Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Review

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Handling and Features

At 905g (Canon fit) or 900g (Nikon fit) the lens is hefty, but it does balance well on the Canon 5DS R used for the review. There is a provided petal lens hood, complete with locking catch for extra security. This surrounds an 82mm filter thread. Immediately behind this is a generously sized zoom ring, clearly marked with various focal lengths. A locking switch operates at 24mm to ensure the lens does not extend during carrying. There is no real tendency for this to happen whilst the lens is new, but perhaps with use, it will prove a useful feature.

There is a thin manual focusing ring that also operates in AF mode to enable fine tuning of the focus position. Focusing is down to 0.38m (15 inches), a useful maximum magnification of 1:5. The lens length does not change during focusing, thanks to the IF (Internal Focusing) design. The length does extend when zooming. Closest to the lens mount there is a distance scale under a small window, marked in feet and metres. There is no depth of field scale. Two switches on the lens barrel control AF/MF and VC (Vibration Compensation) on and off.  

Optically, we have 17 elements in 12 groups. There are 2 XR (Extra Refractive Index), 3 LD (Low Dispersion), 1 Hybrid Aspherical and 3 Glass Moulded Aspherical elements. The diaphragm comprises 9 rounded blades. There is a fluorine coating on the front element to repel moisture and dirt. Applied also are comprise Tamron's eBAND (Extended bandwidth and Angular-Dependency) and BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) coatings. There is also moisture resistance, always a useful, if not essential, feature.

Updating the lens firmware is simplified by compatibility with Tamron's TAP-in console, available as a separate item. This also enables focusing adjustments to be made. The VC system is claimed to offer a 5 stop advantage in terms of usable shutter speed, for reduced camera shake and sharper images. Advice is to switch off VC when using a tripod or other stable support. There is also the Tamron 5-year guarantee, a generous period of time.

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