Tamron 28-75mm F / 2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036). Review from the reader Radozhiva

Review of Tamron 28-75mm F / 2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036) for Radozhiva, prepared Komarenko Dmitry.

TAMRON 28-75MM F/2.8 DI III RXD (Model A036)

TAMRON 28-75MM F/2.8 DI III RXD (Model A036)

Hello, my name is Dmitry Komarenko, I am an amateur photographer. I live in Israel and have a technical education. Today we look at the Tamron 28-75mm F / 2.8 Di III RXD lens (hereinafter Tamron 28-75 / 2.8), in conjunction with the a7 Mark II. This is my personal copy, purchased in early July 2018, 2 months after the announcement.

Introduction

Tamron 28-75 / 2.8 is the first third-party auto focus lens under the E-mount. The lens attracted the huge attention of the Sony community after its announcement in February this year. Tamron 28-75 / 2.8 went on sale in late May, in European and American online stores at a price of $ 799, thereby forcing Sony to reduce the cost of 24-70 / 4 by $ 300 as a stock (valid at the time of writing) .

Today, 5 lenses represent the line of standard zooms:

  1. Sony Zeiss FE 4 / 24-70 ZA OSS
  2. Sony FE 4 / 24-105 G OSS
  3. Sony FE 2.8 / 24-70 GM
  4. Sony FE 3.5-5.6 / 28-70 OSS
  5. Tamron 2.8 / 28-75 Di III RXD (discussed in this review)

The Sony FE 28-70 / 3.5-5.6 goes like a whale (not bad), but it's hard to recommend for serious photography. Performance Sony / Zeiss FE 4 / 24-70 does not justify the price. The Sony 2.8 / 24-70 GM and Sony 4 / 24-105 G OSS are some of the best standard zoom lenses on the market and are great choices, except for size and price.

Main specifications of the Tamron 28-75mm F / 2.8 Di III RXD model:

• Focal length: 28-75mm
• Maximum aperture: f / 2,8
• Minimum aperture: f / 22
• Angle of view (diagonal): 75 ° 23′-32 ° 11 '(for full frame format) and 52 ° 58′-21 ° 05' (for APS-C)
• Construction: 15 elements in 12 groups
• Image Stabilizer: None.
• Minimum focusing distance: 0,19 m (28mm); 0,39m (75mm)
• Number of aperture blades: 9
• Filter size: 67 mm
• Maximum diameter: 73 mm
• Maximum magnification: 1: 2,9 (28mm), 1: 4 (75mm)
• Mount: Sony FE
• Length: 117,8 mm
• Weight: 550 g

you also can view Tamron official page.

Workmanship and assembly quality

The lens body is made of high-quality plastic, the focus ring is also made of this material, but has a Soft Touch coating, but the zoom ring is wide and rubberized. It takes about 90 ° by turning the zoom ring from 28 to 75 mm. The lens mount is made of metal and has a rubber seal.

The lens is claimed to be waterproof and has multiple seals in the design. The zoom ring is quite stiff with a high level of friction, which contributes to the tactile perception of the quality of the product and, as a bonus, prevents spontaneous increase in focal length while wearing.

The manual focusing ring of the electronic type with a smooth stroke is rather narrow, but still suitable for use. You can switch to manual focus mode only using the camera menu or the 'AF / MF' switches. By cons, you can add the presence of not at all a big backlash (the plastic construct is affecting).

Unfortunately, the lens lacks an additional button on the surface of the case, which is present on the Sony g-master series. Also, Tamron 28-75 / 2.8 is devoid of various kinds of marks; on the body you can find only the values ​​of the focal length and mount marks of the lens and lens hood. The last one I can not fix on the first try.

The front surface of the lens element is coated with a protective fluoride compound, which is water and oil repellent. The lens surface is easier to wipe and less vulnerable to the damaging effects of dirt, dust, moisture and fingerprints. But no one canceled the filters :)

Due to its light weight, the lens sits perfectly on the camera and does not flood it forward. It is quite comfortable to hold the camera with one hand.

In addition to these minor flaws, the lens remains very pleasant to use and work, and also does not attract enough attention from others.

Focusing

A new RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) motor is used in the lens, which uses a drive that allows you to directly control the focusing lens, which in practice provides a fairly high speed and focus accuracy. This is well tracked when using tracking autofocus. The autofocus motor is very quiet, although it is not completely silent, you can not hear it when shooting a video.

As I said, focusing is fast, internal type. The front lens does not rotate, which allows the use of any filters. A very nice feature is MDF, which allows you to focus almost point-blank at a wide angle of 19 cm (28mm), while you can get the maximum magnification for macro 1: 2.9. When zooming, the rear lens remains motionless. TAMRON 28-75 / 2.8 uses a diaphragm with 9 rounded petals, thanks to the fillet on the closed diaphragms, there are no nuts in the bokeh until f8 :)

Tamron 28-75 / 2.8 supports additional features such as:

  • Eye af
  • Direct Manual Focus (DMF)
  • Camera Lens Correction
  • Lens firmware updates via camera

On an American resource, they encountered a problem of focusing when shooting video, as the manufacturer confirmed in his press release and promised to fix it in the next firmware update:

Notice: we detected some autofocus problems with our new lens, model A036FS; 28-75 mm F / 2.8 Di III RXD for SONY mirrorless cameras released on May 24, 2018. The problems arise primarily when using the camera in video recording mode.
My copy is devoid of this ailment.

Image quality

Vignetting

With the diaphragm fully open, vignetting at the short end is more pronounced than at the long. In my opinion, it’s absolutely not a problem and it’s easy to correct, both in the editor and automatic correction on the camera itself.

Sharpness

Very good sharpness in the center and in the middle of the frame, over the entire range of focal lengths at a fully open aperture. Closing the diaphragm increases sharpness at the corners of the image. The lens bypasses Sony's 24-70 / 4 by an order of magnitude and produces image sharpness close to the more expensive G-master.
These are excellent performance indicators for an inexpensive standard zoom lens and a great combination of price / quality.

Bokeh / HA

Bokeh is a very subjective thing. On the other hand, thanks to the 9 rounded aperture blades, the bokeh shape remains almost round to the edges even at f / 8. In my opinion, the bokeh is quite pleasant / neutral, without any pronounced aggressive notes.

The lens also uses various elements in the optical scheme, which copes with chromatic aberrations and generally positively affects the formation of the final image.

It should be said that the lens can sometimes catch Zaitsev, under certain conditions, which obviously does not play in his favor.

Sample Photos

Images were captured with Sony a7ii (on-camera JPEG and converted RAW).

Conclusion

Do not be mistaken that this lens can compete in the professional segment with the G-master (there are other requirements and tasks), but it is an excellent choice for enthusiasts and enthusiastic enthusiasts. It copes with various everyday tasks perfectly and today is the best choice in terms of price / performance, leaving behind more expensive analogues.

Pros:

  • good sharpness over the entire range of the focal length in the central and middle parts of the frame starting from f2.8
  • hips
  • размер
  • the weight
  • waterproof housing
  • MDF at short and long ends
  • correction HA
  • nice color rendering
  • price

Cons:

  • plastic construct
  • budget feel
  • open vignetting
  • lack of additional buttons / switches on the case

You will find more reviews from readers of Radozhiva here.

Add a comment: Arkady Shapoval

 

 

Comments: 60, on the subject: Tamron 28-75mm F / 2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036). Review from the reader Radozhiva

  • NE

    Thank you!

  • Oleg

    Thanks for the review. What is missing is a photo of the lens from different angles.

    • Oleg

      I agree. But there is no possibility, it’s not possible to shoot on a phone :) And images can be easily found on the network.

  • Michael

    Typos:
    “It takes about 90 ° by rotating the zoom ring 28 to 75 mm”
    "To the cons, you can add the presence of a very small elevator"
    “It is quite comfortable to hold the camera with one hand”
    Well and so, nitpicking:
    “When the aperture is fully open, the vignetting is more pronounced at the short end than at the long end” - what level of vignetting is? It would be nice to write at least not much.
    “Very good sharpness in the center and in the middle of the frame ...” - to be honest, here I do not really understand how the center of the frame differs from its middle? Maybe the field of the frame is meant?

    • Michael

      Thanks, I will correct

  • Ivan Wolverine

    how can one acquire a lens in a day, master it, find out all the good sides, also identify flaws, write an article and post it on Radozhiva?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Most likely it was purchased in early June, and not July, since the author contacted me much earlier about writing a review on this lens

      • Valentine

        EXIF in confirmation: the first photos on June 8 and further to July inclusive ...

    • Oleg

      The person expressed his opinion about the purchased lens (IMHO). Perhaps there is a typo in the month ... the announcement was back in February 2018.

  • anonym

    Thank you all for your comments and comments. Soon the review will be supplemented with images and adjusted (if it is not difficult for Arkady to update).

    • Onotole

      And what is that “button on the surface of the case, which is present on the Sony g-master series”? Some kind of programmable key? What is it usually for?

      • Dima

        You can assign almost any function to the button, but as a rule they put Eye AF, very conveniently and quickly.

  • anonym

    A typical tamron, as there was soap, remained

    • Dima

      I can’t agree, the lens has a very good sharpness in the center and middle part of the frame field already at 2.8. some claims may be to the construct, but this is due to the desire of the manufacturer to reduce the price. And in truth, you will not find another alternative now.

      • anonym

        The center of the frame, the center of the frame, f and with which ruler did you measure? Good or great? Or maybe amazing? Then GM, in general, a product of extraterrestrial technologies, I’m basically talking about the picture, tamrons always had one solid soap software + yellowness (look at the skin tone in your photos), of course there are hundreds of tamers who all the forums have dirtied, why pay three times as much for native Nikkor or sony, if the tamron drew the same numbers on the case, and as soon as they get to normal glasses, they sell this soap as soon as possible, then everyone decides for himself, of course, to someone and he is the height of dreams, but there are no miracles, I generally not for the sake of argument, but just spread my almost 10 XNUMX years of photography experience, and yes, cheap, cheerful, you have to take

        • Boris

          Anonymous, do you post 10 years of photography experience here in the form of words and without a signature? Maybe you have been shooting for a long time, but you are saying not quite correct things. Color rendering and skin tone, including, are more dependent on the camera itself and its settings. Algorithms for color correction that manufacturers sew into cameras for native lenses have some influence, but this is not so critical, firstly, and Lightroom here greatly improves the chances, and secondly. About soap and soap at 2,8 - I will support Dmitry: there is sharpness at the focal point and it is quite working. Again, for a person with experience it should be clear that the sharpness when processing from these frames is easily brought to a higher level. Tamron is often weak in constructiveness, optically usually average, but this particular lens poking with soapiness and bad color - well, this is not evidence of the highest professionalism.

          • Н

            I support. This glass is suitable, it cannot be bad by default, it’s not for you 28-75 under the mirror, although it is just a fairy tale on F / 610 on my d4

          • anonym

            How familiar is all this from the time of the first 28-75, for Nikon, word for word.

        • Igor

          10 years of pushing for matinees in kindergartens is not an experience. Considering the above "impressions" - the most ordinary button skin. He never realized himself in life. Bile continues to flow like a river)) New lenses from Tamron - technically, they give an excellent commercial image, which is "taken away" by famous brands of clothing, medical equipment, and the automotive industry.

          • Sergos

            For me, all tamrons are pieces of plastic, which have the effects of vacuum cleaners, problems with focusing, soapy, inflated prices for modern models... old models were attractive even at the price on the secondary market.. the review is a set of general phrases, apparently this is a copy of a paid review on the topic of the day for some online store, a copy went to Radozhiva.. I found out from the review: when zooming, the rear lens remains motionless. Great, I need to remember. It seems to me that we shouldn’t talk about sharpness in the abstract, but at least: on what monitor looked at (4k, 5k or more), how many megapixels is the matrix, what was the 100% crop compared to?...And then I read in the comments: everything with sharpness is normal and even good! Well, let's gossip with a smart face....

            • Arkady Shapoval

              This is a review from a reader, as stated

    • arsK

      Brad.
      Everything with sharpness is normal and even good!
      For your money, this is the best thing on the market. I photograph in tandem with Zeiss 55, often I myself do not distinguish where and on which one it was shot.

  • Arkady Shapoval

    I wonder why this lens is not marked SP?

    • Boris

      There is an RXD. Calling it SP and RXD for a rather meager specification would be too much, but that's just my guess. In addition, SP, for example, can be reserved for the more expensive model 24-xx F2.8 or something like that.

      • Arkady Shapoval

        Here for Tamron Aspherical LD ​​XR DI II SP AF 17-50mm 1: 2.8 [IF] A16 (it's all written on the yellow border on the lens itself) - not too much.

        • Michael

          For the dark 70-300 was also not too much, but here, I think, they will save for something more interesting ...

  • Dima

    I think no one questions the personal experience of everyone. The lens can not compete with native ones from Sony, nor in the design, nor in the optical properties. So it should be otherwise what they cost. The lens is intended to be an affordable alternative and Tamron this time managed to create a very worthy product. For fans to climb with a ruler on the frame, there are their favorite sites. The article personally expressed an opinion on a specific model.

    • Sergos

      no opinion - there is a list of characteristics and general phrases

  • Artem

    Thanks for the review, it was interesting to read

  • Dima

    As promised by the manufacturer, a firmware was released that fixes problems with autofocus when shooting video. Available on the official resource.

  • Molchanov Yuri

    Thanks for the review! Very concise and to the point.

  • Igor

    One must take, however. At least something alternative and acceptable in quality and price.

    • NE

      I would still look at 24-70 G2 in this case. There is a stabilizer. True, it is 200 USD more expensive ...

      • NE

        about the stub, sorry, did not look for versions of nikon and canon ...

      • Dima

        did not quite understand what kind of model are we talking about?

  • Engineer

    It is no coincidence that this lens does not bear the SP mark. Pay attention to its weight - only half a kilo, and this is a full-frame device. Its dimensions would rather fit a cropped lens than a full-frame lens. What, did the engineers of Tamron really catch God by the beard, having managed to create a good lens small and light? Why can't engineers of Sony, Sigma, Canon and Nikon do this? They have such bulky lenses! They cannot deceive the laws of optics in any way, they release heavy bandura. It seems to me that the secret of a small, lightweight and inexpensive glass is very simple: IT HAS A REAL LUMINOUS LIGHT NOT 2.8 as stated, but closer to 3.5-4.0. The same story as with the first version of the Canon 24-105 bullshit: instead of the declared constant aperture ratio of 4.0, in reality, the aperture ratio is variable and its maximum is 5.1. why is she too blind!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      1. Full-frame Tamron SP AF Aspherical XR Di LD [IF] 28-75mm 1: 2.8 Macro weighs 510 grams, 40 grams lighter than the A036 from this review and it has the letter SP. It's not about weight.
      2. Full-frame Sigma 28-70mm f / 2.8 EX DG also weighs 510 grams and has an EX prefix, an analogue of the SP. Again, weight is not the issue.
      3. Do not confuse the relative aperture (the ratio of the physical size of the focal length to the inlet, the number F) and the light transmission (T-feet) The number F is really 2.8, number T may be lower in the area F / 3-3.2. As a result, the depth of field will be like for F / 2.8, and it will give light as F / 3.2. In the case of 24-105, too, everything is honest in F-stops. And no one pointed out T-stops, if there T / 5.1 (and in fact they talk about T / 4.5 on the network), then so be it.

  • Engineer

    I will add: when zooming this Tamron, the picture does not darken? Has anyone checked it? If it gets dark, then the aperture ratio is not constant. Further - who checked the real aperture ratio? This could be done by comparing the pictures taken on the SONY GM 24-70 F2.8 and on this new Tamron in a completely manual mode. Pictures of the same content should have the same brightness at the same carcass settings at the same focal length. And one more thing: according to the optical scheme, there are 2 combined aspherical lenses. For those who are not in the subject of what "combined" lenses are, I hasten to please - this means glass + fused optical plastic. Optical plastic! Do you understand now why there is no SP mark on the lens barrel?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      To observe the full picture of life, I must note the fact that often a hybrid aspheric is a terrible intimidation of inexperienced photographers (and in fact, inexperienced people who worship photography equipment). For example, among the same Orthodox father Nikon, the first hybrid devil-like afseric, i.e. gluing glass and plastic, appeared in an old Nikon AF Nikkor 28-70mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKI) 1991 release. Now, as I write this comment, outside the window 2018, i.e. 27 years have passed, and there are no problems with this lens in terms of darkening or degradation of plastic. The same goes for the vast majority of modern lenses. Old scarecrows are associated with some unsuccessful models, where indeed, something happened to the plastic or could happen. But, for example, just like that, I will not remember a single lens that was unsuccessful in this regard, I should go to the Internet and look specifically.

      In the same Tamron Di II SP 17-50mm F / 2.8 VC from the same Tamron as many as 3 hybrids, and for 10 years nothing happened to him either. I can give many more examples, but not the point. Hybrid aspherics allows you to get a lens for $ 400 that would cost more than $ 1000 using the usual process of forming an aspherical element. Also, this makes the lenses easier, in fact, because of this, lightweight lenses are obtained that would be impossible without hybrid aspherics, elements with ultrahigh refractive indices.

      As for this Tamron 28-75 under the E mount - I did not use it, but on a piece of paper it is a suitable budget station wagon, so far there are no other alternatives with 2.8 for a reasonable price and will not appear soon (namely with an E mount, without any hellish unicorn monster rhino adapters). And dear Sony SEL-2470GM 24-70mm F2.8GM, I remind you, it costs OVER 9000 USD (to be precise, then on bh they sell for 2200).

  • Vitaliy U

    It's fun to read in the 21st century that the disadvantage is the "plastic construction". And nothing that BMW makes cars from polymers / wood? For firearms made on a 3D printer (from polymers), the author heard ?. I’m already silent about aviation and space. And why is the author silent about the property of polymers to burst upon a strong impact (as opposed to bending metal, which displaces the entire optical circuit of the lens) and thus serves as a good fuse for optics? Many questions…

    • Onotole

      To me, too, an example is BMW. Such shit, which this once respected company produces now never before in its entire long history, and not least this is due to the choice of materials.
      In the case of lenses, the use of plastic is in the same way nothing more than a banal reduction in the price of products (for the manufacturer, of course, not for consumers)
      Yes, and something I have not heard about BMW (or another brand) producing cars with polymer bodies. Attachments - bumpers, sometimes fenders / trunk lid. But not a load-bearing body and not a frame. And what is a car made of wood (and even a BMW) - I'd rather not argue at all ...
      And the author of the comment above heard anything about the property of metals to burst without bending (plastic deformation “in the right way”)?
      Afftor - put polymer / wooden pistons in your BMW, you will no longer have any questions.

      • Vitaliy U

        )))) ... do you know in general that cartridge cases in normal (!) Countries are already made of polymers? Withstand up to 60 recharge cycles.

        • Onotole

          Sleeves?)))))
          That's when the bullets themselves (armor-piercing, of course) will be cast from polyethylene, then come)

        • Onotole

          By the way, haven't you studied the question? How will polymer sleeves behave below -20? Read, read, and then suddenly later it turns out that it will be possible to shoot from polymer sleeves only in "normal" countries)))

    • Dima

      There will be specific questions, ask, I will gladly comment. There is no desire to interfere in an empty polemic.

      • Onotole

        Yes, what specific questions he may have - a person, quite obviously, draws information exclusively from a BMW advertising booklet, and entertainment videos on YouTube. And he understands that in a peculiar way ...

        • Vitaliy U

          You, dear, before writing any heresy, refer to the primary sources. On the BMW website, for example, or does your knowledge end only in the “great” language? So: up to 60% of the company's electric car assemblies are made of polymers and wood. The machines weigh up to 1300kg. If you are from a country of eternally green tomatoes, or some other country where Russian is understood without an interpreter, then let your country learn to make at least some (!) Cars. I'm not even talking about similar "shitty" BMWs. Any thoughts / cues on space / aviation in light of the use of polymers?

          • Onotole

            No, my knowledge is not limited to the Russian language.
            Give a link, most likely it is you have translated something wrong or understood.
            Well, or tell me please what specific details are made of a particular BMW made of wood.
            Then, even if I'm not strong in aviation, let's try to talk about polymers there too. Maybe it’s true that some liner will be found, the fuselage of which is suddenly made of plastic and not of an aluminum alloy.

  • Arman

    It is thanks to this tamron FF UPC Sony that can again boast of its compactness against the background of competitors since this expensive GM is even larger than the Canon counterparts

  • Nikonlya

    Dumb review. Just a personal opinion, and photographs are almost all on a closed aperture. Crap.

  • Dmitriy

    I’ll also insert my five cents. I own this lens for about four months. To be honest, the feelings are mixed. On the one hand, a good enough bright glass, but there is a serious jamb, which I can’t fix yet. I use a lens paired with a Sony A7R3, which, as you know, has autofocus on the eyes and faces. This autofocus lens supports, finds both faces and eyes, but never falls into focus in the picture. Overshots, as a rule, are + - 1-2 cm. I noticed that the author of the article does not have a single portrait where the eyes would be in focus, which is usually important when shooting portraits. At first glance, good photos, but with an increase in hug and cry. Surprisingly, when shooting subjects, not a person, everything works perfectly. For the first time I encountered this problem when shooting my daughter at a gymnastics competition, where autofocus was aimed at the girls' faces, but in fact was in bright colored areas of clothing. On a closed aperture, this is so noticeable, but with a value of 2.8 it is very annoying. Of course, you can bring the focus to manual, but this only works with stage shots. Firmware on the lens -V.03, on the camera V.3.1

  • Daria

    Thank you!

  • Salad with tomatoes

    Someone, at least once in a lifetime, compare this tamron 28-75 with the fix tamron 35 f / 2.8 - is there any difference in sharpness?

    • Anatoly

      Compared with samyang 45mm, samyang is a little sharper, but tamron focuses a little faster, although this is subjective.

  • Arkady Shapoval

    Suddenly, a lens from Nikon Z came out on the same optical scheme. https://radojuva.com/2021/12/nikon-nikkor-z-28-75mm-2-8/

  • Sergos

    I agree, it’s easy to buy, but you’ll have to get rid of the tamron for cheap ... and eternal problems: the author of the article writes that he was lucky, and the American resource is already notifying about the problem ... the manufacturer lures with a price, and sweet cheese in a mousetrap can work. the trunks fall out .. they modernized it from the outside, but the inside is probably flimsy, it won’t last long.

  • Alex

    4uo-RHXs-AVXg
    Sony A7S+Tamron 09II. Aperture 4. I was surprised by the sharpness at 28mm, and at 75mm too. With a whale zoom there is a huge difference

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