Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD Review

Update: the following shops have the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC USD in stock and ready to ship (world-wide availability check at the end of the post):

• B&H ($1,299, click here)
• Adorama ($1,299, click here)
• Amazon US ($1,299, click here)
• Amazon Germany (€1,102,00 click here)
• Amazon France (€1,134.88, click here)

ephotozine just reviewed the eagerly awaited [shoplink 5013]Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC USD[/shoplink] lens. It’s an interesting lens: it covers a popular zoom range and has a constant 2.8 aperture. It weights 825g (29.1 ox) and has an 82mm filter mount. Closest focusing distance is 0.38m (15.0 in). Having a price tag of $1,299 it’s cheaper than Canon’s equivalent [shoplink 232]EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM[/shoplink], which sells at $1,599 and does not have image stabilization (called vibration compensation in the Tamron galaxy). Build quality is rather good: High quality plastics have been used for much of the lens barrel’s construction and the wide rubberised zoom ring is well enough damped to prevent lens creep. Generally speaking, the performance of this lens is very good. Some excerpts from the review:

• focusing is reasonably quick and very accurate
• with care, sharp images are possible hand-held at shutter speeds as low as 1/10sec at 70mm
• at maximum aperture and 24mm, sharpness in the center is […] approaching excellent levels and the clarity towards the edges of the frame is good
• distortion is very well controlled throughout the zoom range
• there were very few issues with flare and ghosting, even when shooting into the light
• effective Vibration Compensation system
• good value & build quality
• moisture resistant construction
• low distortion

High resolution test files can be downloaded here. See here for a comparison between the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC USD and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. Specifications:

World-wide availability and price check for the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD:
[shoplist 5013]