How the Much Cheaper Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Compares to the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Tamron's new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens undercuts the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS by over a thousand dollars, making it a fantastic alternative for photographers if it can provide similar performance and image quality to its counterpart. This great video review takes a look at the two lenses to help you decide which one is right for you.

Coming to you from Robert Hall Photography, this helpful video compares the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens to the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens. Sony's 70-200mm f/2.8 is a fantastic lens, but at close to $3,000, it is a very expensive investment for hobbyists and professionals alike. On the other hand, the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 comes in at just $1,200, and I have to say it looks impressively sharp, even on the 61-megapixel Sony a7R IV. While you sacrifice 20mm of reach on the long end, it sure seems like if you can do without that little bit of reach and do not need absolutely tip-top sharpness, the Tamron is a fantastic bargain with performance to match the needs of most professionals. Check out the video above for Hall's full thoughts. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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6 Comments

Yeah, but you can buy two Tamrons, have a backup, and still have change to get other things. :^D

Excellent video by Rob. Swayed me towards the Tamron lens.

A good buy, but i still waiting for anyone to make a good 17-40mm.

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Stuff like this always make me think of the law of diminishing returns. In a field where post-processing is very much the norm, at what point does the quality of the lens even matter? Having said that, it doesn’t make me want that higher-end gear any less!