Tamron's line of budget-friendly F2.8 zooms for the Sony full-frame mirrorless camera system have proven to be strong performers, with the 17-28mm offering up wide-angle coverage and the 28-75mm there for the standard range. They're now joined by the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD ($1,199), a compact telezoom that costs less than half of what Sony charges for the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS. While it makes a few sacrifices to get there, it's a strong value for full-frame photographers.Not Quite 200mm Most zooms of this type cover a 70-200mm range, but Tamron opted for a slightly shorter maximum focal length here, 180mm. The result is a lens that's decidedly smaller and lighter than your typical pro telezoom, but at the same time is just a little bit easier to squeeze into your camera bag. The 70-180mm measures 5.9 by 3.2 inches (HD) and weighs about 1.8 pounds. It extends by a few inches when zoomed in, but the extension is relatively modest. The FE 70-200mm features internal zoom, so it ...
The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens cuts a little bit of zoom power and drops stabilization, but costs less than half of what Sony charges for its 70-200mm F2.8 GM.
High-resolution optics; Bright f/2.8 aperture; Dust, splash, and fluorine protection; Light, compact, and affordable
Reliant on in-body stabilization; Barrel extends when zoomed; Autofocus unavailable for close-up work