Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Field Test: New 15-30mm f/2.8 G2 lens is a wide-angle winner
posted Friday, December 21, 2018 at 4:07 PM EDT
Click here to read our Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 G2 Field Test
Tamron's 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens is a distinct full-frame wide-angle zoom which impressed me greatly during my hands-on time with it here in Maine. It performs well across the frame and has impressive build quality, including weather sealing. The robust lens also includes image stabilization, something of a rarity when considering a fast wide-angle lens.
Tamron released the original 15-30mm f/2.8 lens in 2014 and since that time, the company has been doubling down on their efforts to release high-performance optics at an affordable price. The new 15-30mm f/2.8 G2 shares its styling with other recent Tamron lenses, which means it looks like a professional lens and has a sleek design. While it does look really nice, it is a pretty large and heavy lens. Given its constant f/2.8 aperture and 15-30mm focal length, this is not a surprise, but it is worth considering because it means the lens is a bit heavy for traveling or walking around. Further, its usability is hampered by the inability to easily use front filters.
If these limitations are not a problem for you, then you are rewarded with a sharp, fast zoom lens which costs around $1,300 USD. This is a great price, especially when considering the good optical performance from the lens, particularly when you stop down the aperture. For much more on the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens, read my full Field Test.