TAMRON Camera Lens 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A056) [Sony E / zoom lens]

Product Specifications

Basic Information

Product Features

Third in the series of large-aperture F/2.8 zoom lenses for full-size mirrorless cameras.

Large-aperture telephoto zoom lens with high-speed AF in the world's smallest and lightest* body.

*In 35mm-format full-frame compatible F/2.8 AF telephoto zoom lenses (as of March 2020. Tamron research)

- Compact lens body that maximizes the mobility of mirrorless cameras
The Model A056 has a focal length of 180mm on the telephoto side and a variable-length zoom mechanism for maximum portability and convenience. Furthermore, by utilizing the anti-vibration mechanism inside the camera body, an amazingly compact and lightweight size was achieved despite the bright high-performance lens with a maximum aperture of F/2.8 (filter diameter: 67mm, maximum diameter: 81mm, length: 149mm (at 70mm), weight: 810g). This mobility allows users to fully enjoy hand-held photography with a high degree of freedom. Tamron, which has always been committed to achieving both high image quality and compactness, has created this lens in response to the demands of the new digital age.

- Newly developed VXD linear motor focus mechanism for high-speed, high-precision AF
VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive), Tamron's first linear motor focus mechanism, has been newly developed and installed for AF drive. It boasts unprecedented high-speed and high-precision AF, combining high-speed operation with control in increments of 0.005 mm, less than 1/10th of a hair. The lens also features a floating system with advanced electronic control of the two VXDs. This contributes to the lens's clear and beautiful imaging performance from close-up to long distance, as well as to its compact size and light weight. The lens is also extremely quiet, enabling photography with minimal operating noise, even when quietness is required. Furthermore, the focus tracking performance has been greatly improved for sports and vehicles, which are often the main subjects of telephoto zoom lenses. This allows users to enjoy stress-free, high-precision shooting not only for still images but also for movies.

- Uncompromised High Image Quality
The lens construction consists of 19 elements in 14 groups, including six XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) and LD (Low Dispersion) lenses, and three GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) and compound aspherical lenses. The luxurious and appropriate arrangement of the special glass lenses provides extremely high resolution performance with chromatic aberration suppressed from the center to the corners of the image. The lens also features BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating, which suppresses ghosting and flare and allows the photographer to capture the subject's details in fine detail even in backlit conditions. This coating enables an overwhelming sense of fluidity and clear images. The camera's correction functions for distortion and vignetting are actively utilized to achieve uniform high image quality from the maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range. In addition, the bokeh effect when shooting at a bright f-number is soft and smooth. The ideal of Tamron's "compactness and high image quality" can be experienced in terms of image quality as well.

- Unified filter diameter of ø67mm for the full-size mirrorless series
The filter diameter is ø67mm, which is the same as that of our other full-size mirrorless lenses, such as the 17-28mm F/2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom lens (Model A046) and the 28-75mm F/2.8 standard zoom lens (Model A036). Even when multiple interchangeable lenses are used, this design greatly reduces the burden of filter work such as ND filters and PL filters. The front cap is also common, eliminating the need to search for caps with different diameters when changing lenses, which also helps alleviate stress during shooting.

- Minimum Focusing Distance of 0.85m
The minimum focusing distance of this lens is a surprising 0.85m (across the entire zoom range) for a large-aperture telephoto zoom lens. The short minimum focusing distance enables powerful photography with a maximum magnification of 1:4.6, especially at the telephoto end (180mm). To suppress various aberrations more efficiently, a floating mechanism with two pairs of "VXD" linear motor focus mechanisms is employed. This allows the camera to maintain good image quality even when shooting at close distances of up to 0.85 m.
Only when the camera is set to manual focus (MF), it is possible to shoot in the "close range" of 0.27m on the 70mm side. However, the image quality will be degraded at the periphery, making it difficult to focus on the subject. For details, please refer to the manufacturer's support page.

- Splash-proof construction, stain-proof coating, and zoom lock mechanism for comfortable shooting
The lens barrel is equipped with a simple drip-proof construction with drip-proof sealing at key locations such as moving parts and joints to prevent water from penetrating the lens. The frontmost surface of the lens is coated with a fluorine compound that is water- and oil-repellent and stain-resistant. This coating makes it easy to wipe off water droplets, hand grease, and other contaminants, facilitating maintenance. In addition, the zoom lock mechanism prevents the lens from dropping under its own weight when being carried.