I love third party lenses. Most third-party lenses come with a promise of providing 90% of the performance of flagship first party gear at close to half the sticker price. Not only do they provide more alternatives and better value for the average consumer, they sometimes even fill the gap in the top manufacturer’s lens lineup.
But seemingly, Tamron has taken things to the next level with their latest lenses. The Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 took the photography world by storm where many reviews say it’s sharper in some areas compared to the $2000 Sony GM 28-70mm f2.8.
And now, to add to their lineup they’ve just launched the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD. Tamron has been on a roll lately with gorgeous lens releases that can play at a level with the top dogs. So in today’s roundup, we’re taking a look at some of the best Tamron lenses for Canon, Sony, and Nikon you should consider if you’re looking for exceptional glass without exorbitant price tags.
Editor’s Note: If you’re wanting something a little cheaper, checkout our guides on Legacy lenses (such as Canon FD), or Samyang/Rokinon Lenses.
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
If you could only have one lens for Sony full frame cameras, this would be it. This and the Sigma Art 85mm f1.4 are the lenses I use the most for family photos on the beach. Though I should note I just bought the just released Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8, which may end up replacing both lenses!
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is exclusive to the FE mount and it’s the only logical standard zoom alternative if you don’t have the cash to burn on the $2000 G Master. Sony’s very own 24-70mm F4 is at the same $900~ price point, but with the Tamron being this good, and a stop faster, the first party option just doesn’t make any sense. It’s currently available on Amazon at $880, and Renewed at just $780. It might be worth browsing eBay for pre-owned copies as well.
The Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 performs well across the range at almost every aperture. Corner sharpness, when shot wide open at 28mm, is the only “weak point” worth mentioning because while it’s sharp in the center, the resolution drops off on the edges. But it cleans up nicely when stopped down to f4.
Autofocus is also another highlight on this lens. Tamron nailed the AF on this one. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III was one of the first third party lenses that worked great with Sony’s plethora of AF modes, including Eye AF. It’s fast and quiet and works great in both photo and video modes. I use it regularly for action photos on the beach, and it captures tack sharp focus at least 90% of the time:
It’s also quite the featherweight at only 550 grams and it’ll be a dream to handhold during long days of shooting thanks to its surprisingly compact build.
Note that Tamron is set to release the newer 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 version of this highly popular lens by October 28th, 2021 so that might be something you’d want to wait for. Otherwise, if you need an extremely reliable standard zoom right now, you won’t be disappointed with the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD. Check out Dan Watson’s review of this awesome standard zoom alternative for the FE mount.
Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD
Tamron has been known to produce some unique and very interesting glass in the past. The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 for the Sony FE mount is of the same breed of lenses — it’s a pleasantly quirky lens that aims to redefine what a travel, general-purpose lens should be.
First things first, let’s address the variable aperture on this thing. The Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 starts at f2 at the wide end, and reaches f2.8 at around 83mm and stays there till 150mm. That’s a lot of light going into the sensor starting at the wide end to telephoto and is just flat out insanely useful to have in a travel zoom lens.
It’ll also feature Tamron’s latest “Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive” (VXD) motor found in more modern Tamron lenses that should make way for a quick and quiet AF system. This all-in-one zoom will also feature a connector port that’ll let you set custom functions and update its firmware. It won’t have stabilization, but with the later generations of Sony bodies with IBIS, that shouldn’t be an issue.
While we can’t comment on its optical performance just yet, you can check out Matt Granger’s hands-on with the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 below for some sample shots. Just like the 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2, the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD will hit the shelves on October 28th, 2021. You can now preorder this lens for $1,899 — not bad at all if it’s going to be your one-and-done lens for casual and general photography!
Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
If you’re rocking a Canon or Nikon DSLR and you’re looking for an ultra-wide angle lens, I’d say skip the flagship models and have a look at the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 ($1300 on Amazon) instead, even if you have the budget to spare for the premium alternative.
Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 is an update to an already excellent lens. Minor may they seem on paper, it’s still the lens to get for your astrophotography, real estate and landscape work for the Canon EF and Nikon F mount. Optically, it’s nothing short of impressive. Note that the original already outperforms the Nikkor AF-S 14-28mm f2.8 wide open, both at the wide and long end. So it’s all the more impressive to think that Dustin Abbot finds the G2 further improving on the corner sharpness, which is a very critical performance metric for a UWA.
Throw in stabilization or Vibration Compensation (VC) in Tamron-speak, and you’ll get an extremely compelling ultra-wide angle lens that’ll do great for both photography and videography work. Like its contemporaries, the Tamron SP 15-30mm f2.8 G2 has a convex front element so you’ll have to find specialized filter systems for it. However, a nice cherry on top is the updated mostly-metal build and “expanded” weather sealing which are both confidence-inspiring — it’s too hard to beat, especially at the $1,300 price point.
Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD
Now this is a lens so good, the only gripe people have with it is that you can’t get it on more mounts without an adapter. The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD ($900 on Amazon) doesn’t only match the premium fast 35mm primes available in the Canon EF and Nikon F mount, it outperforms them.
This Tammy 35mm f1.4 edges out the Canon 35mm f1.4L, Nikon 35mm f1.4G and the Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART, at least optically. Have a look at LensRentals’ Roger Cicala’s findings when he pitted the Tamron against the coveted 35mm L-series lens from Canon. If that’s not impressive enough for you yet, wait till you hear the price tag on this thing. For $900, you’ll be getting an optically superior lens to flagship offerings.
Tamron dressed up the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD for the “pro” lens part nicely as well with its metal build, which feels even more premium than the once third party gold standard 35mm prime Sigma ART lens.
Autofocus performance is very fast and reliable, though first party lenses may still hold a slight advantage in this area for obvious reasons. Still, even if your copy runs into some calibration issues, this can be easily addressed via the Tamron Tap-In Console where you can make firmware updates and more. Here’s Julia Trotti taking the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD for a spin on a real world shoot.
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
At this point, you might be thinking Sony’s being spoiled by Tamron with all the world-class lenses they’re releasing for the FE mount. And you’d be right — the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is another landmark lens for the third party lens manufacturer. In a nutshell, the $1,200 Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is a Sony 70-200 f2.8 GM at half the cost.
Shooting both the Tamron and the G Master wide open, we’ll see sharper results in the center from the Tamron throughout the range. See the 100% crops here if you’re having a hard time digesting the previous sentence. To be fair, the Sony catches up quickly when both are set to f4, but at this price point, the Tamron performs marvelously.
The Tamron gets a resounding win in the size and handling department as well. At only 1.8 pounds, the Tamron is also half the weight of the Sony GM. It’s also 50 millimeters shorter than the GM, making the Tamron the better-balanced lens for travel and long days in the studio for any Sony body hands down.
Sure, you’ll be missing out on the extra 20mm on the telephoto end and the stabilization on the GM (which is a non-issue for Sony bodies with IBIS). Focus tracking, while spritely and quiet, may slightly lag behind the first-party lens as most third party lenses do, but are the difference worth the extra $1,200? For this much performance at such an attainable price tag, I’m thinking not, especially if you’re a pro who can live with not having the best of the best gear.
Have a look at Matthew Gore’s in-depth comparison of the Tamron 70-180 f2.8 vs. the Sony 700-200 GM below if you’re thinking about getting a nice telephoto for your system.