The Little Bag Of Primes Zoom: Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD.
Subtitle: A lens that does not shout.
Bought as a compromise between two lenses…
…a few new releases have come for this lens’ neck.
But all have failed to move me.
This comes as no surprise to me, since it already won out over two favorite lenses…
…to find a place in my camera bag. Wrote about it here:
Short version:
It offered nearly the flexibility of the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 at the wide end…
…with nearly the same spec as the Sony 40mm f/2.5 at the long end…
…all in a relatively compact package.
So what are the new releases I am talking about?
I am glad I imagined that you asked.
Well… they are not that new. Both have been out for a minute. But they share one thing in common. Any time I consider them, I end up back at the Tamron 20-40mm.
Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2.
It makes sense that this lens would tempt me since it was released as a replacement for one of the lenses I sold for the 20-40mm. But…
- I would prefer 40mm at the long end over 16mm at the wide end.
- A key issue with the 17-28mm, that the 16-30mm shares for my purposes, is that I found its still wide focal length at the long end limiting. And only gaining 2mm of focal length with the newer lens this would still be the case.
- It is significantly larger.
- It is heavier.
- “Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 VXD weighs 365g, 17% (75g) lighter than the Tamron 16-30mm f2.8’s weight of 440g.”
- It is more expensive.
- Simply put, I already have it.
- I know what it can do.
- I am happy with it.
Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8.
This one was a want over a need thing for sure. Was in the midst of a three Viltrox lens bender.
And there were two full frame Air lenses left.
The urge was to go full “Got to catch them all” Pokémon, but I stopped to think about it for a moment. The 40mm was easy to dismiss since it has the exact same spec as the Sony G mentioned above that I already had. For some reason, the 20mm tempted me. The Viltorx is smaller and less expensive, but the Tamron 20-40mm…
- Does what the Viltrox does and more, in terms of focal length.
That is it. They both go to 20mm f/2.8, so what is the point? I do not hanker for 20mm enough to purchase a prime at that focal length.
In a relatively small package and for a reasonable sum, this lens replaces a few common focal lengths.
- 20mm
- 28mm
- 35mm
- 40mm
And that last one comes close enough to 50mm to replace that in a pinch. Great as a walk around lens.
If I did not already have the 20-40mm, then I might consider the Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 based on performance for price alone. But it not only serves as a tiny bag of primes, it is also a great complement to a longer zoom in a two-lens zoom kit. And I have used it for such.
So why am I writing this? Welp, a Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 showed up on KEH used for even less. So before I did something silly, I took the 20-40mm f/2.8 out and about to fight off the urge to pick up the used Viltrox. And it worked. Here are some images.
Thoughts.
I am cured.
Well done, Tamron.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 