Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD

Lightweight, compact design ; Very sharp ; 1:2 macro mode ; Fast, quiet autofocus ; Solid build quality

Soft edges at 70mm and f/2.8 ; Low transmission at 180mm and f/2.8

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

The Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 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.

Remarkably compact and lightweight ; Advanced autofocus system ; Impressive image quality

Inner barrel extends at longer zoom settings ; No optical stabilization ; The shortest focus distance is only available in MF mode

Think 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms and you’re probably thinking big, heavy lenses that feel at odds with lightweight mirrorless camera bodies. By shortening the maximum focal length slightly to 180mm and utilizing some clever design work, Tamron has managed to...