One of the great things that Tamron has done which I’ve always loved is make affordable lenses that are insanely reliable and often very unique. Not only are the focal lengths a bit non-conforming, but they’re also pretty darn useful for the price point. As a Sony shooter since the Sony a7 came out, I prefer them to Sony’s G Master lenses. Tamron is always nowhere as spick-and-span as Sony’s soulless glass is. And I’ve enjoyed that for years. As an owner of the 17-28mm f2.8, which the new Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 G2 replaces, I’m pretty intrigued by this new lens.
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The Big Picture: Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 Review Conclusions
So, they did it! They made a wide-angle lens that’s designed to take on the typical 16-35mm f2.8 lenses that you’d find in a company’s lineup. And the Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 has a lot going for it. There’s fast autofocus, weather resistance, sharper optics, punchy colors, the USB-C port in the side for firmware updates, and a featherweight body. If Sigma is all about going in on image quality, Tamron is all about going in on performance. With that said, this lens is pretty close to being a Sony G Master lens but it’s nowhere as mammoth-sized. I’m pretty sure that if you asked ChatGPT if Sony G Master zoom lenses and Sigma Art lenses are comparable to the size of a mammoth, it would reference some reviews you find on the web.
As an owner of the previous Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 lens, I can say with confidence that I have no plans in the foreseeable future to upgrade. I like the 17-28mm range and don’t feel like the newer upgrade is something I need. Plus, I prefer the character and signature look of the previous lens that I’ve come to know and love.
- Great weather and dust resistance
- Fast autofocus performance
- Less than half the cost of a Sony G Master in a comparable range
- Nearly G Master image quality
- Lightweight
I’m giving the Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 five out of five stars if you’re looking for a new lens to upgrade to. But otherwise, I wouldn’t bother upgrading the lens that you’ve got now unless you like pixel-peeping your photos. Personally, I put filters on my lenses to make something look much softer and film-like.
Want one? Check it out on Amazon.
Experience
I’m so very confused by this lens. I’ve been an owner of the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 for years. And then when this came in, I slapped it on my camera and started shooting. But I truly wondered why Tamron would make this and the other lens. And then I read the press release. The Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 is the successor to the 17-28mm f2.8. That lens, which we reviewed in 2019 (https://www.thephoblographer.com/2019/11/18/review-tamron-17-28mm-f2-8-di-iii-rxd-almost-g-master-sharpness/ ) has been a staple in my set of Tamron lenses.
Luckily, this one is just as fast as the previous lens. On top of that, Tamron kept the weight very feathery, included weather resistance, added in the USB port for firmware updates, etc. By all means, this is a Tamron lens though a bit more modernized and updated.
The exterior will remind you a whole lot of any other Tamron lens with a custom function button, the built-in USB port, etc. But compared to the original 17-28mm lens, this new 16-30mm has a different exterior texture. In all ways, I’d say that it’s better. This isn’t made of metal like some of the company’s other lenses. But it’s instead still a type of plastic.
With the Sony a7r III, the camera only missed its mark twice. And in one situation, I’d say that it’s nearly impossible for an older Sony camera to get it. Using the Sony a7 original that was converted to infrared that I own, I didn’t have much of a problem with autofocus at all in good lighting.
Image Quality
We used this lens on both the Sony a7r III and the Sony a7 original that we have which we converted to full spectrum. And in both cases, we were pretty happy with the results that it gave us. Actually, I should take that back. I’m satisfied. Older Tamron lenses have a character to them that I feel this lens is engineering out. In that way, I compare it to what digital sensors did to film – it took the fun out. Where film could be expired, souped, etc, this Tamron lens gives you the flattest image profile possible so that you can sell your time away to the monopolies that tell you to post-process your images endlessly. And while you’re at it, you should live stream it. If you get 2.1 million views with your YouTube shorts, you’ll get $80 Euro.
Yes, that’s how I feel about this lens.
At the longer end of the lens, you’ll be able to shoot very pleasing portraits. Everyone, and I really mean everyone, is bound to look good. Even at the wider end, folks will be their very best on-camera if you keep everything in the center area.
I’m going to be very honest here, this lens is almost the level of what I expect from a Sony G Master lens. Yet at the same time, it’s lighter, around half the cost, and it doesn’t quite go all the way to 35mm. That seemed a bit odd in practice. But as far as the image quality goes, I can’t really tell the difference. If anything, it makes me think this is more of a 28mm lens at the longer end.
Where I found this lens to be very fun, however, is when shooting infrared.
The following images were edited by me.
The following images are unedited.
Tamron 16-30mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2Tech Specs and Features:
- Model: A064
- Focal Length: 16-30mm
- Maximum Aperture: F2.8
- Angle of View (diagonal): 107°2′- 71°35′ (for full-frame mirrorless format)
- Optical Construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
- Minimum Object Distance: 0.19m / 7.5” (WIDE), 0.3m / 11.8” (TELE)
- Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:5.4 (WIDE) / 1:7 (TELE)
- Filter Size: Ø67mm
- Maximum Diameter: Ø74.8mm
- Length:
- 101.8mm (4”) for Sony E-mount
- 103.9mm (4.1”) for Nikon Z mount
- Weight:
- 440g (15.5oz) for Sony E-mount
- 450g (15.9oz) for Nikon Z mount
- Aperture Blades: 9 (circular diaphragm)
- Minimum Aperture: F16
- Standard Accessories: Flower-shaped hood, front cap, rear cap
- Price: $929
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