Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2

Resolution

On the 30MP Canon EOS 5D Mark IV we used for this review, the lens delivers fine MTF results from our Image Engineering tests. If there’s any kind of flaw, it’s a degree of softness wide open at 70mm, especially at the corners of the frame, but in real-world images this wasn’t much of a practical problem. At all other settings, it delivers plenty of detail, with the very best results across the frame obtained at around f/ 5.6-f/8.

Shading

Vignetting is far from severe, with a maximum of 1.2 stops fall-off in the corners at 200mm and f/2.8. At 70mm, the level of vignetting is lower, but it’s more abrupt into the corners, which can make it look more obtrusive. At all focal lengths, stopping down to f/4 reduces falloff to 0.6 stops or less.

Curvilinear distortion

Typically for a telephoto zoom, the Tamron shows slight barrel distortion at 70mm, turning to pincushion distortion past 100mm. But it’s rather mild, and unlikely to be a problem for the majority of subjects. It can be readily fixed in raw processing using profiled lens corrections.