Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 G2
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 Lens Review: A Stellar Standard Zoom for Creators
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 lens is the second generation of one of Tamron’s most popular and well-regarded lenses, aimed primarily at Sony E-mount full-frame users. It continues to build on the success of the original, offering a versatile zoom range, fast aperture, and improved design—all while maintaining a relatively affordable price tag. Whether you're a portrait photographer, landscape enthusiast, or content creator, this lens promises performance and image quality that can elevate your work.
At a Glance:
- Focal Length: 28-75mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8 (constant throughout zoom range)
- Mount: Sony E-mount (Full-Frame)
- Optical Design: 17 elements in 15 groups
- Minimum Focusing Distance: 0.18m (wide), 0.38m (telephoto)
- Weight: 540g (1.19 lbs)
- Filter Size: 67mm
- Price: Around $900 USD
- Best for: Portraits, Travel, Events, and Videography
Build Quality and Handling
The first thing that strikes you about the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 is its lightweight and compact design. At just 540g, it feels incredibly well-balanced on a full-frame camera like the Sony A7 series. The zoom ring is smooth, with just the right amount of resistance, and the focus ring is satisfyingly tactile, offering precise control for manual focus users.
The lens is built with high-quality plastic and metal reinforcements, giving it a durable yet lightweight feel. Tamron has also incorporated moisture-resistant construction, making this lens suitable for outdoor shoots in various weather conditions. Another notable improvement in the G2 model is its redesigned and more robust lens hood, providing better protection from flare and stray light.
Optical Performance
One of the biggest selling points of the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 is its optical quality. The lens features a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, making it excellent for low-light conditions and providing beautiful subject isolation with a shallow depth of field.
Sharpness is impressive across the board. At the wider end (28mm), it delivers excellent corner-to-corner sharpness, and at 75mm, the subject isolation and detail are particularly remarkable, making it an excellent choice for portrait photography. Chromatic aberrations and distortions are well controlled, thanks to Tamron's BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating, which helps reduce flare and ghosting, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
Autofocus
The autofocus performance on the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 is another area where Tamron has made noticeable improvements. Utilizing the VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) motor, autofocus is fast, quiet, and highly accurate. This makes the lens perfect for both photography and videography, as it can quickly lock onto subjects with minimal focus hunting, even in low light.
Additionally, this lens is fully compatible with Sony's Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF systems, ensuring reliable performance for portrait and action photographers.
Close-Up Performance
One feature that sets this lens apart from others in its class is its impressive minimum focusing distance—just 0.18m at 28mm and 0.38m at 75mm. This makes it ideal for capturing detailed close-up shots, further enhancing its versatility. Whether you're photographing food, products, or even small details in nature, this lens offers a respectable magnification and clear detail.
Bokeh and Image Quality
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 produces pleasing bokeh, thanks to its rounded 9-blade diaphragm. Out-of-focus areas are rendered smoothly, with no harsh edges, which is crucial for portrait and wedding photographers who often seek a dreamy, defocused background. The lens also exhibits a well-balanced contrast and color rendition, contributing to vibrant and true-to-life images.
Video Performance
For videographers, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 excels as well. Its lightweight design and quiet VXD autofocus motor make it an ideal lens for run-and-gun style shooting or gimbal work. The constant aperture across the zoom range ensures stable exposure while zooming, and the lens has minimal focus breathing, making it an excellent choice for video work where smooth focus transitions are essential.
Pros:
- Excellent image sharpness across the zoom range
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Lightweight and compact design
- Weather-sealed for outdoor use
- Great value for a constant f/2.8 aperture lens
- Impressive close-up focusing ability
Cons:
- Slight barrel distortion at the wide end (easily correctable in post)
- No image stabilization (relying on in-body stabilization in most Sony cameras)
Verdict
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 is a worthy successor to the original, offering even better performance, faster autofocus, and improved optical quality—all at a competitive price. For photographers and videographers looking for a versatile, high-quality zoom lens that delivers great results in a variety of shooting conditions, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 is an excellent choice.
Its combination of portability, performance, and price make it one of the best lenses for Sony E-mount users who want a professional-grade zoom without the hefty price tag of native Sony lenses. Whether you're shooting portraits, weddings, landscapes, or video content, this lens provides an impressive balance of features that can adapt to a wide range of creative projects.
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