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Posts Tagged ‘Tamron’

Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 sample gallery (DPReview TV)

21 Nov

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70-300mm zooms are incredibly popular, particularly for travel. How does Tamron’s newest model compare? Check out our sample gallery to judge sharpness, bokeh and pincushion distortion for yourself.

View the Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 sample gallery

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DPReview TV: Tamron 70-300 F4.5-6.3 review

18 Nov
The Tamron 70-300mm F4.5.6-3 Di III RXD for E-mount provides similar coverage to Sony’s own 70-300mm lens, but at a fraction of the price. Is this another winner from Tamron? Watch our review to learn more.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

  • Intro
  • Size and design
  • Aperture and AF speed
  • Chromatic aberration
  • Sharpness vs. Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
  • Bokeh
  • Who's it for?
  • Creepy street technique

Sample gallery for this episode

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Tamron 28-200mm Wins Grand Gold Prize at Digital Camera Grand-Prix 2021

02 Nov

The post Tamron 28-200mm Wins Grand Gold Prize at Digital Camera Grand-Prix 2021 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Tamron 28-200mm Grand Prix prize

Tamron’s 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD superzoom has been awarded the Grand Gold Prize in the Interchangeable Lens/Mirrorless category at the Digital Camera Grand-Prix 2021. Tamron has also taken a Gold Prize for its 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD telephoto zoom in the Third Party/Mirrorless category.

Grand Prix prize 70-180mm lens

The Digital Camera Grand-Prix honors the best cameras and lenses of the year; all gear debuted during the 2020 fiscal period is eligible, and winners are selected by photographic authorities.

In past years, awardees have included the Sony a7R IV (for Camera of the Year, 2020), the Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct (given Editors Award, 2020), and the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM (for Lens of the Year, 2019).

But while Tamron has frequently received prestigious Digital Camera Grand-Prix prizes – in fact, the company has been awarded in each of the last six years – the new 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 perhaps stands alone, thanks to its breathtaking combination of focal length range, compactness, and image quality.

In fact, the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 is the ultimate superzoom. It’s built for Sony full-frame cameras, and Tamron has ensured that it can stand up to the rigors of Sony’s mirrorless lineup; the 28-200mm is effortlessly sharp on high-resolution bodies such as the a7R IV, from 28mm to 200mm, at all apertures.

In other words:

You can capture stunningly sharp landscapes at 28mm, before zooming in for some nice sharp portraits in the 50mm to 150mm range, before capturing a sharp telephoto street shot or two at 200mm.

This is unprecedented for superzooms, which are equally well-known for their overall usefulness and frequent image quality issues. You can either have flexibility or sharpness, but not both, or so lens manufacturers seem to think – yet Tamron has proved that it’s possible to keep it all: sharpness, focal length flexibility, plus solid build quality, autofocus speed, and more.

I haven’t even mentioned the 28-200mm’s maximum aperture, which varies from f/2.8 to f/5.6 across the focal length range. The f/2.8 maximum aperture at the wide end of the range further increases the lens’s versatility. For night shooters – especially astrophotographers, who require clean images at relatively fast shutter speeds – an f/2.8 aperture is a must, and the 28-200mm can provide it.

The 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 is offered for a very reasonable price:

$ 729 USD, which is cheaper than many native Sony lenses, and brings an incredible bang for your buck when you consider what you’re getting.

So if you’re interested in a lens that can do pretty much anything, from landscapes to street photography to portrait photography and more, check out the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD.

(Also, take a look at our review of the incredible Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 lens for Sony.)

Now over to you:

What do you think about the 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6? Are you impressed by Tamron’s innovation? Are there any competitors that you like better? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Tamron 28-200mm Wins Grand Gold Prize at Digital Camera Grand-Prix 2021 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Tamron announces a compact $549 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 for Sony E mount cameras

25 Sep

Tamron has announced the release of the 70–300mm F4.5–6.3 Di III RXD, a lens deemed as ‘the world’s smallest and lightest telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.’

The lens is constructed of 15 elements in 10 groups, including a low dispersion element for minimizing aberrations. Autofocus is driven by Tamron’s Rapid Extra-Silent Stepping Drive (RXD) motor technology.

Other specifications include an aperture range of F4.5 (at 70mm) to F32 (at 300mm), a seven-blade aperture diaphragm and a minimum focusing distance of 80cm (31.5”) on the wide end and 150cm (59.1”) on the tele end. Tamron says the lens is moisture-resistant thanks to an array of seals in ‘critical locations’ and its compact design measures in at just 14.7cm (5.8”) long, 77mm (3”) diameter and weighs only 545g (19.2oz).

The lens is expected to retail go on sale starting October 29 for $ 549, but Tamron notes the complexities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could change that date.

Press release:

Tamron Announces the World’s Smallest and Lightest Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sony E-mount Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (Model A047)

September 24, 2020, Commack, New York – Tamron announces the launch of the 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (Model A047), a telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens will be on sale on October 29, 2020 at approximately $ 549.00; however, due to the current global health crisis, the release date or product supply schedule can change.

While Tamron has manufactured many popular telephoto zoom lenses that extend to 300mm for DSLR cameras, the new 70-300mm is the first model designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Developed with the concept of bringing the joy of easy telephoto shooting to photographers everywhere, it’s the world’s smallest and lightest 70-300mm zoom lens— just 5.8 in. in length and weighing a mere 19.2 oz.— and delivers exceptional image quality.

Its Moisture-Resistant Construction provides greater protection when shooting outdoors and the lens shares the 67mm filter diameter common to all members of Tamron’s lens series for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens also takes full advantage of in-camera features, including Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF that support a fantastic shooting experience. The 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 is a highly practical lens that makes the excitement of telephoto shooting easier than ever before across a diverse range of shooting styles including landscapes, sports and other athletic events, wildlife, portraits, and more.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

1. A telephoto zoom so compact you will want to carry it around everyday

Tamron has adopted a dedicated design for mirrorless cameras and achieved a compact size once again by fixing the aperture at F6.3 at the telephoto end. The maximum diameter is 77mm. Measuring just 5.8

in. and weighing a mere 19.2 oz., this 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 is the world’s smallest and lightest telephoto zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Compatible with Sony’s popular E-mount cameras, it has been developed with the concept of enabling photographers to experience the universe of full-scale, full-frame 300mm telephoto photography more easily.

The AF drive system incorporates the exceptionally quiet RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor. Because this lens is compatible with Sony camera features, including in body image stabilization and Eye AF, you can enjoy comfortable, high-speed, high precision telephoto photography, even handheld.

Experience the excitement of bringing distant subjects closer as well as the perspective flattering characteristics achieved by full-scale telephoto photography more easily than ever before. For landscapes, sports, birds, and wildlife as well as closer subjects such as portraits and street scenes, this lens expands the range of telephoto photography.

2. Superior optical performance and supreme lightweight portability

Pursuing lightweight design as a top priority, Tamron has created a compact 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 zoom lens that makes 300mm telephoto shooting easy and fun. The superb optical design is based on a rigorous simulation process using state-of-the-art design technologies. As a result, Tamron has successfully struck a balance between extreme lightness (19.2 oz.) and compactness (5.8 in.), incorporating a slim lens barrel with a maximum diameter of 77mm— all without sacrificing high image quality. The optical design includes 15 elements in 10 groups, with an LD (Low Dispersion) lens element precisely arranged to suppress axial chromatic and other aberrations that are likely to happen with telephoto zoom lenses. At 300mm, a commonly used telephoto zoom focal length, the design delivers excellent resolution from edge-to-edge. Overall, the efficient optical construction (which also contributes to its light weight), plus Tamron’s BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating with its well-established reputation for anti-reflection properties, combine to enable the photographer to capture extremely clear, crisp images across the entire zoom range. While the lens features an advanced design with excellent core image quality, optical performance can be enhanced even further by employing the lens correction features found on Sony cameras.

With the introduction of this lens, all photographers, from first-time users of dedicated telephoto zoom lenses to experienced enthusiasts seeking a compact, lightweight telephoto zoom, can comfortably enjoy the advantages of a powerful, versatile zoom without worry about size or weight. Photographers who are shooting with in-camera image stabilization or using a tripod, can reduce the burden of their gear. Moreover, the 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 maintains excellent balance even when used with the APS-C sized E-mount cameras that are smaller than full-frame cameras (e.g., Sony ?6500); consequently, users can also enjoy photography with an even greater equivalent telephoto zoom appearance of approximately 450mm.

3. The RXD stepping motor unit is exceptionally quiet?

The AF drive incorporates a sensor that accurately detects the position of the lens while the RXD motor unit delivers optimized AF control. This achieves very fast and accurate autofocus operation and allows

users to maintain tack-sharp focus on continuously moving subjects shot at the telephoto zoom position. Thanks to the exceedingly quiet AF, the lens can be used discreetly in concert halls and other situations that require low noise levels, and for video recording.

4. A full family of superb, compact lenses made especially for mirrorless cameras

The 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 shares the same uniform 67mm filter diameter as other members of Tamron’s series of full-frame mirrorless camera lenses. When using an assortment of these lenses, users can easily interchange filters (e.g., PL, ND, etc.) and lens caps, thereby increasing convenience and minimizing costs as it is unnecessary to purchase a collection of different size filters.

Tamron’s lineup of lenses with 67mm filter diameter for full-frame mirrorless cameras (in the order they were launched):

– 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036) / High-speed standard zoom lens

– 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A046) / High-speed ultra-wide-angle zoom lens

– 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 (Model F051) / Prime lens

– 35mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 (Model F053) / Prime lens

– 20mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 (Model F050)/ Prime lens

– 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A056) / High-speed telephoto zoom lens

– 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (Model A071)/ All-in-one zoom lens

5. Moisture-Resistant Construction for added protection

Seals are located at the lens mount area and other critical locations to deter infiltration of moisture and/or rain drops and afford Moisture-Resistant Construction. This feature provides an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions.

6. Compatible with camera-specific features and functions

Tamron’s new 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 is compatible with many of the advanced features that are specific to certain mirrorless cameras. These include the following:

– Fast Hybrid AF

– Eye AF

– Direct Manual Focus (DMF)

– In-camera lens correction (shading, chromatic aberration, distortion)

– Camera-based lens unit firmware updates

SPECIFICATIONS

Model

: A047

Focal Length

: 70-300mm

Maximum Aperture

: F4.5-6.3

Angle of View (diagonal)

: 34°21′-8°15′?(for full-frame mirrorless format)

Optical Construction

: 15 elements in 10 groups

Minimum Object Distance

: 31.5 in. (WIDE), 59.1 in. (TELE)

Maximum Magnification Ratio

: 1:9.4 (WIDE) / 1:5.1 (TELE)

Filter Size

: Ø67mm

Maximum Diameter

: Ø77mm

Length*

: 5.8 in.

Weight

: 19.2 oz.

Aperture Blades

: 7 (circular diaphragm)**

Minimum Aperture

: F22-32

Standard Accessories

: Round-shaped hood, Lens caps

Compatible Mounts

: Sony E-mount

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Tamron is extending the closure of two factories through the end of 2020 due to ‘decreased demand’

22 Sep

Tamron Japan has published a statement [machine-translated] on its website noting that two of its three main factories will remain closed through the end of 2020 due to the ‘decrease in global demand due to the worldwide spread of the [novel] coronavirus.’\

This closure extension affects Tamron’s Hirosaki and Namioka factories, which were originally set to open back up on October 1. These facilities, located in Japan’s Aomori prefecture, are two of Tamron’s ‘mother plants.’ Each of these three plants play a role in the lens development process: the Hirosaki plant handles metal processing, assembly and repairs; the Namioka plant processes the lens elements; and the Owani plant molds the plastic components.1

Tamron says ‘the global market has not yet recovered, and in consideration of the uncertainty of the market environment in the future, we will continue to extend the partial closure of the domestic Aomori factory until the end of the year.’ Tamron notes business will continue during these closures, but it could ‘cause inconvenience and inconvenience to our business partners.’

If you’re interested in finding out more about the production process, Tamron Japan has an interesting online factory tour that walks through the steps it takes to manufacture a lens.


1 Tamron Japan

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Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens for Sony Review

04 Sep

The post Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens for Sony Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

The Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 is a lens that Tamron touts as “the lightest and most compact f/2.8 tele zoom for Sony mirrorless.”

It debuted in the summer of 2020, and has a solid build quality and a reasonable price point, similar to the rest of Tamron’s recent lens offerings.

But how does the image quality stack up? Let’s find out.

Recent Tamron lenses

Tamron has been on a roll with its Sony E-mount lens releases lately.

The recently released 70-180mm f/2.8 completed Tamron’s holy trinity of fast zooms (the others being the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 and the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8). All three of these lenses have been massively popular due to their solid builds, compact sizes, and affordable prices relative to their Sony G Master equivalents. Additionally, Tamron has released a handful of other fast prime lenses, including the Tamron 35mm f/2.8.

Tamron 28-200mm for Sony

Tamron 28-200mm specs

The Tamron 28-200mm is a full-frame autofocus lens for Sony E-mount cameras. While it can be used with Sony APS-C cameras, it is best used with a full-frame camera. All sample images in this post were taken with the Sony a7R III.

  • Focal Length: 28 to 200mm
  • Maximum Aperture: f/2.8 to f/5.6
  • Minimum Aperture: f/16 to f/32
  • Angle of View: 75° 23′ to 12° 21′
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 7.5″ (19.05 cm)
  • Optical Design: 18 Elements in 14 Groups
  • Diaphragm Blades: 7, Rounded
  • Image Stabilization: No
  • Filter Size: 67 mm (Front)
  • Dimensions (ø x L): 2.91 x 4.6″ (74 x 116.8 mm)
  • Weight: 1.27 lb (575.5 g)

Pros

Small and lightweight

Variable aperture lenses are often looked down upon by photographers, because you can’t retain a fast f-stop when you zoom in. This means shooting at 200mm on the 28-200mm will force you to shoot at f/5.6, making it much more difficult to shoot in low lighting. However, variable aperture lenses are generally much smaller and weigh less compared to zoom lenses with constant apertures.

Indeed, the Tamron 28-200mm is incredibly small and light given its focal range. This makes it a great lens for travel or landscape photographers who work with ample light and don’t mind sacrificing a fast aperture at all focal lengths.

Tamron 28-200mm for Sony

Simple and easy to use

Like many recent Tamron lenses, the 28-200mm is very straightforward, with a single physical switch to lock the lens and keep it from sliding out when not in use.

Other than that, it’s an intuitive plug and play lens that works exceptionally well with Sony E-mount cameras. All autofocus features, including face detection and eye autofocus (for both people and animals), were fast and accurate; the lens performs well on Sony cameras.

Moisture resistant

The build quality is solid without adding lots of weight. The Tamron 28-200mm is moisture-resistant for use in wet conditions, and also has a fluorine coating on the front lens element to prevent dust and dirt build-up.

Speaking of the front lens element, the filter size is 67mm, exactly the same as the three lenses in the Tamron holy trinity. This makes it easy to interchange filters such as polarizers and ND filters among these lenses if you buy into the full Tamron lens system.

Tamron 28-200mm for Sony
Sony a7R III | Tamron 28-200mm | 1/160 sec | f/11 | ISO 200

Five- or six-year extended warranty

This is a bonus that comes with all Tamron lenses. If you register the Tamron 28-200mm lens within two months of purchasing it, you get an extended six-year warranty if you are in the USA, or a five-year warranty if you are in Europe.

Compared to Sony’s one-year warranty, this is a pretty big advantage when going with a Tamron lens.

Great image quality

So with all of the great points about this lens, how is the image quality?

It’s surprisingly good for a variable-aperture lens. Bokeh or lens blur is soft and pleasing, especially at longer focal lengths. Image sharpness is phenomenal, although admittedly not as crisp as a prime lens. And chromatic aberration, or color fringing, which often plagues all-in-one zoom lenses, is not a problem on this lens.

Similarly, 4K video shot with this lens also boasts great image quality, which leads us to the next section of the article.

Tamron 28-200mm for Sony
Sony a7R III | Tamron 28-200mm | 1/100 sec | f/4.5 | ISO 1600

Cons

No image stabilization

Unfortunately, none of Tamron’s recent Sony E-mount lenses come with image stabilization. This feature is likely withheld to keep lenses smaller and more affordable, but it means that the Tamron 28-200mm is not an optimal lens for video or shooting handheld in low light. If you use the lens with a camera that has in-body image stabilization (IBIS), this can help make up for the lack of lens-based image stabilization. But in my experience, it’s always best to have a camera with IBIS and a lens with image stabilization.

On the plus side, this lens is lightweight enough that you could use it on a gimbal for video work, as long as you can balance it out when shooting at longer focal lengths.

Variable aperture

While the Tamron 28-200mm does give you a fast f/2.8 aperture when shooting on the wide end, the more you zoom in, the slower the aperture gets.

This may not be a big deal-breaker if you tend to shoot in scenarios with tons of natural or artificial lighting. However, if you shoot a lot in low light, the variable aperture might bother you.

Comparison to the Sony 24-240mm

The most direct competitor to the Tamron 28-200mm is the long-standing Sony 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 lens. This Sony lens is very close in size to the Tamron, although it is slightly heavier, coming in at 780 g (1.72 lb) compared to 575 g (1.27 lb).

However, the Sony 24-240mm does offer slightly more range than the Tamron, plus it has OSS, or optical image stabilization. The OSS comes in handy if you shoot video, or like to have extra support when shooting handheld. The Sony lens does cost more, at $ 1,085 USD, but it has been out for so long that used versions of the lens can be had for prices similar to that of the Tamron.

If you value the extra range and OSS, the Sony may be the better all-in-one lens for you. However, it is quite a bit heavier than the Tamron and also has a significantly shorter warranty.

Tamron 28-200mm for Sony
Tamron 28-200mm for Sony

Sample image gallery

The post Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens for Sony Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.


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Tamron 24mm F2.8 M1:2 sample gallery

19 Aug

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The Tamron 24mm F2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 debuted late last year alongside 20mm and 35mm options. These full-frame E-mount primes offer 1:2 macro reproduction at an affordable $ 350 price point. Not to mention that they’re extremely lightweight: the 24mm F2.8 weighs 215.5g / 0.5lb. That’s an extremely attractive feature if you’re looking to, for example, hike up a mountain. Take a look at how it handles subjects near, far and somewhere in between.

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Tamron developing compact 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for E-mount

05 Aug

Tamron has announced the development of what it claims is the ‘smallest and lightest’ telephoto zoom for Sony E-mount: the 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD.

This focal range isn’t new to Tamron, but this is the first 70-300 developed for full-frame mirrorless bodies. The lens is weather-sealed and its focus group is driven by an ‘RXD’ stepping motor. The diameter of the lens is 77mm (3″) while it weighs in at 544g (19.2oz).

The 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is expected to ship this fall.

Press release

Tamron Announces the Development of the World’s Smallest and Lightest Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sony E-mount Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (Model A047)

August 3, 2020, Commack, NY – Tamron announces the development of a new telephoto zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras, the 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (Model A047). The lens is planned to launch in Fall 2020.

While Tamron has manufactured many popular telephoto zoom lenses that extend to 300mm for DSLR cameras, the new 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 is the first model designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Developed with the concept of bringing the joy of easy telephoto shooting to photographers everywhere, it’s the world’s smallest and lightest 70-300mm zoom lens at 5.8 in., 19.2 oz. and maximum diameter of 77mm, and delivers exceptional image quality.

Its Moisture-Resistant Construction provides greater protection when shooting outdoors and the lens shares the 67mm filter diameter common to all members of Tamron’s lens series for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens also takes full advantage of in-camera features, including Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF that support a fantastic shooting experience. The 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 is a highly practical lens that makes the excitement of telephoto shooting easier than ever before across a diverse range of shooting styles including landscapes, sports and other athletic events, wildlife, portraits, and more.

Main features

  1. The world’s smallest and lightest size brings you the joy of easy telephoto shooting.
  2. Superb optical performance with high image quality and aberration correction.
  3. AF drive system powered by Tamron’s RXD stepping motor unit provides high-speed, high-precision and quiet operation.
  4. Moisture-Resistant Construction contributes to a comfortable, user-friendly photographic experience.

Specifications, appearance, functionality, etc. are subject to change without prior notice.

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Gear Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony

17 Jul

The post Gear Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 lens for sony review

Earlier this year, the highly anticipated Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 telephoto lens finally hit the shelves. Made for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, this lens is very compact and affordable, coming in at more than half the price of the Sony G-Master version. What are the pros and cons of getting this lens? Read on to find out!

The Tamron “Holy Trinity” is complete

Photographers often refer to the “holy trinity” of zoom lenses that cover a wide range of focal lengths. Traditionally, the holy trinity consists of a wide-angle lens (16-35mm), a midrange lens (24-70mm), and a telephoto lens (70-200mm). Tamron has been working on their own version of the holy trinity that includes the 17-28mm f/2.8, 28-75mm f/2.8, and now the 70-180mm f/2.8.

All three of these Tamron lenses complement each other in that they are very affordable, compact in size, and even use the same filter thread size of 67mm. The low cost is probably the most attractive feature. You can have the Tamron holy trinity of f/2.8 lenses for just under US$ 3,000. In comparison, buying all three Sony G-Master lenses would cost a whopping US$ 7,000.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Canon 5D Mark III with Canon 100mm f/2.8 – 1/60 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400

Specs

The formal name of this lens is the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD. Tamron claims this is the “world’s lightest and most compact package,” and it’s hard to disagree when comparing this lens to similar focal lengths. The lens is 5.9 inches (149mm) long and weighs 1.8lbs (816 grams). The Tamron 70-180mm also has moisture resistance and weather sealing.

This is an autofocus lens with two rubber barrels – one controls focus and the other zooms. The front part of the lens extends when zoomed in. There is just one minimal locking switch on the lens to keep it from extending when not in use. No other physical buttons or switches are on the lens. The minimum focusing distance is 33.5 inches, however, you can focus down to 10.6 inches when using manual focus at 70mm.

One last thing to mention about this and every Tamron lens is the 6-year warranty for USA residents. The warranty period is much longer than Sony’s and just about any lens manufacturer out there.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Canon 5D Mark III with 100mm f/2.8 – 1/60 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Canon 5D Mark III with 100mm f/2.8 – 1/60 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Canon 5D Mark III with 100mm f/2.8 – 1/60 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400

Ease of use

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is very easy to use, especially if you’ve ever shot with a 70-200mm f/2.8. In practice, it’s almost not fair to compare these two lenses. The Tamron is considerably smaller and lighter than any 70-200mm f2/.8 on the market. It weighs 1.46 lbs lighter than the Sony G-Master, and it easily fits inside of medium-sized bags that a traditional 70-200mm lens would never fit into. Thus, it’s no longer a second thought on whether this lens should be packed on a hiking trip, or whipped out to shoot a quick photo.

To keep the lens small, 20mm was shaved from the long end which might be a problem if you really need to be shooting at 200mm. However, Sony full-frame shooters have the option of shooting in APS-C mode to get a zooming effect (roughly 270mm with the 1.5 crop factor). When shooting with a high-resolution camera such as the Sony a7rIV and its 61 megapixels, you also have more megapixels, so cropping is a viable option.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 180mm – 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 160

Autofocus

The autofocus performance on this lens is phenomenal. You have access to all of the autofocus features in your Sony E-mount camera including face and eye detect for humans and animals.

Autofocus was snappy and accurate when shooting a still or moving subject. This lens feels just like using a native Sony lens in a much lighter and cheaper body.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 70mm – 1/4000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200

Only one thing missing

Like the rest of the lenses in the Tamron holy trinity, the 70-180mm is missing image stability built into the lens. Tamron claims it isn’t needed because many Sony full-frame cameras come with in-body image stabilization (IBIS, or SteadyShot).

While this might seem like a downside, Tamron might be onto something. In practice, the 70-180mm shot incredibly stable handheld video, even at 180mm. Stills photography was also very sharp and spot-on in every scenario. Along those lines, let’s talk about image quality.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 70mm – 1/80 sec, f/8, ISO 400

Image quality

When reviewing images, the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 leaves little to be desired. Photos are tack sharp and crisp with excellent color. Thanks to the lens coating, there is also very little ghosting and flare, even in the most backlit conditions.

Conclusion

This is a rather short review, because there honestly isn’t a lot to say about this lens other than it is impressive on every level. If you want an ultra-compact f/2.8 telephoto zoom at a very affordable price, this is the one for you.

However, you’ll want to act fast since this lens has been back-ordered ever since it was announced, and for good reason.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 180mm – 1/160 sec, f/11, ISO 400
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 180mm – 1/80 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 70mm – 1/80 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 140mm – 1/60 sec, f/8, ISO 160
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 70mm – 1/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 70mm – 1/100 sec, f/10, ISO 200
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony review
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 @ 140mm – 1/250 sec, f/11, ISO 400

The post Gear Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.


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Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 sample gallery (DPReview TV)

05 Jul

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This sample gallery includes images from our recent review of the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD zoom lens. Check out these photos to see how it performs, from wide-angle to telephoto and everything in between.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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