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Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD

Posted on July 23, 2020July 24, 2020 by Jordan Steele

Contents

  • 1Construction and Handling
  • 2Autofocus
  • 3Image Quality
  • 4Conclusion
  • 5Image Samples

Conclusion

Pros

  • Exceptionally compact and light weight for an f/2.8 telezoom
  • Extremely fast and accurate autofocus in continuous AF
  • Accurate and reasonably fast autofocus in single-shot AF on closer subjects
  • Extremely sharp over most of the frame right from f/2.8, and very sharp to the edges stopped down.
  • Generally pleasing bokeh
  • Excellent color and contrast
  • Minimal chromatic aberrations
  • Moderate vignetting
  • Low ghosting flare
  • Close-focus macro mode allows for 1:2 magnification at 70mm
  • Price

Cons

  • Lens tends to front focus in specific circumstances on high-resolution bodies (long end of the zoom, AF-S, near infinity)
  • High native distortion requires digital correction
  • Less robust build quality than competing f/2.8 telephoto zooms
  • Some loss of contrast with color shift when shooting into the sun
  • Macro mode shooting is only sharp in the center of the frame

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is a unique lens in the photography landscape. Only Canon’s new RF 70-200mm f/2.8 manages to pack an f/2.8 aperture into anything approaching the Tamron’s level of compactness and low weight. The Canon manages to be just a touch shorter than the Tamron (almost entirely due to the 2mm registration difference between RF and FE mounts), but is still 260g heavier and 9mm larger in diameter. Of course that lens comes with a more robustly constructed exterior.

I think the design decisions made by Tamron in creating this lens strike a fantastic balance between range, aperture, portability and construction, and the end result is a lens that is easy to pack in the bag, is extremely versatile, and most importantly, is quite outstanding optically. That last part may be the most important distinction, as the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 manages to pack top-level optics into that compact light-weight body, and do so for a very reasonable price. Add in exceptionally fast autofocus and you’ve got a winner.

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 retails for $1,199, which is a full $300 less expensive than Sony’s larger, heavier, slower and significantly worse optically 70-200mm f/4 G OSS. In no situation would I recommend Sony’s f/4 telezoom over this lens, and there are even few where I would recommend the $2,600 Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM. I think the only people who should opt for the G Master lens over this Tamron are those who regularly shoot in situations where the extra robustness of the G Master build is of prime concern, or if you simply must have first party glass.

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 is a lens that I’ve been waiting for my entire photographic life: an extremely compact f/2.8 telezoom with premium optics and an affordable price. Tamron’s got a winner on their hands, and in my opinion this is the telephoto zoom lens that should be the first consideration for every Sony full-frame shooter.

Image Samples

Click on an image to enlarge

Honey Run Falls – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 107mm, f/11, 6sec, ISO 320
Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise over Buckeye Lake – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 89mm, f/2.8, 2.5s, ISO 250
Waiting in the Gardens – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 137mm, f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 250
Water Lily, Schnormeier Gardens – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 180mm, f/2.8, 1/800s, ISO 100
Dublin Link – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 70mm, f/14, 25s, ISO 100
Forest Flowers – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @150mm, f/2.8, 1/10s, ISO 100
Playing Ball – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 155mm, f/2.8, 1/1000s, ISO 160
Sun Through the Trees – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 180mm, f/16, 1/8s, ISO 100
City in the Morning – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/640s, ISO 100
Massies Creek – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 104mm, f/16, 1.6s, ISO 320
Lost Teeth Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 180mm, f/4, 1/125s, ISO 320
Flowers – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 180mm, f/1.8, 1/2s, ISO 100
Waterfall, Schnormeier Gardens – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 180mm, f/7.1, 1/10s, ISO 320
Dandelion – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 180mm, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 400
Last Day – Sony A7R IV with Tamron 70-180m f/2.8 Di III VXD @ 165mm, f/2.8, 1/125s, ISO 320

If you enjoyed this review, check out my other reviews in the Review Index.

Pages: 1 2 3

12 thoughts on “Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD”

  1. Matthewdum says:
    July 29, 2020 at 7:28 am

    [b][/b]

    Reply
  2. David Payne says:
    August 4, 2020 at 5:33 am

    I have recently purchased this lens and agree with your review. A very sharp lens and I love the size with the f2.8 aperture. I have also noticed the autofocus issues you mention when in single shot mode. I had the Sony 70-200 f4 G lens and find the Tamron superior in image quality and also focus accuracy. I am very happy with my purchase and now have the three Tamron 2.8 zooms.
    I very much like the quality of your reviews and find them to be reliable.

    Reply
  3. Martin says:
    September 9, 2020 at 7:18 pm

    I am very interested on this lens, and wonder if it can pair with Raynox 250 for some general macrophotography? Thanks

    Reply
  4. Sigmund says:
    September 29, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Hey Jordan, anything happened to you?

    Reply
    1. Jordan Steele says:
      September 29, 2020 at 3:18 pm

      No, I’m good. Just been insanely busy with work and have had little time to write.

      Reply
  5. Richard Paul Handler says:
    December 17, 2020 at 2:01 am

    For several years I owned the Sony 4/70-200 G. Then I swapped for the Sony 100-400 GM. Both were fine instruments but impractical for travel and impossible for hiking and even walking about.

    I now own the Tamron and use it often. After the pandemic it will be in my travel kit. F2.8 is a boon, often.

    To facilitate adjusting CPL filters often I substitute a Sensei 67mm screw on collapsible rubber hood. I also use this on my Voigtlander 65mm Apo-Lanthar macro and my Zeiss Batis 40mm CF.

    Reply
  6. Harry says:
    January 7, 2021 at 2:06 am

    I am wondering about AF descriptions – Tamron 2.8/70-180 mm on Sony = extremely fast
    and Canon RF 2.8/70-200 mm on Canon = very fast
    I had used Tamron on Alpha 9 against Sony 2.8/70-200 mm GM – witch I rate only “fast” – but then I must rate the Tamron on Alpha 9 = slow! Especially in close focussing and find a subject when it searches from near to far.
    And the Canon is feeling a lot faster then both.
    Do you agree?

    Reply
    1. Jordan Steele says:
      January 7, 2021 at 9:59 am

      I can’t say I would ever describe the Tamron as focusing ‘slow’. Are you using single point AF or continuous, as I do notice that all Sony lenses focus slower in single point than in continuous, but the Tamron, especially in continuous mode, focuses essentially instantaneously for me on my A7R IV. If I’m shooting in dimmer light and going from very close up to very far, then yes, it slows down a fair bit, but that’s more to do with available light and the camera than the AF speed of the lens. In good light with strong contrast subjects, the Tamron is very fast, and for instances where you’re shooting at more moderate distances, it’s just essentially instant.

      The Canon does better in speed on the very close to far focus test, but I think that’s more to do with my R6’s better AF in lower light than anything. In good light, it’s quick, but not quite as quick as the Tamron. Both are certainly fast enough to keep up with any tracking duties, though.

      I have both lenses sitting on my desk right now and just tried all of these, and that’s what I see with them.

      Reply
      1. Harry says:
        January 8, 2021 at 7:07 am

        I do animal-photography most of the time – and have no millisecond to waste.
        Often the light is not perfect – so yes my experiences come from low light, fast action, low contrast at continous-AF – and then Tamron is not fast –
        Sony is faster and Canon is with RF 70-200 mm the fastest.
        And for me it is easy to see that Sony A9 and A7RIV works best and faster with Sony lenses – Tamron is braked out.
        So for normal still live, single AF, Tamron might be fast enough – but with the newest cameras from Sony, there is no real need for me to use single-AF or even one-shot.

        Reply
        1. Fotofrik says:
          February 5, 2021 at 3:53 pm

          Yes Tamron od 2.8/70-180 mm on May Sony = extremely fast!

          Reply
  7. Fotofrik says:
    February 5, 2021 at 3:54 pm

    Yes Tamron od 2.8/70-180 mm on May Sony very fast!

    Reply
  8. Scott Petty says:
    February 14, 2021 at 9:08 am

    Another great review – very helpful and the accompanying images are wonderful. Thanks, Jordan!

    Reply

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