Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 Review: Best Budget Zoom Lens?

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2 has quietly become one of the most compelling budget zoom lenses for Sony E-mount cameras. This second-generation standard zoom promises professional-grade performance at a fraction of the cost of Sony’s own 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. After extensive testing across various shooting scenarios, I’m here to break down whether this lens delivers on its ambitious promises.

Specifications and Build Quality

Construction and Handling

The Tamron 28-75mm G2 feels reassuringly solid in hand, with a mostly plastic construction that doesn’t feel cheap. At 540 grams, it strikes an excellent balance between substantial build quality and portability – significantly lighter than Sony’s 24-70mm GM while maintaining a professional feel.

The lens extends about 30mm when zooming from 28mm to 75mm, which is fairly typical for this class of zoom. The zoom ring operates smoothly with just the right amount of resistance, and there’s no zoom creep when pointing the camera up or down. The focus ring is well-damped and provides good tactile feedback, though it’s fly-by-wire rather than mechanically coupled.

Weather sealing is present throughout the barrel, including a rubber gasket at the mount. While Tamron doesn’t provide an IP rating, the moisture-resistant construction has proven reliable in light rain and humid conditions during my testing.

Optical Performance

Sharpness

The G2’s sharpness performance is genuinely impressive, representing a notable improvement over the original 28-75mm. At 28mm, the center is razor-sharp even wide open at f/2.8, with excellent edge performance that’s only slightly softer than the center. This is remarkable for a budget zoom – many lenses in this category show noticeable corner softness at maximum aperture.

Moving through the zoom range, sharpness remains consistently excellent. The 50mm range is particularly strong, delivering sharpness that rivals prime lenses. Even at 75mm, where many zooms start to show their limitations, the G2 maintains impressive center and mid-frame sharpness with only minor corner softening.

Stopping down to f/4 brings the corners up to match the center performance across the entire zoom range. By f/5.6, you’re looking at peak sharpness that’s truly exceptional for this price point. Diffraction begins to impact sharpness around f/11, but remains perfectly usable through f/16.

Bokeh Quality

For a zoom lens at this price point, the Tamron 28-75mm G2 produces surprisingly pleasing bokeh. The 9-blade circular aperture creates smooth, circular out-of-focus highlights that don’t show the harsh geometric shapes common in budget lenses. Background blur has a creamy quality that works well for portraits and subject isolation.

At 75mm f/2.8, you can achieve genuinely attractive background separation that approaches what you’d expect from a mid-range prime lens. The bokeh isn’t quite as refined as what you’d get from Sony’s premium glass or a dedicated portrait lens like the Sony 85mm GM, but it’s more than adequate for most shooting situations.

The only minor criticism is that very bright highlights can show slight onion ring effects under close inspection, but this is rarely noticeable in real-world shooting conditions.

Chromatic Aberration and Distortion

Tamron has done excellent work controlling optical aberrations in the G2. Lateral chromatic aberration is minimal across the zoom range and easily corrected in post-processing when it does appear. Purple fringing is well-controlled, appearing only in extreme high-contrast situations.

Barrel distortion is present at 28mm, as expected, but it’s moderate and easily corrected with lens profiles in Lightroom or Capture One. The distortion gradually transitions to slight pincushion distortion at 75mm, but again, nothing that can’t be easily addressed in post.

Vignetting is noticeable at f/2.8 across the zoom range, particularly at the wide end, but it’s not excessive and can add a pleasing natural effect to images. Stopping down to f/4 significantly reduces vignetting, and it’s essentially gone by f/5.6.

Autofocus Performance

The G2’s RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) autofocus motor is where this lens truly shines. Focus acquisition is lightning-fast and nearly silent, making it excellent for both photography and video work. The improved algorithm over the original version is immediately apparent – the lens locks onto subjects with confidence and rarely hunts, even in challenging low-light conditions.

Eye detection autofocus works flawlessly with Sony bodies that support it. The lens tracks moving subjects well, though it’s not quite as tenacious as Sony’s own GM lenses when dealing with erratically moving subjects. For most photography applications, including portraits, events, and street photography, the autofocus performance is more than adequate.

Focus breathing is well-controlled, making this lens suitable for video work where smooth focus transitions are important. The internal focusing design means the lens doesn’t extend during focusing, maintaining balance when using gimbals or stabilizers.

Real-World Performance

Portrait Photography

The 28-75mm range makes this lens incredibly versatile for portrait work. At 28mm, you can capture environmental portraits that show context and setting. The 50mm range is perfect for natural-looking headshots and upper-body portraits, while 75mm provides excellent compression for flattering facial features.

The constant f/2.8 aperture ensures you can maintain consistent depth of field control throughout the zoom range. Subject separation is excellent, particularly at the longer end of the zoom range. Skin tones are rendered naturally without the cool tint that sometimes plagues third-party lenses.

Event and Wedding Photography

This is where the Tamron 28-75mm G2 truly excels as a budget option. The combination of constant f/2.8 aperture, excellent low-light performance, and versatile focal range makes it ideal for capturing everything from wide establishing shots to intimate moments.

The silent autofocus is a huge advantage during ceremonies, and the weather sealing provides peace of mind for outdoor events. While it lacks the ultimate build quality and optical refinement of professional-grade lenses, it delivers 90% of the performance at a fraction of the cost.

Travel Photography

At 540 grams, the G2 is light enough for extended travel without causing fatigue. The focal range covers most travel photography needs, from architecture and landscapes at 28mm to street photography and portraits at 75mm. The close focusing distance of 18cm allows for interesting detail shots and quasi-macro work.

The lens performs well in various lighting conditions, and the weather sealing provides confidence when shooting in unpredictable weather. Having a constant f/2.8 aperture means you’re prepared for golden hour and blue hour shooting without needing to change lenses.

Limitations and Considerations

While the Tamron 28-75mm G2 punches well above its weight class, it’s not perfect. The 28mm starting focal length is narrower than the 24mm found on most standard zooms, which can be limiting for architecture and landscape photography. The difference between 24mm and 28mm is more significant than the numbers suggest, particularly in tight spaces.

Build quality, while good for the price point, doesn’t match the premium feel of Sony’s GM lenses. The lens is primarily plastic construction, and while it feels solid, photographers accustomed to metal-bodied lenses might find it lacking in premium feel.

The 75mm maximum focal length falls short of the traditional 70mm, but more importantly, it doesn’t reach the useful 85mm portrait length. This means you might still need a dedicated portrait lens like the Sony 85mm GM for serious portrait work where that focal length is preferred.

Value Proposition

At its current price point, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 represents exceptional value for Sony E-mount shooters. It delivers optical performance that’s genuinely close to much more expensive alternatives while maintaining excellent build quality and professional features like weather sealing.

The lens is particularly appealing for photographers stepping up from kit lenses or those looking to minimize their kit without sacrificing image quality. It’s also an excellent choice for budget-conscious professionals who need reliable performance without the premium price tag.

Practical Tips for Best Results

To get the most out of the Tamron 28-75mm G2, consider these practical recommendations:

Optimal Aperture Settings: For maximum sharpness across the frame, use f/4-f/8 depending on your depth of field requirements. f/2.8 is excellent for subject isolation but shows slight corner softness at the wide end.

Focus Techniques: Take advantage of the excellent close-focusing capabilities for detail shots and environmental portraits. The lens excels at isolating subjects from busy backgrounds when used at 75mm f/2.8.

Post-Processing: Apply lens corrections in Lightroom or Capture One to address the minor vignetting and distortion. The built-in lens profiles work excellently and are automatically applied in most cases.

Video Considerations: The smooth, silent autofocus makes this lens excellent for video work. Focus breathing is minimal, and the constant aperture provides consistent exposure throughout zoom adjustments.

Comparison with Alternatives

Against Sony’s own 24-70mm f/2.8 GM, the Tamron gives up some build quality, weather sealing refinement, and that crucial 4mm at the wide end. However, it costs significantly less and delivers comparable image quality in most situations.

Compared to Sony’s 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS, the Tamron provides that crucial extra stop of aperture performance while maintaining similar size and weight characteristics. The trade-off is the narrower focal range and lack of optical stabilization, though most modern Sony bodies have excellent in-body stabilization.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2 succeeds brilliantly at its primary objective: delivering professional-grade optical performance at an accessible price point. While it makes some compromises in focal range and build materials, the image quality, autofocus performance, and overall handling make it an excellent choice for a wide range of photographers.

Highly Recommended For:

• Enthusiast photographers seeking professional image quality on a budget
• Event and wedding photographers looking for a reliable, lightweight standard zoom
• Travel photographers who prioritize image quality and versatility
• Content creators who need excellent photo and video performance in one lens

Consider Alternatives If:

• You absolutely need the wider 24mm focal length for architectural or landscape work
• Build quality and weather sealing are top priorities
• You require the absolute best optical performance regardless of cost

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 proves that exceptional optical performance doesn’t require a premium price tag. It’s a lens that delivers on its promises and represents genuine value in the Sony E-mount ecosystem. For most photographers, this lens will exceed expectations and provide years of reliable, high-quality service.