Tamron Teases 70-180mm F2.8 G2 Lens for Sony

Pro photographers covering events love a 70-200mm F2.8 telezoom for its ability to work in low light, blur backgrounds, and capture portraits from a flattering perspective. First-party designs like the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II trend to the expensive, in Sony's case around $2,800.

Tamron's original 70-180mm F2.8 VXD debuted in 2020 as a value option for photographers, trading a short amount of telephoto reach and optical stabilization for $1,200. For the second-generation design, Tamron keeps the focal length the same, but adds optical stabilization to the formula and shortens the minimum focus distance for larger macro magnification.

The 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 version of the lens is still exclusive for Sony cameras, with optics that cover full-frame sensors and compatibility with APS-C bodies too. Like the original, the lens is weather-sealed, and its autofocus system is powered by a speedy linear-drive motor. It's relatively compact too, about 6.2 inches long at 70mm and 1.9 pounds, with support for 67mm threaded filters.

An onboard USB-C port is included too. The 70-180mm works with Tarmon's Lens Utility, a free download for Android, macOS, or Windows, to fine-tune performance and perform firmware upgrades.

The 70-180mm G2 is exclusive to Sony E mount. Pricing and availability is not known at this time. Tamron is billing this release as a development announcement for the lens, not an official product launch.

About Our Expert

Jim Fisher

Principal Writer, Cameras

My Experience

Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I've covered cameras at PCMag for the past 14 years, which has given me a front row seat for the changeover from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the smartphone camera revolution, and the emergence of drones for aerial imaging. I have extensive experience with every major mirrorless and SLR system, and am also comfortable using point-and-shoot and action cameras. As a Part 107 Certified drone pilot, I’m licensed to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial and editorial purposes, and am knowledgeable about federal rules and regulations regarding drones.

The Technology I Use

I use all of the major camera systems on a regular basis, swapping between Canon, Fujifilm, L-Mount, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, and Sony systems. I still find time to use Leica M rangefinders and Pentax SLRs on occasion, too. I keep an iPhone 13 in my pocket for the rare occasions I'm not carrying a camera.

I'm not a brand-specific photographer. For product review photos, I swap between a Canon EOS R5 and a Sony a7R IV. I use Flashpoint and Godox TTL lights and Peak Design tripods, and I most often reach for a Think Tank or Peak Design backpack to carry equipment.

When it comes to computers, I'm an unapologetic Mac person and have been for the past 20 years. I write in Pages and use Numbers for spreadsheets. I currently swap between an Intel i9 MacBook Pro and an Apple Silicon Mac Studio for writing and use a calibrated BenQ 32.5-inch with the Studio for photo and video editing. I rely on a LaCie 6big RAID for media storage. I also keep a PC around for gaming, but please don't tell my Macs about it; they'll get jealous.

I split time between several different software apps depending on the type of editing I'm doing. For Raw image processing, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is my standard. I pair it with a LoupeDeck CT console to supplement my keyboard and trackpad, and I lean on RNI All Films 5 presets when I want to give an image a film look. I use Apple Final Cut Pro for video editing.

My first digital camera was the Canon PowerShot Elph S200, and my first DSLR was the Pentax *ist DL. I have a soft spot for antique film gear. I still use a 1950 vintage Rolleiflex Automat TLR and love trying mid-century Leica lenses on film and digital alike. I mainly use whatever's in front of me for review for digital snaps, but I pick up either my Leica M Typ 240 or Pentax K-3 III Monochrome when I want to step away from review work. In my downtime, I enjoy bird watching, reading, video games, and both good and bad movies, especially in the sci-fi and horror genres.

Read the latest from Jim Fisher

Read full bio