What do you guys think of Tamron 24-70mm G2 lens?

D7100-79

Senior Member
What do you guys think of Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 G2 lens?

So I just returned my Tamron 18-400 mm back to B&H last week. I would like to get two lens. 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200mm f 2.8. For 70-200mm I'll go with Nikon but was wondering about Tamron for 24-40.

Anyone here using Tamron 24-70 ? And are you happy with it ?

Thank you
 
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Moab Man

Senior Member
Re: What do you guys think of Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 G2 lens?

I absolutely love mine. It's very sharp, the images stabilization is great. A definite recommend from me.

The only con, to some, it is a big lens.

No edit, straight out of camera.

W_DSG_8910.jpg
 
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Ad B

Senior Member
Hi,

I love my Tamron 24-70 F2.8 G2 lens, very good build quality, sharp, fast...
It is a quite big and heavy lens, but every 24-70 F2.8 is big and heavy.
The Nikon versions are even heavier and cost more...
First I had a Tammy 24-70 "G1" lens, but with calibrating this lens with my D850, I could get it perfect.
It was sharp at 24 and 50 mm, but not perfect sharp at 70 mm.
Or it was sharp at 70 mm but not at 24 mm and not quite sharp at 50 mm...
So I bought the Tammy 24-70 F2.8 G2 lens with Tamrons Tap In console.
Now I could calibrate this lens at 4 focal point distances (24, 35, 50 and 70 mm) at 3 object distances (1,25 mtr, 3 mtr and infinity)
Quite a job, but a nice job... And with good results.
DS0_2670_1 by Ad v.d. Biggelaar, on Flickr
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
[MENTION=13090]Horoscope Fish[/MENTION] - is this a lens you own?

The problem with a zoom such as the Tamron 18-400mm is image quality generally isn't as good on such an extended focal length. You are doing yourself a favor by going with a couple shorter zooms. My question is since you own a DX body, the 24mm end isn't very wide. That's why DX bodies tend use 18mm as their starting length for a wide zoom. I don't have any suggestions for you, but there are f/2.8 zooms that start around 17mm or 18mm which might be a better alternative. That is unless you are considering upgrading to FX in the future. That said, the Tamron G2 gets high ratings. Their first version of this lens wasn't quite as stellar as this newest one.
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
I never considered Tamron but had a few Sigma primes, everything else is Nikkor fast lenses. The only Tamron I has any experience with was a Dx plastic zoom and I was not impressed.
Fast forward a few years and looking for a wide angle zoom for my D800 and several people advised me to hold off on buying the 14-24 2.8 Nikon, generally considered to be one of the best wide angle lenses, prime or Zoom. Instead of paying $1800 I was told by a friend that I should check the 15-30 2.8 zooms and save $600.

A local camera store had one in stock I took my camera to the store and tested it for an hour inside the store and walked out with it. It was night by the time I left the store with the new lens but already had the camera mounted and was going to do some nighttime snapshots on the 2-mile walk through the historic city center to my home. A few things really impressed me about that lense obvious even through the VF, the image stabilization is GREAT, better than any lens with VR I have. The second thing that impressed me was the image sharpness and colors. The lack of distortion at 15mm was a welcome surprise. The last thing one would use 15mm for is people shots but it is sharp enough and if you shoot to a midpoint of the torso and axis of the lens parallel with the ground, they looked great particularly with groups shots because at those FL depths of field is deep enough at 2.8 to get a whole room in sharp focus. Just don't get too close to faces because, naturally, the closest parts of the face will be exaggerated and further parts will look smaller. Playboy Magazine famously used wide angle to exaggerate the breast size of models to great effect and is known as the Playboy Effect back in the 60ss and 70s. Back up a couple paced and that effect disappears. The distortion of distance can be very useful for interesting effects by shifting the axis to off center of the scene Getting sharp images at night handheld at 1/2 sec shutter speed is amazing. It is built well, and performs great. That prompted me to look at their 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8. G2 versions to replace my Nikon versions The Nikon 24-70 G series has no VR and the my Nikon 70-200 VR1 has VR but optically is not up to the G or E version while the Tamron 70-200 G2 is half the price and has great reviews. The only problem with the Tamron versions of the Trinity is the current firmware does not work on the Z7. I will wait until it is confirmed that they have been updated to work on the Z series, because the Z is in my plans.
 

Ad B

Senior Member
Hi,

If you are planning to buy a Z7 (or Z6), I wouldn't buy a big and heavy 24-70 F2.8 lens at all...
I would buy the kit with the Z 24-70mm f/4 S.
These camera's are that good (as my D850 is...) in higher ISO's, a F2.8 lens won't be missed.
The weight is massive more as with that Z kit lens.
The Tamron 24-70 F2.8 + FTZ adapter weighs about 1035 gram (900+135), the Nikkor Z 24-70 F4 S weighs about 500 gram...
Buy The Z camera with Z 24-70 and FTZ kit and buy a nice prime lens along it.

But the topic starter has no FF camera, if I'm correct...
For a APS-C camera I would buy the Nikon 17-55 F2.8 or Nikon 16-80 F2.8-F4 lens.
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
I agree, unless you really need f/2.8, get the kit lens if using the Z7 because that little lens is spectacular corner to corner. I got to use one for a week and that lens impressed me as the sharpest least distortion zoom I have ever seen. If you want 2.8 for narrow depth of field there are cheaper better primes. If using the Z cameras Tamrons will not even work on them until Tamron updates their firmware
 

Ad B

Senior Member
Hi,
... If using the Z cameras Tamrons will not even work on them until Tamron updates their firmware
I hope to try that within a month.
I have 2 Tamron lenses, 24-70 F2.8 G2 and 28-300 PZD VC, from Sigma I enjoy the 150-600 Contemporary.
The G2 lenses can be updated through Tamrons Tap-In console as soon as they become available.
As soon as possible, I'm hoping to rent a Z7 for a week or so.
That's a better option than buying... for the moment... my wife is still not amused, I bought the D850 one year ago...:mad::upset::boxing::black_eyed:
My nicest combo...:

With AF-D 24 mm F2.8... not the sharpest lens, but beautiful retro look, little, light and not expensive.
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
Tamron is surely making compatibility with the Z a high priority, the Z6 is going to be a sales winner, great price point.

Of course, when buying a new camera you tell her "WE need this camera because it is needed to capture your beauty in the way it deserves"...... so something to that effect.
Remember..."We need this camera.."

Repeat in front of a mirror until it sounds convincing...delivered with her favorite flowers
 

Gobae

Senior Member
I have both the Tamron 24-70 G2 and the 70-200 G2 and use them both on my D7200. I've gotten to use both side by side against their Nikon counterparts and IMO they're delivering 90% of the image quality at half the price.

The few "issues" I have with them are minor. I wish the 24-70 had a panning-stabilization mode like the 70-200. And I wish the 70-200's mode switches were less prominent; currently with a sling strap the switches get changed by rubbing back and forth on clothing. I also think the 24-70's VR isn't quite as aggressive as the 70-200. Now, it could be that it's just easier see it doing it's job when you're zoomed out further.

Anyway, I'm VERY pleased with my purchase of both of the Tamron lenses and whole-heartedly recommend them!
 

editorial_use_only

Senior Member
What is the focus speed of the 24-70 G2 like? Say, on a D3 or D4, and for indoor court sports? Definitely interested in this lens. The situation I'm typically in is, I'm shooting one subject but then have to wheel around and shoot someone at a different distance, and I need the lens to focus ASAP. Nikon's 70-200 VR II is excellent in terms of AF speed. The 200-500 is too slow in terms of AF speed.

I'd mention one other thing for anyone considering this lens. It's an 82mm front filter thread. So is Nikon's new 24-70. That's annoying. I don't have any other lenses in 82mm, so no 82mm filters. I have everything in 77mm.
 

D7100-79

Senior Member
Thank you everyone for ur inputs. I’m happy to tell that I now have Tamron 24-70 f2.8 on my camera. B&H had $100 off with free tap in console and another $200 off coupon code. With $300 off decided to buy it. It sucks now to be paying taxes on B&H living in WA though.

Gear is useless and I hope to learn and grow my photography vision and skills.

Thank you again.
 
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