Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

The Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 is the second 'Generation 2' lens in Tamron's alternative trinity for Sony E-mount cameras.

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It follows in the footsteps of the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD G2 standard zoom and the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD wide-angle zoom, the latter still in its original version. All three of the original lenses impressed us and we weren't the only ones.

Nikon was so taken with them that they eventually morphed into Nikkor lenses for its Z-system cameras. So let's see what the 70-180mm G2 has to add to the equation.

Key features

There was nothing much wrong with the feature set of the original Tamron 70-180mm. Our only criticism was that, as with the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8 version of the lens, it lacked optical image stabilisation. Sure, all but the first generation of full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras have IBIS (in-body image stabilisation) but that tends to be less effective with telephoto lenses. A key feature upgrade of the G2 is that optical stabilisation is present and correct, in the form of Tamron's proprietary 'Vibration Compensation'. Not just for stills, Tamron says that the VC system in this lens uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) tech to deliver optimised stabilisation when shooting video, at least at focal lengths of up to 100mm.

While the addition of VC can make a big difference to sharpness in handheld shooting, outright image quality in terms of contrast, clarity and colour rendition, plus the sharpness and the lack of unwanted aberrations, is all about the glass. The optical layout of the G2 has been redesigned and includes one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) element, one hybrid aspherical lens element, three LD (Low Dispersion) elements and two GM (Glass Moulded aspherical) lens elements. Tamron's BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating is also applied to minimise ghosting and flare.