Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2

---

If you are a photographer who enjoys shooting landscapes, cityscapes, interiors, or any other subjects that require a wide-angle perspective, you might want to try the Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens. This lens is a remarkable wide-angle zoom lens that offers superb image quality, fast and smooth autofocus, effective image stabilization, and weather-resistant build quality. In this blog post, I will share with you some of the highlights of this lens and how it has made my wide-angle photography more enjoyable and rewarding.

Image Quality

The first thing that caught my eye about this lens was its image quality. This lens is extremely sharp across the entire zoom range, even at f/2.8. It has very low distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration, thanks to its advanced optical design that uses four LD (Low Dispersion) elements, three GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) elements, and one hybrid aspherical element. The colors and contrast are also excellent, with the Tamron eBAND coating that reduces flare and ghosting. The bokeh is smooth and natural, especially for a wide-angle zoom lens.

I have compared this lens with some of the other 15-30mm f/2.8 lenses, such as the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED and the Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art, and I found that the Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens delivers comparable or better image quality.

Autofocus and Image Stabilization

The second thing that I liked about this lens was its autofocus and image stabilization performance. The USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) motor, along with the Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) system, ensures fast and quiet autofocus. The lens also has a full-time manual focus override, which allows me to fine-tune the focus without switching modes. The lens is compatible with Tamron’s TAP-in Console, which enables me to customize the autofocus settings and update the firmware.

The lens also has a VC (Vibration Compensation) system, which is rated at 4.5 stops of image stabilization, according to Tamron. The lens has three VC modes, including one for panning. I have tested the VC system in various lighting conditions and shooting scenarios, and I can say that it works very well. I was able to get sharp handheld shots at slow shutter speeds and wide focal lengths, which would have been challenging without the VC system.

Build Quality and Handling

The third thing that I appreciated about this lens was its build quality and handling. The lens is solid and sturdy, with a metal barrel and a moisture-resistant construction. The lens has a zoom lock switch, a focus limiter switch, and a VC mode switch, which are all easy to access and operate. The lens has a large and smooth zoom ring and a smaller and precise focus ring, which are both rubberized and comfortable to grip. The lens has a removable tripod collar, which is also metal and has a smooth rotation. The lens comes with a petal-shaped hood, which is also metal and has a locking mechanism.

The lens is relatively compact and lightweight for a 15-30mm f/2.8 lens, weighing 1,110g and measuring 142.5mm in length. It balances well on my Canon EOS R, and I have no problem carrying it around for long periods of time. The lens has a 82mm filter thread, which is convenient for using filters and accessories.

Conclusion

The Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens is a fantastic lens that delivers amazing results in a variety of situations. It is sharp, fast, stable, and well-built, and it costs much less than its competitors. It is one of the best lenses I have ever used, and it has made my wide-angle photography more fun and creative. I highly recommend this lens to anyone who is looking for a high-quality wide-angle zoom lens.