Today, Tamron announced the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens for Sony E mount with a new optical design specifically for mirrorless cameras. It's an interesting and affordable alternative to other standard zooms.
Specifications
We're pretty big fans of Tamron lenses at Fstoppers, as their reinvented lineup tends to have a lot of performance for the prices they charge. The new 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens seems to continue this trend, offering an alternative to the standard 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses, the bread and butter glass of a lot of photographers. Check out the specs:
- Focal length: 28-75mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Length: 4.6 inches
- Weight: 19.4 oz (550 g)
- Optical formula: 15 elements in 12 groups
- Extra low dispersion (XLD) element, low dispersion element (LD), glass molded aspherical element (GM), and two hybrid aspherical elements
- Broad-Band Anti-Reflection coating
- Nine-blade circular diaphragm
- Minimum working distance (wide angle): 2.24 in (0.34x magnification)
- Minimum working distance (telephoto): 10 in (0.25x magnification)
- Rapid Extra Silent Stepping Drive (RXD) autofocus motor, extra quiet for video work
- Fluorine coating
- Compatible with Sony autofocus features such as Eye AF
- Moisture resistant
- Prince: $799
Preorder
You can preorder the new Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens here. Shipments are expected to begin in late May.
I still use older generation of this lens with Nikon mount (I assume they improved optical design over years). When Nikon's 24-70mm was too expensive for me and even Sigma's counterpart seemed like a budget stretch, I was able to get Tamron 28-75mm used for under $300. It's been always an affordable lens and for a photo enthusiast it should be more than ebough in terms of performance. Would I prefer 24mm on the wide end? Perhaps yes, but you learn to live with things as they are.
Really exciting news! I've been wanting something that will fit on my A6300 with a bit of reach and a bonus is future proof if I decide to get one of Sony's full frame models, still looking to have a play with A7riii.
I hope this proves a success for Tamron and they continue to produce lenses like this for the Sony range, there is a huge market out there for it. It might drive Sony to be a bit more competitive with lens prices too!
Long lenses, wide apertures, reasonable prices, bring them on, the Sony and Zeiss are very nice I know I have a handful, but who needs a nosebleed every time you buy a lens?
TAMRON 28-75 2.8 Di III RXD for Sony E-Mount
This lens certainly holds a-lot of promise for photographers just getting into upgrading their glass. Many will be tempted by the price. From what Ive read and viewed in videos this lens certainly can hang with the big boys when it comes to image quality. However if this lens needs to become your workhorse, your daily driver for paying gigs, I would certainly recommend buying the Sony 24-70 2.8 GMaster.
Tamron didn't all of a sudden figure out a way to produce a lens equal to the other manufactures lenses for half the price without cutting corners. So in conclusion you may save yourself some money but don't walk away thinking you didn't make a compromise to do so.