Tamron has had quite a run recently, with plenty of appealing new items as well as improvements to existing products, and just a little while ago, they also announced the Tamron 28-70mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, which is a very versatile zoom lens.
We weren’t particularly thrilled by their 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (aka G1), so let’s hope that the G2 is more
convincing. Despite the fact that it is popular among customers, we weren’t overly impressed by it. Tamron identifies five enhancements that have been made since the “G1” version. Better image quality, improved performance while focusing up close, redesigned body, quicker autofocus, and functionalities that may be customized by the user. On paper, it seems like a decent idea, so let’s have a look at it.
Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Zoom Lens Specifications
| Optical construction | 17 elements in 15 groups inc. 2x aspherical and 2x LD elements |
| Number of aperture blades | 9 (rounded) |
| min. focus distance | 0.18m-0.38m (max magnification: 1:2.7 (WIDE) / 1:4.1 (TELE)) |
| Dimensions | 117.6×75.8mm |
| Weight | 540g |
| Filter size | 67mm |
| Hood | petal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied) |
| Other features | Fluorine coating, customizable button, moisture-resistant design |
| Mount | Sony FE |
The majority of Tamron lenses have always possessed a sense of plasticine about them, and the G2 lens didn’t actually bring about any significant changes in this regard. On the other hand, the quality of the plastic appears to have been substantially enhanced, and the “sculpted” shape has a little more upscale appearance.
One of the benefits that Tamron highlights is the “shinier” finish. The zoom and focus rings function without any hiccups (and are smoother compared to the G1). Although the G2 lens is resistant to the effects of moisture, it is unknown whether or not it is also resistant to the effects of dust. When zooming all the way into the long end of the zoom range, the inner lens tube expands, much like it does in the majority of regular zoom lenses.
The Tamron lens does not come equipped with a separate focus switch anymore. Instead, they moved a customizable button that has the potential to function as a focus switch if it is set up in the appropriate manner. This may be set up using a USB cable and the “Lens Utility” software that is provided by Tamron. A lens hood in the shape of petals is included in the packaging.
The autofocus speed of the G1 lens was already rather quick because of its RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive), but the autofocus speed of the G2 lens is much quicker as a result of its new VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque linear Drive). It is clear that the speed increase that Tamron claims to have achieved is accurate.
The transition from a stepping motor to a linear motor likely contributed, at least in part, to the increased precision of manual focusing. The G2 lens has an unusual feature called increased close-focus capabilities. With this feature, the lens can achieve a maximum magnification of 1:2.7 at 28mm and 1:4.1 at 75mm. When compared to a regular zoom lens, this is rather impressive. It has not been possible to integrate an image stabilizer.
Sample Images
