Tamron Announces SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens

Tamron Announces SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens

For many photographers, a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens with vibration compensation is a holy grail. Tamron has just introduced their second generation of that exact lens with many improvements and a slick redesign. Check out the new lens!

Specifications

  • New dual Micro-Processing Unit for quicker and more precise AF and improved Vibration Compensation performance
  • Two extra refractive elements, three low dispersion elements, three glass-molded aspherical elements, and one hybrid aspherical element to reduce distortion and aberrations
  • eBAND and BBAR coatings to reduce flare and ghosting
  • USM autofocus motor with full-time manual override
  • Five-stop Vibration Compensation with two modes (normal and panning)
  • Moisture resistance with fluorine-coated front element
  • Minimum focusing distance: 15"
  • Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:5
  • 17 elements in 12 groups
  • Nine-blade diaphragm
  • Front element: 82mm
  • Weight: 1.99 lbs. (904 g)
  • Compatible with optional TAP-in Console

MTF Charts

Preorder

Altogether, the new lens looks like an intriguing, lower price alternative to the standard Canon and Nikon options. The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 will be available in August for the Nikon mount and September for the Canon mount and retails for $1,199. You can preorder it below:

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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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14 Comments

I love Tamrons new design style. I think it actually looks better than the native Nikon design. I'm excited to try it out.

Totally agree! It's really elegant and modern.

Really? You like that design better? I like lenses to have a stepped up barrel design. I think it looks more professional and, since I look kinda like "Mad Jack" from "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams," I need all the help I can get! ;-)

I'm not sure what a "stepped up barrel design" is but yes I like the flat gray paint on these new lenses. The old Tamron lenses were the ugliest of all the lenses in my opinion but I really like these. The last Nikon 24-70mm always gave me problems too. The zoom wasn't smooth and it became more and more of a problem as it got older.

By stepped up, I mean the barrel gets bigger, in steps, from mount to hood. It's just a personal preference and I wasn't addressing mechanical design. Honestly, I didn't care that much for the 24-70G. I waited a long time for the E version, now I just need some money to buy it! Maybe I could get it selling stock photography of myself. Oh, wait. I don't have any money to fan out in front of me for the shot! :-)

I'm also a fan of their new design in the SP line. I just got the 70-200 G2 and couldn't be happier.

if its half as good as the recent 85mm, its superb.. always used tamron, but the new ones are not only optically excellent, they're are really well made and super sharp.

The previous is already a very good lens (far better than the first 24-70 Nikon AFS). This one will probably rocks

"Far better"? You would hope it would be far better given the difference in age but, no.

I had both, and IMO Tamron is better. Maybe this new one will be better than the new Nikon

From what I've read, the optical formula is the same. We'll find out about the actual improvements later.

Hopefully the new formula has improved the beast. I bought the G1 24-70 when I first got my D600, and it was total trash. Others claim much better IQ from it, so perhaps Tamron has a quality control problem, but my Tamron was hideous. I returned it. Below is a sample of the edge quality of my G1 Tamron at 24mm, already 1 stop down, compared to a cheap plastic Nikkor from the 90s that I had.

Ironically, I found an older 28-75 f/2.8 Tamron used that is surprisingly good, and vastly superior to the 24-70. It will be interesting to see how this new Tamron and the new Sigma fare, the Sigma is the lens I've been very curious about.
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The Tamron's have the zoom ring reversed compared to the Canon's, correct? But same as Nikon's?

I am interseted to see how this compares to the Sigma art and the Canon L II, with Image Stabilization this looks great