Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8
An upmarket wide-angle zoom for full‑frame
A wide-angle zoom with revamped focus
Reinforcing its reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality lenses that can rival own-brand optics, Tamron launched its 15-30mm wide-angle zoom four years ago. More recently, we’ve seen some highly impressive ‘G2’ (second-generation) lenses from Tamron that ramp up build quality, handling and performance. These include pro-grade 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms; now it’s the turn of the 15-30mm lens to get a G2 makeover.
Tamron’s original 15-30mm lens grabbed the headlines with its combination of a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture rating and a built-in optical stabiliser. The latter was courtesy of Tamron’s effective VC (Vibration Compensation) system.
The G2 lens sticks to the same formula, but the new edition has an uprated 4.5-stop stabiliser – no mean feat for such a wideangle lens. That said, the Tamron doesn’t go quite as wide as the recently launched Sigma 14-24mm Art lens, and the maximum viewing angle is much narrower than from the Sigma 12-24mm Art lens, both of which are stellar performers.
Build quality is good in every respect, with a robust feel to the lens, along with a comprehensive set of weather-seals. At the rear of the lens, a gelatin filter holder is fitted to the Canon-mount edition but this is absent in Nikon-mount version.
Performance
The G2 lens is better able to track moving objects in action photography, thanks to a revamped autofocus system that delivers faster performance and greater precision. Image quality is mostly similar to that of the original lens. Sharpness is impressive at the centre of the frame but comparatively lacklustre towards the edges and corners, unless you stop down to f/5.6 through most of the zoom range, and f/8 at the long end.