Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 review

Summary

Highly Recommended award Tamron has considerably improved upon their 1st generation standard zoom for mirrorless cameras: Their new 28-75mm f2.8 Di Deuce-ac G2 is optically right functioning their with the best from other manufacturers even surpassing them at the short end. Plus, IT is the smallest and away far lightest and cheapest of the bunch. And Tamron didn't skimp on features: The lens is fully weather sealed and Tamron added a stress lay out release plus USB-C port to realize the lens system highly configurable via computer and their new Lens Inferior ("TLU"). Only its close-up performance is disappointing. But early than that Tamron has designed a compelling standard zoom which clear earns a Highly Recommended!

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Check prices on the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 at B&H, Adorama, WEX UK or Calumet.de. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book surgery handle ME to a coffee! Thanks!

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 recap

15th December 2021

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Presentation

In 2018 the 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD (model A036) was Tamron's first native lens designed specifically for Sony's full-build mirrorless E-go up bodies. Now Tamron updated the optical formula of the lens, changed the type of focus parkway, and added a concenter set button plus USB-C port to make the lens configurable via estimator and Tamron's new Genus Lens Utility ("TLU"). Tamron also increased maximum magnification a little over the 1st generation to 1:2.5 although this is exclusive achieved at the thick end with a correspondingly short working distance. The inexperienced genus Lens is selected 28-75mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 (model A063) and its size, weighting, and looks are well-nig identical to its predecessor – albeit with a slightly glossier and less finger-print susceptible show u. Up to now the Lens is only available for Sony E-mount but Tamron has announced that they are working on Z- and RF-mount versions of their lenses. It is the slimmest and out and away the lightest standard telephoto lens with a continuant f2.8 stop number available for full-build mirrorless cameras.

At 949 EUR / 899 USD / 849 GBP the lense is only half as expensive American Samoa the Sony Fe 24-70mm f2.8 GM and also 20% cheaper than the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Decigram DN Art. So if sensory system execution of Tamron's new standard zoom lens does non let down it looks like a really attractive alternative to the competition. PS – if you'ray interested in Tamron's other heavy-frame zoom lenses for E-climb down which complement the 28-75mm connected the short and long end check out my in-depth reviews: Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD review / Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VXD.

Facts and features

Let's equivalence the new Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di Deuce-ac G2 ("Tamron 28-75" for short) to the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG DN Art ("Sigma") and Sony Fe 24-70mm f2.8 Gram ("Sony"). For good evaluate I've also added the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S ("Nikon") and Canon RF 24-70mm f2.8 L IS USM ("Canon") to the mix. Although Tamron does not (yet) offer their spick-and-span lens in Z- or RF-mount I think IT makes for an interesting comparison. As was common I've rated the features with a [+] (or [++]), when it's wagerer than average or even state of the art, a [0] if it's standard or just average, and [-] if there's a disadvantage.

Size (diameter x length): at 76 x 118mm (3.0 x 4.6in.) plus 28mm for the lens hood (87mm diam) the Tamron is quite an slim. The Sigma is 88 x 125mm, the Sony is 88 x 136mm, the Nikon and Canon are 89 x 126mm (all without lens thug). All lenses extend when zoomed to their longest focal length: The Tamron extends by 18mm, the Sigma 34mm, Sony 31mm, Nikon 30mm, Canon 23mm. [+]

Weight: 537g (1.2 lb.) plus 27g for the genus Lens cowl. The Sigma weighs 827g, the Sony 886g, Nikon 803g, Canon 900g (all without lens hood). So the new Tamron is the lightest of the bunch by at least 266g (0.6 oz.). [+]

Optics: The Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 has 17 elements in 15 groups including 2 special dispersion elements and 2 aspherical elements. The unusual lenses in this comparison are of a similarly complex construction. The Tamron has fluorine finishing at the look electron lens to repel water, dust, and dirt and make cleanup easier. [+]

Nighest focus distance with blue-collar concenter is 0.18m (7.1in.) with a magnification of 1:2.5 and an extremely short-range functioning distance of 4cm (1.6in.) at 28mm focal length. At 75mm focal distance utmost overstatement is 1:3.6 which is still quite good and results in a better working distance of approximately 21cm (0.7ft.). The Sigma achieves 1:2.6 at 24mm point length and 1:3.8 at 70mm. Sony and Nikon achieve their maximum magnification of 1:4.0 resp. 1:4.2 at 70mm focal distance. Canyon reaches a maximum magnification of 1:3.3 at 32mm central duration. The Tamron 28-75 G2 achieves a exaggeration of 1:10 at its longest focal length at 0.85m (2.8ft.) distance. [+]

Filter-thread: 67mm. All the other lenses need bigger 82mm filters. 67mm filters also fit on Tamron's 17-28mm f2.8 and 70-180mm f2.8 lenses. Thus you can become away with one moderately sparrow-sized set of filters for Tamron's trinity of f2.8 zooms. [+]

Image stabilization: All lenses in this comparison rely along the sensor-based image stabilisation of the respective mirrorless cameras – except for the Canon which has optical image stabilization built in. [0]

Autofocus: All lenses in this comparison offer autofocus with intrinsic focus drive. Non-automatic-focalize override is by simply turning the dedicated focus ring. The fulfi of the focus ring on the Tamron 28-75 G2 (and Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8) can be switched via Tamron's genus Lens Public-service corporation (TLU) between the usual variable gearing or linear gearing and the guidance of the ring can constitute reversed. This makes smooth focus pull for videographers much easier. The Sony, Nikon and Canon gambol the usual not-rectilineal gearing of the focus ring while Sigma's is almost lineal. [+]

Every lenses in this comparability cover round frame sensors or can equally be used on a planted APS-C/DX camera body. [+]

Toll: The Tamron 28-75 G2 comes at a recommended retail price of 949 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / 899 USD / 849 GBP. The Sigma is 1140 EUR / 1070 USD / 1050 GBP, the Sony is 1800 EUR / 1800 USD / 1800 GBP, the Nikon is 2000 EUR / 2000 USD / 2000 GBP, the Canon currently sells for 2500 EUR / 2400 USD / 2390 GBP. By the way: the first generation Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD is discontinued but silence available in shops at street prices of around 670 EUR / 630 GBP which is a same attractive price for a lense which earned a recommendation in 2018. [+]

The Tamron 28-75 comes without a pouch but the reversible lens punk is included. The other lenses come with a pouch and their lens hood has a lock to foreclose it from incidentally descending off (not sure about the Canon). [0]

Aperture annulus and other control elements: None of the lenses in that comparison has a dedicated aperture ring. But with Tamron's Lens Utility (TLU) you keister link a information processing system to the lens and portion the focus set button on the Tamron 28-75 G2 to swop the focus ring to operate the aperture. For connecting computer and lens only a USB-C cable is required – atomic number 102 need to buy the TAP-in Console/USB tying up post which older Tamron DSLR lenses necessary. You can also assign past functions to the direction lay out button apart from the usual focus planned e. g. make the focus mechanically shift between two focus positions A and B or assign a function from the camera consistency. The Sigma, Sony, and Nikon also have a function button glamour unremarkably operates as a focus lock away button but can be assigned another functions from the camera. [+]

Sealing: All lenses in this comparison have a rubber cringle at the electron lens-mount advantageous further special weather-waterproofing throughout the construction. [+]

At a score of 0[-]/2[0]/10[+] the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 is a fortunate featured design with its major advantages beingness the smallest, lightest, and cheapest of the lenses in this comparison. And Tamron did not skimp on features like exhaustively weather waterproofing, focus coif button, and customization via USB port. Plus it can reach magnifications of 1:2.5 – albeit at a very short working distance. The only feature film that is absent is opthalmic image stabilization – which only the Canon offers.

Two standard zoom lenses

Above: Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8 S (left), Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di Troika G2 (right)

Coverage

With its 2.7x zoom along-range the Tamron 28-75 starts at the deficient end with an view angle of 75 degrees, compared to the 84 degrees of zooms opening at 24mm. At the long destruction the Tamron 28-75 offers 7% more reach/magnification than the other acceptable zoom lenses.

Here is the view angle that the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 covers compared to the view angle at 24mm or 70mm:

Above: Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di Leash G2 reportage on a full-underframe camera at 28mm (left) and 75mm (right), Distortion Recompense AUTO

Above: Angle of view of 24mm (left) and 70mm (right) happening a full-frame camera

The difference 'tween the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di Troika G2 opening at 28mm versus a electron lens starting at 24mm is visible only doesn't look like much. I wouldn't underestimate the difference at the short end though: Not always butt you step back enough to get the almost 10 degrees wider view of 24mm focal length. The other matter of note: The benefit of reaching 75mm with the Tamron is certainly not a decisive factor. If the simulacrum at 70mm is sharp enough, cropping a 42MP shot at 70mm to match the angle-of-prospect of 75mm still nets you around 37MP.

Focus and zoom

Centre truth and repeatability is critical to systematically raise sharp shots. Repeatability (the accuracy of focus on the same subject after repeated centerin-acquisition) of the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 is very moral (premeditated 99.1% in Reikan FoCal) with no outliers concluded a series of 40 shots on the well lit and contrasty focussing quiz target. And on that point is almost no sharpen sport whether the lens focuses from a closer distance or from infinity. In practice my experience with focusing happening my copy of the lens system was a bit to a lesser extent fair to middling: More often than I likeable focus was just thinly off. Thus I started checking well-nig every shot for correct focus – a precaution which I wouldn't want to adopt subordinate normal circumstances. But then once again: this might be an individual glitch on my specific copy of the lens. At 70mm focal length the lens system focuses in around 0.6 sec from infinity to 0.85m (1:10 magnification).

The zoom ring has a pretty short throw of about 60 degrees and turns the way Sony (and Nikon) users are used to. Information technology has a 28mm wide rubber surface with a good grip and turns with quite some underground. It can hardly Be operated with one finger but the lens still shows a flake of zoom creep. The nidus ring is 16mm wide and is settled closer to the camera. It also has a rubberized surface, moves smoothly, and can easily be operated symmetric with your pinky.

AF-operation of the Tamron 28-75 G2 is inaudible if you record picture with the inherent microphone. In photo mode you can hear a slight noise from the outside.

As you pull focus, you'll observe very little concentrate breathing: When I adjusted the nidus from infinity to 0.85m at 75mm focal length, I measured a 2% increment in exaggeration. This is barely pronounced. Same at 28mm focal length.

I also tested whether Tamron's zoom lens allows you to change the point duration without altering its focus. This characteristic is called parfocal. I focused the lens at 75mm and then slowly zoomed back checking revolve about the way. The 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 did not keep its centerin perfectly towards the short end. It's non a huge deviation but enough to be seen even at only 50% magnification or a 4k image/video transcription.

Incoming check out my quality results!

Check prices on the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III G2 at B&H, Adorama, WEX UK or Calumet.de. Alternatively get yourself a copy of my In Camera book OR regale me to a coffee! Thanks!

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