Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD reviews roundup: the best zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras?
Released in 2018, the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD is a zoom lens designed for Sony E-mount Full frame mirroless cameras, with a constant aperture of f/2.8 and a versatile focal range that can be useful in many situation. If you like traveling, that’s a perfect travel lens that will allow you to shoot everything from portraits to landscapes.
It’s rather compact and lightweight, with a fast and quiet autofocus that works great for photos but also for video shooting.
Specs:
- Mount: Sony E mount
- Optical stabilization: No
- Weather sealed: Yes
- Weight: 550g
- Min. aperture: f/2.8
- Max. aperture: f/22
- Minimum focus distance: 19cm at 28 mm / 39 cm at 75 mm
- Filter size: 67mm
- Superb optical performance, including both outstanding image quality and beautiful background Blur effects (bokeh), provided by fast f/2.8 aperture.
- Comfortably light weight (19.4 oz.) and compact (4.6 in). Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:2.9 (Wide); 1:4 (Tele)
- Close-focusing; minimum object distance: 7.5 in at wide-angle setting and 15.3 in at the telephoto position.
What do the critics think of the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD?
Overall, the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD is a great lightweight and affordable alternative to the much more expensive Sony 24-70 f2.8 G Master. It’s very similar optically, and the only reason to go for the 24-70mm would be if you absolutely need a wider focal range. Other than that, the Tamron might be the best lens you can get in this price range: image quality is very good, it’s versatile even for close-ups, and it’s weather resistant.
If you need a first zoom lens for your Sony mirroless camera and you don’t have too muche money to spend, that’s a must-have.
The downside that come up most often in reviews is that the focal length starts at 28mm (24mm would be more useful).
Most reviews like…
- Image quality
- Nice bokeh
- Rather versatile, from close-ups to portraits
- Fixed aperture of f/2.8
- Build quality is good
- Fast autofocus
- Small and light
- Good value for money
Most reviews don’t like…
- No stabilization
- Plastic body
- Sharpness is good but not outstanding
- No AF/MF button
- Some vignetting and distortion
- Not a 24mm lens
For more infos about the positive and negatives sides of the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD, check out the selection of reviews below:
Websites Reviews
Pcmag.com – 4/5 – Best of the Year 2018 – (‘The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens captures crisp photos, focuses quickly, and balances well on Sony full-frame cameras. If you don’t have the budget for a premium G Master lens from Sony, this is a fine, affordable alternative, and an Editors’ Choice.’)
Photographyblog.com – ★★★★½ Highly recommended (‘The new Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD isn’t the best standard zoom lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras in terms of outright image quality, performance and build quality, but it is currently the best lens in terms of its cost to performance ratio, offering a lot of bang for not a lot of buck.’)
Thephoblographer.com – 5/5 – Editor’s Choice Award (‘Here’s where I really like the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD: the colors are vivid and punchy. When combined with the Clear or Deep color profile on the Sony a7r III, the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD can deliver super punchy colors that make editing in Capture One Pro after locking your white balance even less of a chore.’)
Photoreview.com.au – 8.9/10 (‘ Tamron’s first dedicated FE lens is a very nice bit of gear at a modest price. It’s relatively compact and light for a standard zoom lens with an f/2.8 constant maximum aperture. This makes it a good choice for travellers and everyday photographers who are looking for a relatively small and light ‘take everywhere’ standard zoom and it’s well suited to event photography and holiday shooting. Overall performance varies between good and excellent, thanks to its ability to produce high resolution around the centre of the frame at all focal length settings for the most frequently used aperture settings.’)
Amateurphotographer.co.uk – ★★★★½ Recommended – (‘This is currently the best mid-range standard-zoom going for Sony’s A7-series cameras. It won’t take long for those who buy it to realise that they’ve made a great choice. It’s ideal for general shooting provided you enable in-camera lens corrections and don’t want to shoot too wide. Importantly, it’s not heavy or cumbersome either. Tamron has got the balance just right and I envisage it being in popular demand of new Sony A7 III users who might be on the lookout for the perfect walkabout lens.’)
Amazon users reviews
- Superb optical performance, including both outstanding image quality and beautiful background Blur effects (bokeh), provided by fast f/2.8 aperture.
- Comfortably light weight (19.4 oz.) and compact (4.6 in). Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:2.9 (Wide); 1:4 (Tele)
- Close-focusing; minimum object distance: 7.5 in at wide-angle setting and 15.3 in at the telephoto position.