For Sony full frame E-mount interchangeable cameras
Words: Rohinton Mehta
The Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens is the successor to the highly praised Tamron 28- 200mm F/2.8-5.6 DI III RXD lens. The 25-200mm (8x) lens offers a telescopic design construction. On the wide-angle side, the new lens gains 3mm increase in the focal length from 28 to 25mm (that’s an increase of approximately 5°angle of view – a substantial increase) and at the same time, offers overall superior performance. The lens was introduced in India on 20th November 2025. Let’s put the lens through our grueling tests…
Design & Build Quality
The Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens’ exterior is made with engineering plastic; it is well-made and beautifully finished in shiny, glossy black, with improved grip texture. The zoom ring and the focus ring are now broader for ergonomic handling. The lens extends by approximately 45mm when the zoom ring is turned from the 25 to 200mm position. The lens is moisture resistant. The lens mount is made from metal. Filter diameter is 67mm and the body weighs 575g. The lens is made in Vietnam.
Key Features
The Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 lens offers a Digitally integrated design (Di) for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The lens is constructed with 18 elements in 14 groups that include XLD (Extra- Low Dispersion), GM (Glass Molded Aspherical), and LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements. These special elements help in reducing various aberrations during lens manufacturing. Lens elements are coated with BBAR-G2 (Broad Band Anti-Reflection, 2nd Generation) coatings to minimise flare and ghosting. The front element has a Fluorine coat, that offers a degree of smudge / fingerprint resistance and also allows easier cleaning. As indicated in the lens nomenclature, the lens’ AF drive is equipped with a Voice-coil eXtreme-torque-Drive (VXD) for precise, high-speed autofocus.
Focal lengths are clearly marked in white at 25, 35, 50, 70, 100, 135 and 200mm settings. The lens can be locked at the 25mm setting to avoid possible damage from lens creep when travelling. The manual focus ring is smooth (I wish it had some damping), while the zoom ring is well-damped. A rubber gasket at the lens mount prevents fine dust and water splashes from getting into the lens. Tengold-plated contacts at the lens mount transmit data between the lens and the camera body. A Focus-set button and a USB-C connector port are available. The USB-C connector allows you to customise certain functions and update the lens firmware as and when it is announced. The Tamron Lens Utility is more than just a companion app—it’s a creative powerhouse for photographers and filmmakers. With it, you can customise focus ring behavior, and assign functions to the Focus Set Button. The Focus Preset and A-B Focus features make cinematic rack focussing effortless, while on- location adjustments via the mobile app opens new doors for dynamic shooting. It’s a tool that transforms your Tamron lens into a truly personalised extension of your vision. Currently, its available on Android mobiles, Windows and Mac operating systems. The Minimum Object Distance (MOD) of the lens is 0.16m (6.3”) at the Wide end, and 0.8m (31.5”) at the Telephoto end – measured from the sensor position mark on the camera body. Though not a macro lens, it offers a magnification ratio of 1:1.9 at the wide- angle end and 1:3.9 at the telephoto end.
Ergonomics
With the lens being lightweight at a mere 575g, it is comfortable to carry the whole day. One point to note regarding the Minimum Object Distance. If you want to take photos at MOD at the wide-angle end, the front of the lens will be roughly 2cm away from the subject. This can make lighting the subject very difficult and even put the lens’ shadow on the subject.
Performance
We reviewed the lens on a Sony A7III body. Auto corrections were enabled. The overall performance of the Tamron lens was excellent. With the lens wide open (f/2.8) at the 25mm setting, center was sharp, with the sides & corners a tad less sharp. Stopped down one stop (to f/4), the performance was much better. Optical performance at other focal lengths were similar. At the longest end (200mm) the center as well as the sides were very sharp even when used wide open. It should be noted that since this is not a constant-aperture lens, the minimum aperture narrows as the focal length moves towards the 200mm end. At the 200mm end, the minimum aperture is f/32. At f/16 and beyond, images will always show some ‘softness’ due to diffraction of light. Flare was very well corrected. Images had a tad less contrast when used wide open but one-stop down, everything looked fine. I did not notice any chromatic aberrations worth talking about. Lens distortions were also very well corrected. As mentioned earlier, overall, very good to excellent optical performance.
Value for Money
The Tamron 25-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 is available at an MRP of Rs.81,500. I feel that this is a reasonable price for this lens.
VERDICT
Despite the few niggles, this lens is a very good performer. Overall, the images are sharp. The lens is by no means heavy (575g) for this focal range, and this means you can carry this lens everywhere the whole day without getting tired. The 25-200mm focal range is suitable for most genres of photography – though ‘slow’ for several low-light situations when used at the longer focal lengths. And finally, when you consider the price verses performance, this lens is a winner. Best Buy!
| PLUS |
| 1) Fast and precise AF 2) Overall, very good performance 3) Ideal lens for general photography 4) Lightweight 5) Reasonably priced 6) Minimal focus breathing – good for video work |
| MINUS |
| 1) No IBIS (but compatible camera bodies do provide IBIS) 2) ‘Slow’ at the telephoto end 3) Non-constant aperture |
Pricing: Rs.81,500/-
Rating: 4.5/5
