have been using the Tamron 28-75mm G1 Sony E-mount lens as my studio workhorse few several years now. I love it. It’s small, lightweight and compact, but packs a punch. It’s quiet with quick Autofocus and outstanding image quality, not to mention really good value for money compared to similar lenses in the field at the time. In short, the complete package. And it wasn’t just me that thought so. This lens has been outstanding in reviews and bench tests. So...what’s new in the Tamron G2 (A063)?

Tamron's new 28-75mm f/2.8 Generation 2 lens

First impressions

It’s about the same size, weighs 10gms less apparently (G2 is featured on the left). It looks solid, it feels solid. It’s shinier, but less slippery, due to the scratch-resistant coating on the barrel and improved ergonomics. It has improved grips for zoom and focus ring, which are both smooth and fluid. The zoom has no wobble or flex and the focus is super smooth in its movement. It has newly revamped optics that offers increased resolution. A faster more precise Autofocus and has a minimum focus distance of 7.1" (1:2.7 macro).

So how does it compare?

The only real way to compare is to shoot side by side. Thankfully I have two Sony a7Riii, set up the same way, so I put a G1 28-75mm on one camera and the G2 on the other...then put it through its paces. I took it to my favourite gardens and did some flowers and small landscapes. I then took it to a few local landmarks to check out the landscapes, finally tried some portraits in the studio. Generation 1 on the left, G2 on the right in the comparison, only G2 in the galleries.

Macro and Flowers

The ability to get in close (7.1") is fabulous for flowers. The all-new Function Button on the lens barrel for Focus Preset is handy (although I kept forgetting to use it) and the ability to assign custom functions could be handy, however, I did not get around to trying that out.

G1

G2

Landscapes

Whether at 28mm or 75mm the image is sharp and the focus is smooth and quick. I actually found there was a greater dynamic range in the G2 and deeper colours, with less chromatic aberration in high contrast areas than the G1.

G1

G2

Portraits

Fast and sharp, super-fast really, when used with eye-tracking and Continuous autofocus. The high-precision AF was excellent. Again I found the colours deeper and brighter on the G2 than the G1.

G1

G2

Final thoughts

Great lens, certainly as good if not slightly better than the G1. As one would expect from a next-generation lens. In every instance the G2 allows more light in, I can presume the improved and revamped optics is the key. For every image with the same settings, the G1 was underexposed. So I ended up having to stop down in aperture on the G2 to get the same exposure. This is great for low light situations. The Tamron 28-75mm G2 is a versatile all-around lens, with fantastic performance and super-wide aperture plus fast focus and capture. Solid sturdy construction. It is smaller and lighter than similar in its class, not to mention real value for money RRP US$899.00.

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8- what's new with the G2?