News Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 FE lens announced

[FowlersFreeTime]

Tamron 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

Discover the 35-100mm F2.8, a lightweight & compact lens for Sony E and Nikon Z designed for exceptional performance and portability. Shop now at Tamron Americas.

tamron-americas.com

Tamron has announced its 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD lens and it looks like a pretty enticing package for the Sony E mount for $900USD. From their website:

Following feedback on the 35-150mm F2-2.8, the 35-100mm F2.8 was designed with portability as the top priority. Measuring just 119.2mm (4.7”) long and weighing 565g (19.9oz), it achieves exceptional compactness.

I could see that being a nice lens to take photos at weddings or events when you neither need the range nor want the bulk of a 70-200 f2.8 lens. Its designed for the full frame cameras, but even I would use that on my a6700 to get an equivalent range of 52.5-150mm.

 

[jacobomerced]

I dont have a 70-200 anymore, so something like this will be a nice addition, but i'll need to test it for quality. I see that you have a Tamron 50-300, what its your experience with Tamron in general?

 

[Richard A]

Its designed for the full frame cameras, but even I would use that on my a6700 to get an equivalent range of 52.5-150mm.

I think 50 -150 would be pretty handy for a lot of people.

@jacobomerced, I have a Tamron 50-400 I use with my A7R5. It's the first Tamron lens I have ever owned and I'm pretty impressed with it. Being able to just plug it into your computer via USB-C to update firmware and change settings is really handy too.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

I dont have a 70-200 anymore, so something like this will be a nice addition, but i'll need to test it for quality. I see that you have a Tamron 50-300, what its your experience with Tamron in general?

The 50-300 is GREAT. It is an improvement over their old 70-300mm, with the new 50-300 offering vibration compensation and a shorter minimum focusing distance. Richard A has the 50-400 and I believe it has worked well for him.

Regarding Tamron,
The oldest FE lens from Tamron I have used was the 24mm f/2.8 OSD lens, and it was optically great but a slow (and noisy) focusing motor held it back.
Then I had a Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 for the APSC and it was a very versatile lens (albeit a bit soft when pixel-peeping the 70mm end). This lens had the RXD focusing motor that was a precursor to the now ubiquitous VXD focusing motor in most of Tamron's modern lenses and they all zoom smoothly, quickly, and quietly.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

I think 50 -150 would be pretty handy for a lot of people.

Don't tempt me! I already emptied the piggybank last year for the Tamron 90mm Macro

 

[jacobomerced]

Don't tempt me! I already emptied the piggybank last year for the Tamron 90mm Macro

And what about that 90mm?

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

And what about that 90mm?

It is a bit bigger than I thought it would be, but focusing seems to be pretty good (especially when you use the switch to define your focus area). Honestly, it is too soon for me to give a proper review. I got it after Christmas and haven't had a chance to challenge it yet. When the dragonflies are in season, they visit my local pond and garden, this lens will be great for that task.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

what its your experience with Tamron in general?

I have a couple, 17-70/2.8 aps-c, and 70-180/2.8 FF.

I was happy, with small niggles about build quality, but now I have a big one. I managed to break the zoom mechanism of my 70-180. The lens hoods are tight. and I should have locked the zoom before trying to remove it but I didn't. Something in the zoom mechanism gave way.

I will enquire into a repair. But the lens is actually still usable, with a sort-of two-handed push/twist on the moving section while turning the zoom ring. And it continues to work until I go back to 70, when I have to do the push/twist thingy again.

Assuming, often correctly that I couldn't afford the Sony offering, given a choice between Tamron and Sigma, I'd chose Sigma.

 

[Richard A]

My Tamron 50-400mm is built like a tank. I have absolutely no problem with the build quality at all. And I wouldn't say the lens hood is particularly tight either. The only Sigma lens I have to compare it with is my Sigma 16-28mm which probably isn't a fair comparison. Having said that, purely on build quality, I would definitely go with the Tamron. There's not a huge gap though and it's probably more to do with materials and feel rather than actual build quality.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I wouldn't say the lens hood is particularly tight either.

I have this problem with two Tamron lenses: 17-70/2.8 and 70-180/2.8,

in both, the cap is in two parts. They used some poor glue and the two parts separated rather than the unit coming off the lens.

This was annoying, but having repaired it myself with a better glue, I was happy to forget it.

 

[CrankinSteve]

I received this lens last week and find it to be a welcomed addition to my kit as one that I can use while traveling and hiking. Especially when carrying the camera with this lens on the Peak Design Clip that is on my backpack. Weight is great, zoom is quick, and all functions work as expected. So far, the photos taken look great. The lens is very quick to focus. The programmable button on the lens is useful in many ways.

When I don't need the reach of my 70-200, this is the go to lens.