{"id":22160,"date":"2019-12-15T14:32:55","date_gmt":"2019-12-15T13:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=22160"},"modified":"2024-04-21T13:29:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T12:29:55","slug":"review-tamron-24mm-f-2-8-di-iii-osd-m12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-tamron-24mm-f-2-8-di-iii-osd-m12\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Tamron 24mm f\/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2"},"content":{"rendered":"

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After the success of their compact and affordable f\/2.8 zooms Tamron has released a pair of f\/2.8 primes: A 2.8\/24 and 2.8\/35. In this review I check, if the 2.8\/24 is another big hit.<\/p>\n

Tamron 24mm f\/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Review<\/h1>\n

Most images in this review can be found in full resolution here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n73 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n64 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n67 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight (no hood, no caps)<\/td>\n215 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n0.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n12 cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n10\/9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mount<\/td>\nE-mount<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Tamron 2.8\/24 has a recommended price of $349. Check current prices at amazon.com,<\/a>\u00a0B&H<\/a> or ebay.com<\/a>. In Germany the recommended price is 429 \u20ac. Check at amazon.de<\/a>.
\nIf you purchase the lens through one of these affiliate-links I get a small compensation with no additional cost to you.
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Disclosure<\/h2>\n

This copy was loaned to me free of charge from Tamron Germany for a few weeks.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Features<\/h2>\n

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The Tamron’s biggest feature is its unusual close focusing ability. With a close focusing distance of 12 cm it reaches a magnification of 1:2 which is a unique feature for a 24mm lens.<\/p>\n

Beyond that there are no features to mention. It has no buttons and switches.<\/p>\n

Build quality<\/h2>\n

The Tamron 24mm f\/2.8 feels solid enough. The outer hull is made from plastics with a metal mount. The rubberized focus ring is easy to grip and resistance is on the low side.<\/p>\n

Tamron claims “moisture resistance” and the Tamron 24mm f\/2.8 has a rubber gasket. As always I can’t tell how much these claims are worth.<\/p>\n

I would say the Tamron feels a little nicer than Sony’s cheapest lenses like the 1.8\/50 but not by much.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/h2>\n

AF<\/h2>\n

I used the Tamron 24mm f\/2.8 only on my a7II wich is a much slower focusing camera than the a7III and Sony’s other new models. AF was ok but a little on the slow side. One reason might be that focus isn’t internally but the front group moves about 6mm. AF isn’t noisy but can be heard in video.<\/p>\n

Manual Focus<\/h2>\n

Manual focus is non linear, focus angle depends also on the speed with which you turn the focus ring. Like most I think that this behavior makes focusing manually harder. Another issue is that sometimes the focus change isn’t continuous but happens in jumps. Add the small lag experienced with all focus by wire lenses and overall I found the Tamron to be harder to focus manually than most other E-mount lenses.<\/p>\n

Hood<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Tamron 2.8\/24’s hood is made from plastics, locks safely into place and protects the front of the lens well but adds quite a bit to the already large diameter of the lens.<\/p>\n

Size and Weight<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Voigtlander 3.5\/21 | Tamron 2.8\/24 | Sony FE 4\/16-35 ZA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At just 215g the Tamron 24mm f\/2.8 is one of the lightest E-mount lenses so one would expect it to be one of the smallest as well but it isn’t because Tamron decided to use a 67mm filter thread like their existing zoom lenses. Overall size is still quite moderate but the Tamron won’t make those happy who want to keep their kit as small as possible.<\/p>\n

Optical performance<\/span><\/h2>\n

These results are based on the use with a Sony Alpha 7II.<\/p>\n

Flare Resistance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As always evaluating flare is a complex matter since you can get any lens to look bad if you push it hard enough and a slight change of scenario will affect results a lot.<\/p>\n

I would rate the Tamron 2.8\/24’s flare resistance as good. There is a very small ghost and minor veiling flare but overall my impression was pretty positive.<\/p>\n

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Sunstars<\/h3>\n

7 rounded aperture blades result in ok\u00a0 sunstars at f\/16 and fuzzy sunstars before.<\/p>\n