Tamron is developing a new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 telephoto lens for Sony E-mount that is expected to arrive sometime around October.
This new lens is the follow-up to the very popular Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens that was lauded for having good optical performance at a reasonable price.
The G2 version improves upon the original model with the addition of VC image stabilization, better optics, tuned AF, and design updates.
Key features
- Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22
- Fast, Compact Mid-Range Zoom
- Vibration Compensation IS
- VXD Linear Motor Focus Mechanism
- Moisture-Resistant Construction
- Fluorine Coating
Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism is claimed to help reduce the effects of camera shake. The updated optics should lead to improved sharpness and better image quality.
The minimum focusing distance has been improved to 11.8″ when using the lens at 70mm. This is a huge improvement over the previous lens which had a close focus ability of 33.5″. The updated VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Driver) linear motor should also help to improve the overall AF performance.
The lens is 6.2″ long and weighs 1.88 lb, which is an increase of 0.3″ in length and an extra 1.6 oz in weight. This increase in weight is due to the inclusion of the VC mechanism
The 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 will join the 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD and 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 to create a comprehensive three-lens lineup with a constant f/2.8 aperture.
Price & Availability
There is no current indication about pricing. The existing Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens is on sale currently for $1,099 USD.
I would expect the new lens would be priced somewhere between $1300-$1,400 USD.
