{"id":1343,"date":"2021-12-10T10:21:35","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T15:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2021\/12\/10\/tamron-sp-70-200mm-f-2-8-di-vc-usd-g2-review\/"},"modified":"2021-12-12T18:34:30","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T23:34:30","slug":"tamron-sp-70-200mm-f-2-8-di-vc-usd-g2-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2021\/12\/10\/tamron-sp-70-200mm-f-2-8-di-vc-usd-g2-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Tamron SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

What is the Tamron SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2?<\/h2>\n

The Tamron SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2 is a telephoto zoom for Canon and Nikon DSLRs featuring a fast f\/2.8 maximum aperture, optical image stabilisation, and ultrasonic autofocus. This weather-resistant lens works on both full-frame and crop-sensor (APS-C\/DX) cameras, and costs \u00a31350.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
At 193.8mm long, 66mm in diameter and 1.5kg in weight, the 70-200mm G2 is a sizeable lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If there\u2019s one kind of lens that differentiates professional and serious enthusiast photographers from the crowd, it\u2019s the fast telephoto zoom. With premium optics, these lenses offer top-notch image quality. But typically weighing in at 1.5kg, they require some commitment to carry around, and they\u2019re a major investment too \u2013 Canon and Nikon\u2019s versions cost \u00a32000 and \u00a32650 respectively. Naturally, the main third-party lens makers have long sought to offer cheaper alternatives, and Tamron\u2019s latest SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2 stands up well against the big two at a considerably lower price.<\/p>\n

Related: Best cameras<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Features<\/h2>\n

A quick glance through the lens\u2019 specification sheet reveals that Tamron hasn\u2019t skimped on the design front. It includes an ultrasonic motor for fast and silent autofocus, three-mode optical image stabilisation, and weather-resistant construction. The G2 tag denotes that it\u2019s an improved, second-generation version of a 2012 design. It\u2019s compatible with Tamron\u2019s latest TC-X14 and TC-X20 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, giving 100-280mm f\/4 and 140-400mm f\/5.6 combinations respectively.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
The 70-200mm G2 is designed to be used on full-frame DSLRs, but also works on APS-C models<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 23-element, 17-group optical formula includes one element crafted from extra-low-dispersion (XLD) glass, and five from low-dispersion (LD) glass, with the aim of minimising chromatic aberration. Tamron\u2019s eBAND coating is in place to minimise flare and ghosting, while a fluorine coating on the front element makes it easy to keep clean.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
A large petal-type hood is supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Right at the front of the lens you\u2019ll find a 77mm filter thread and the mount for the deep petal-type hood. This clicks firmly into place for use, but \u2013 contrary to the current trend \u2013 has no locking button to hold it in place. It reverses snugly over the barrel for transport, but in this position it blocks the zoom ring entirely, which hinders getting quick-grab shots.<\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Build and handling<\/h2>\n

At 193.8mm long, 66mm in diameter and 1.5kg in weight, the 70-200mm G2 is a sizeable lens, and its solid-feeling metal barrel means there\u2019s little to fault in terms of construction. With a series of internal seals and a rubber O-ring around the lens mount, Tamron describes the lens as \u2018moisture-proof and dust-resistant\u2019, and during the course of testing I used it in rainy conditions with no trouble at all.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
This is the Canon-mount version \u2013 note the rubber seal encircling the lens mount<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Towards the front of the barrel is the zoom ring, which has a ridged rubber grip. It rotates noticeably less smoothly than those on the Canon and Nikon equivalents, which means that it isn\u2019t quite so easy to make fine adjustments to your compositions. Behind it is a narrower and more finely ridged focusing ring, with a small window on the top of the barrel indicating the current focus distance. Both zoom and focus are internal, so the lens\u2019 balance in the camera doesn\u2019t ever change while you\u2019re shooting.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
Four switches on the lens barrel control autofocus and image stabilisation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the side of the barrel you\u2019ll find four switches to control the autofocus and stabilisation systems. Along with the usual AF\/MF control, there\u2019s a focus limiter that restricts the closest focus distance to 3m \u2013 useful to reduce hunting when shooting distant subjects.<\/p>\n

Another switch turns stabilisation on or off, while the fourth selects between the three VC modes, with the central of the three clicked positions being easy to select. All aside from the focus limiter use the same physical design, so while they\u2019re large and easy to operate, they\u2019re not distinguishable by touch alone when you\u2019re looking through the viewfinder.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
The tripod ring attaches directly to Arca-Swiss type clamps and rotates through 360 degrees<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The supplied tripod mount ring has the standard 1\/4in socket, but in a \u2018why can\u2019t everyone do this?\u2019 moment, it\u2019s also equipped with a dovetail base that fits directly onto Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamps.<\/p>\n

Its low-profile design means that it won\u2019t occupy excessive space in a bag, and it can also be removed entirely if necessary. As usual the lens rotates within the ring, allowing the camera to be set to portrait format quickly and easily. About the only possible criticism is that it doesn\u2019t click into place at the standard 90-degree positions; instead you have to visually align small white dots.<\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Autofocus<\/h2>\n

Tamron has incorporated its aptly named Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) system for autofocus, and it\u2019s very effective indeed. It\u2019s fast, decisive and very quiet, and I found focus accuracy was difficult to fault, even when using off-centre focus points.<\/p>\n

When testing its ability to follow moving subjects on the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, I got the impression that it was capable of doing practically whatever the camera asked of it, keeping fast-moving subjects impressively sharp once it had initially acquired focus. I think most users will be happy with its capabilities for normal viewfinder shooting.<\/p>\n

The lens also works well with Canon\u2019s Dual Pixel AF for Live View and movie shooting, being capable of smooth, controlled focus pulls from one subject to another, with little in the way of motor noise.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron<\/a>
On the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV the lens had no trouble keeping up with moving subjects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Manual focus is mechanically coupled, and while the focus ring may be a little less silky compared to more expensive lenses, I had no difficulty achieving accurate focus. Full-time manual focus is available, meaning you don\u2019t have to switch to MF mode if you need to temporarily override the autofocus.<\/p>\n

The lens focuses as close as 0.95m, which is pretty much best in class. However, its specified maximum magnification of 0.16x is actually a little lower than Canon and Nikon\u2019s offerings due to focus breathing effects (in other words, the angle of view getting wider as the lens is focused closer).<\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Image stabilisation<\/h2>\n

Tamron has provided optical image stabilisation via its Vibration Control (VC) system, promising up to five stops of compensation for the blurring caused by camera shake when hand-holding at slower shutter speeds.<\/p>\n

Examining the small print reveals that this is only achieved when the lens is set to VC mode 3, in which the viewfinder image isn\u2019t stabilised. This is in contrast to mode 1, which stabilises the viewfinder and allows for more precise composition and potentially more reliable autofocus, or mode 2 that automatically detects panning motion and only stabilises shake along the perpendicular axis.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron<\/a>
The stabilised viewfinder image of VC Mode 1 aids composition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tamron has historically been good at image stabilisation and this lens follows suit, with the viewfinder locking to an uncannily stable view when the shutter button is half-pressed in mode 1. But you do need to bear in mind that it\u2019s a heavy beast, and you\u2019ll probably need to select relatively fast shutter speeds compared to a lighter lens if you\u2019re after pixel-level sharpness, especially when paired with a high-resolution sensor.<\/p>\n

I found that with VC mode 1, I could reliably get pixel-sharp shots handheld at shutter speeds as low as 1\/30sec when shooting at the 200mm end and 1\/8sec at 70mm, but the system\u2019s effectiveness dropped off rapidly at slower speeds. This still counts as around 4 stops worth of stabilisation in my book, making it a match for other stabilised 70-200mm f\/2.8 zooms in real-world use.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron<\/a>
Image stabilisation is very effective \u2013 this was shot at 150mm and 1\/25sec<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Switching to mode 3 gave an increased probability of getting sharp shots at even slower shutter speeds, with some usable shots at 1\/8sec at 300mm and 1\/4sec at 70mm. This is certainly worth having, but most of the time I\u2019d prefer to stick to mode 1 with its clear operational advantages.<\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Image quality<\/h2>\n

To compete with its Canon and Nikon equivalents, a lens such as this needs to deliver exceptional image quality, and for the most part that\u2019s exactly what it does. It\u2019s impressively sharp, with the only slight weakness of our review sample being when shot wide open at 70mm. Vignetting is about what I\u2019d expect from this kind of lens, and distortion is so low as to be practically irrelevant.<\/p>\n

\"tamron<\/a>
Some vignetting is visible wide open: this was shot at 200mm f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A little colour fringing can be seen around high-contrast edges towards the frame due to lateral chromatic aberration, but it\u2019s only visible when viewing images at the pixel level on-screen, and can be eliminated by a simple one-click correction in raw processing. Canon cameras don\u2019t support in-camera lens corrections with third-party lenses, but Nikon DSLRs will automatically correct this kind of chromatic aberration in their JPEG output.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron<\/a>
The lens delivers impressive amounts of detail: I shot this at 200mm and f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A little chromatic aberration can be seen in the corners (left) but is easily corrected (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Out-of-focus backgrounds are generally rendered with a pleasing blur, and while the blur discs from point highlights can acquire a bright-edged character when the lens is focused close, it isn\u2019t excessively displeasing. The lens\u2019 flare resistance is very impressive indeed, even when pointed directly into the sun.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron<\/a>
Blurred backgrounds are rendered in a generally pleasing fashion. 200mm f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In short, from the hundreds of real-world images I shot while testing the lens on the 30-megapixel Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, I didn\u2019t find any obvious problems that would prevent me from recommending the lens.<\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Resolution<\/h3>\n

On the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, the lens delivers fine MTF results from our Image Engineering tests. If there\u2019s any kind of flaw, it\u2019s a degree of softness wide open at 70mm \u2013 especially at the corners of the frame; but in real-world images this wasn\u2019t much of a practical problem. At all other settings it delivers plenty of detail, with the very best results across the frame obtained at around f\/5.6 \u2013 f\/8.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Shading<\/h3>\n

Vignetting is far from severe, with a maximum of 1.2 stops drop in illumination in the image corners wide open at 200mm. However, the fall-off pattern is quite gradual across the frame, meaning it shouldn\u2019t be too visually intrusive. At 70mm the level of vignetting is lower, but it\u2019s more abrupt into the corners. At all focal lengths, stopping down to f\/4 reduces fall-off to 0.6 stops or less.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 shading 70mm f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 shading 70mm f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 shading 135mm f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 shading 135mm f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 shading 200mm f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 shading 200mm f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 Distortion<\/h3>\n

Typically for a telephoto zoom, the Tamron shows slight barrel distortion at 70mm, turning to pincushion distortion as you zoom in past 100mm. But it\u2019s rather mild, and unlikely to be a problem for the majority of subjects this lens will be used for. It can be readily fixed using in raw processing using profiled lens corrections.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 distortion 70mm.\u00a0TV SMIA = -0.8%.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 distortion 135mm. SMIA TV = 0.7%<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tamron
Tamron 70-200mm G2 \u2013 distortion 200mm.\u00a0TV SMIA = 1.3%<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Should I buy the Tamron\u00a0SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2?<\/h2>\n

When Tamron relaunched its SP lens line towards the end of 2015, it signalled its intent to move more towards the premium end of the market. With the latest G2 version of its 70-200mm f\/2.8, it has come up with a very serious contender in the fast telezoom category.<\/p>\n

\"Tamron
Internal focus and zoom means that the balance on the camera stays constant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lens\u2019 excellent optics are complemented by fast autofocus, effective image stabilisation and impressive weather-sealed build quality. Indeed, it gives up little compared to its pricier rivals from Canon and Nikon. Perhaps it isn\u2019t quite as operationally refined in some respects, but that\u2019s easily forgiven for the price. Overall, this is one of Tamron\u2019s finest lenses yet.<\/p>\n

Verdict<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re an enthusiast photographer looking for a high-spec telezoom at a competitive price, the SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2 is a great choice, and a serious alternative to its more expensive Canon and Nikon counterparts.<\/p>\n

The post Tamron SP 70-200mm F\/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Review<\/a> appeared first on Trusted Reviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Author: Andy Westlake
\nThis article comes from Trusted Reviews<\/i> and can be read on the original site.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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