{"id":44421,"date":"2023-09-14T11:14:30","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T10:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=44421"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:07:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:07:42","slug":"review-tamron-70-180mm-f-2-8-di-iii-vc-vxd-g2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-tamron-70-180mm-f-2-8-di-iii-vc-vxd-g2\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Tamron 70-180mm f\/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n
\"tamron
Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 on Sony A7rII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just like the 28-75mm 2.8 before, Tamron now also updated its 70-180mm 2.8 lens. We already reviewed the previous lens here<\/a> and we liked it. A lot actually – except for some handling unpleasantries. With the addition of a lens button and a customizable switch I expect great improvements here, but that is not all: Tamron also decided to upgrade the lens with an internal optical image stabilizer. Let’s have a closer look!
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h2>\n
\"tamron
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 100mm 2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"tamron
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 140mm 2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"tamron
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 70mm 5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"tamron
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 150mm 2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"tamron
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 120mm 2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"tamron
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 180mm 2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

You can find most of the sample pictures in full resolution here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Specifications \/ Version History<\/h2>\n

This is a review of the improved “G2” version of Tamron’s 70-180mm 2.8 lens. From the outside both lenses look very similar, but there are some notable differences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>70-180mm 2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 (new)<\/td>70-180mm 2.8 Di III VXD (old)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diameter<\/td>83mm<\/td>81mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>156mm<\/td>149mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>67mm<\/td>67mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>853g<\/td>805g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Field of view<\/td>13\u00b042\u2032 to 34\u00b021\u2032<\/td>13\u00b042\u2032 to 34\u00b021\u2032<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>1:2.6 (70mm) - 1:4.7 (180mm)<\/td>1:2.0 (70mm) \u2013 1:4.6 (180mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min. focus distance from sensor<\/td>0.30m (70mm) - 0.85m (180mm)<\/td>0.27m (70mm) \u2013 0.86m (180mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>9 (rounded)<\/td>9 (rounded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>20\/15<\/td>19\/14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Optical image stabilizer<\/td>yes<\/td>no<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Buttons and controls<\/td>custom switch, lens button, zoom lock button<\/td>zoom lock button<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
USB C port<\/td>yes<\/td>no<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

buy from amazon.com<\/a> | amazon.de<\/a> |<\/em> B&H<\/a> | ebay.com<\/a> | ebay.de<\/a> (advertisement\/affiliate links) for $1299<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/h2>\n

The Tamron 70-180mm f\/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 was kindly provided free of charge by Tamron Europe\/Germany for reviewing purpose for a duration of 2 weeks. We received an early production model (serial no 153) prior to the official release.<\/p>\n

Handling \/ Build Quality<\/h2>\n
\"tamron
Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 Di III VC VXD G2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Actually, I had some issues with the first generation of this lens when it comes to handling as well as build quality. Already at first sight it looks like there have been the biggest improvements in this area, so let’s go through it.<\/p>\n

The Tamron 70-180mm G2 features a mechanical zoom, the lens is shortest at its 70mm setting and extends by 2.7 cm when set to 180mm.<\/p>\n

The arrangement of the focus ring (close to camera) and zoom ring (front) is similar to that of the Tamron 17-28mm 2.8<\/a> and Tamron 28-75mm 2.8<\/a>. Good news, if you are using more than one of these. The zoom ring has a nice resistance and can be moved with one finger only, as was already the case for the predecessor.<\/p>\n

\"tamron
bayonet with rubber gasket and USB-C socket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One issue I had with the previous generation was the non-linear coupling of the by-wire focus ring. Now this improved version of the lens features an USB-C socket, making it compatible with Tamron’s lens utility. This utility allows to change the coupling from non linear to linear and also to set the necessary rotation from the minimum focus distance to infinity in 90\u00b0 increments from 90\u00b0 to 360\u00b0. If you want, you can also change the direction of rotation of the focus ring.<\/p>\n

\"tamron
button layout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another issue I had with the previous lens was the lack of an AF\/MF switch. This new lens has a custom switch as well as a button, in combination this allows to program 3 different functions at once, these include AF\/MF switch, focus limiter, preset focus, changing the function of the focus ring (setting aperture instead of focus) and using the button as “lens button” to do whatever you set for it in camera to do.<\/p>\n

\"tamron
zoom lock lever<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the other side of the lens there is again a zoom lock lever for the 70mm setting. This sample did not exhibit zoom creep at all, but it may develope over time and then it is clearly nice to have.<\/p>\n

Tamron also includes a hood that can be mounted reversed for transport.<\/p>\n

\"tamron
Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 with hood attached on Sony A7rII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Generally this Mark II version feels nicer compared to the first generation, I think they used higher quality polycarbonate and also the tolerances seem to be tighter.<\/p>\n

Tamron also says the lens features a “moisture-resistant construction” (including gasket at the bayonet) but you should be careful what you read into it. Being an extending zoom lens I am sure dust will still find its way inside and any losses or damage due to moisture\/water do not seem to be covered by Tamron.<\/p>\n

Autofocus<\/h2>\n

I am not shooting sports or fast moving animals\/humans so if you want to know if the lens is fast enough for this or how it compares to other lenses in this segment you may have to look for a different review with a more detailed assessment of this aspect.<\/p>\n

In everyday use I found the AF to be very fast, perfectly usable and also silent.<\/p>\n

What really bothered me about the Mark I version<\/a> of this lens was, that the AF did not work at all in close range scenarios at the 70mm end and one had to set the lens to MF for the high magnifications to be accessible. Luckily this is not the case anymore, the AF works at all available distances now.<\/p>\n

Vignetting<\/h2>\n

Light Falloff<\/h3>\n