Last Updated on 08/24/2023 by Chris Gampat
I think we can all agree that Nikon doesn’t make a lot of professional zoom lenses that are very unique. But now, they’re getting the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 lens — and it’s only going to be $1,999 when it launches on September 21st, 2023. I’ve used this lens for Sony E mount for a very long time. In fact, it has helped give me one of my most interacted-with images on social media. And for the most part, I think this lens will replace the Nikon 24-120mm f4 for lots of photographers.
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Our Predictions
This is yet another lens that Tamron has ported to Nikon, with the first being the 70-300mm lens. When that lens came, the autofocus wasn’t as stellar as it is with Nikon’s own lenses. Perhaps this is why Nikon decided to rebadge a few of Tamron’s lenses — although those other lenses had decent autofocus motors, to begin with. And this is why the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 lens is such a wildcard. By all means, this is the company’s best lens. It focuses pretty spectacularly, and we can’t imagine that it wouldn’t do so on Nikon’s cameras. If it lags behind, then there’s surely something wrong.
Why Get This Lens?
Here are some important bits from our review of the lens. Mind you, we’ve reviewed this lens on Sony cameras, and we’re going to update our review to include how it performs on Nikon.
When you first hold the Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD, you realize it’s the most solid lens they’ve made for mirrorless cameras so far. It focuses incredibly fast and offers innovations that other lenses don’t. This is a perfect lens for anyone who shoots portraits, events, landscapes, photojournalism, etc. If you’re a working photographer shooting with Sony, this is arguably the only lens you need.
Beyond this, the lens received an Editor’s Choice award from us. With time away from the review and buying the lens later on, my thoughts are still the same. I barely ever use zoom lenses. But when I do, I typically choose Tamron for several reasons. And the innovation that this lens has makes it an easy choice for me. It’s not something that I want to carry everywhere with me at all times. And it isn’t permanently mated to my Sony cameras. But it’s quite good.
If you attach it to the Nikon z7 or Z6 series of cameras, I don’t think it will be very balanced. But on the company’s heavier options like the Z8 or Z9, it surely will be. But it will also make the overall package much heavier. This lens is heavy — make no mistake. However, it gives you beautiful image quality and consistent reliability.
The Final Results?
We’ve asked Tamron for a review unit of this lens and have asked Nikon to provide us with a camera body to test it out on. I think that this lens will add some much-needed character that Nikon otherwise tends to lack. But it also adds variety.
This, overall, is a good thing. If Nikon can’t make a whole slew of innovative lenses themselves, why not let another brand do so?
Now if only Canon would let this lens come to RF mount, then we’d be in a whole lot better of a situation overall in the camera world.