Tamron likes to do things a little differently than others and often creates slightly more unusual focal lengths than what is usually considered traditional.
One such example is the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD, its take on the classic 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (considered a part of the "holy trinity" of professional zoom lenses). Shaving 20mm off the top end made significant weight and size savings, while not sacrificing the wide aperture or image quality.
Now Tamron is back with the second generation of this lens, announcing the development of the Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 – which will initially be available for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras, although could potentially spread to other mounts in time.
The Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 G2 builds on the first-generation model, incorporating several new features to make this a worthwhile upgrade from the previous version. Firstly the G2 lens now uses Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism, which is the manufacturer's terminology for optical image stabilization. While Tamron doesn't give how many stops of compensation the VC enables, the lens does manage to maintain its compact size and weight from the first gen. The lens is just 6.2in (156.5mm) long and weighs 30.2oz (855g).
A new optical design from the first-generation promises even greater image quality across the entire zoom range, and Tamron has also managed to shorten the minimum focusing distance at the wide end (70mm) to 0.3m, which is a considerable improvement over the first gen's 0.85m. The lens will have the latest moisture-resistant construction and fluorine coating to keep the 67mm front element clear from fog and grime.
Finally, the new Tamron 70-180mm G2 employs Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism. This should enable faster and more accurate autofocus in both stills and video that can keep up with the latest autofocus and subject-tracking algorithms in Sony cameras.
Like the manufacturer's other lenses, the new 70-180mm G2 can make use of the Tamron Lens Utility and Tamron Lens Utility Mobile apps to customize functions based on various shooting as well as update the lens firmware.
Check out more of the best Sony lenses, and you can also find more information on the best lenses for travel photography and the best telephoto lenses.
