commack, NY – TAMRON announces a new firmware update for the 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 (Model A075) for Sony E-mount.
With this new firmware update, the maximum magnification ratio at focal lengths of 25-70mm is improved to “1:2 half-macro or greater.” This enables users to capture subjects larger than before, allowing for more impactful close-up photography.
Users can update to the latest firmware by visiting the TAMRON Lens Utility Download Page on TAMRON’s global website.
| Product | 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 (Model A075) |
| Mount | Sony E-mount |
| Latest Version | Ver. 3 |
| Release Date | July 29, 2026 |
| Update Description | Maximum magnification ratio at focal lengths of 25-70mm improved to 1:2 half-macro or greater. *At 35-50mm, the lens achieves a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1.7, surpassing the half-macro performance. |
| How to Update | Please update the firmware via TAMRON Lens Utility at the TAMRON Lens Utility Download Page |
| Product Page | https://tamron-americas.com/product/25-200mm-f-2-8-5-6-di-iii-vxd-g2/ |
Mitchell started taking pictures at 10 and hasn’t stopped since. It’s been a wide-ranging adventure, spanning a wide variety of genres and locales, and occasionally dipping into fascinations with video and filmmaking. They honed their technical knowledge doing documentation, programing and QA, writing for The Verge, and just generally messing around on the computer to see what breaks.
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