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Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2
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UNSCORED
Tamron · 16-30 mm · f/2.8 · Sony E, Nikon Z mount

Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2

From $879 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandTamron
Announcement dateJul 2025
Released2025
Production started2025
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Expanded 16-30mm focal range provides wider ultra-wide perspective than predecessor 17-28mm model
+Lightweight and compact at 440g with fast f/2.8 constant aperture ideal for travel and handheld shooting
+Fast, quiet VXD autofocus with excellent tracking performance for both stills and video
+Excellent value at $929 USD, significantly less than competitor Sony GM and native alternatives
+Robust weather sealing with fluorine front coating suitable for outdoor and challenging conditions
+Tamron Lens Utility software enables firmware updates and customizable button functions including astro focus lock
Worth Knowing
−No aperture ring on barrel requires controlling aperture via camera controls only
−Moderate barrel distortion at 16mm wide end and noticeable vignetting when shooting wide open
−No in-lens image stabilization; relies on camera body stabilization if available
−Bokeh exhibits soap-bubble effect at ultra-wide angles typical of the focal range class

General

Brand
Tamron
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Jul 2025
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2025
Production started
2025
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 expands on the acclaimed 17-28mm predecessor with broader zoom range while maintaining compact, lightweight design and exceptional image quality. At 15.5 ounces (440 grams) it's weather-sealed with updated VXD autofocus and optical design. The constant f/2.8 aperture, fast focusing, excellent image quality, and outstanding value make this an easy recommendation, costing less than half what Sony charges for their 16-35mm GM2 while delivering sharp images.

Optical

Minimum Aperture
f/16
Angle of View
107.2° (16mm) to 83.1° (30mm)
Lens Construction
16 elements in 12 groups
Special Elements
1 XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion), 2 LD (Low Dispersion), 3 GM (Glass Molded Aspherical)

Focus

Autofocus System
VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor
Maximum Magnification
1:5.4 (WIDE), 1:7 (TELE)
Focus Type
Internal focus

Build

Zoom Design
Internal zoom (non-extending)

Coatings

Coating Technology
BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2)

Features

Controls
Focus hold button, customizable L-Fn button
Connectivity
USB-C port for firmware updates and Tamron Lens Utility
Accessories Included
Petal lens hood, front and rear lens caps
Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
Yes

Software

Lens Utility
Tamron Lens Utility software for PC/Mac and mobile (iOS/Android) for firmware updates and custom function assignment
Astro Features
Astro Focus Lock for astrophotography

Optics

Min focal length
16 mm
Max focal length
30 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
16-30 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
Yes
Max aperture wide
2.8
Max aperture zoom
2.8
Autofocus mode
Yes
Closest focusing distance
ⓘ
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
19 cm01500
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
9020

Physical

Lens weight
440 g
Lens length
ⓘ
How long the lens is from front to back.
101.8 mm
Lens diameter
ⓘ
Width of the lens at its widest point
74.8 mm
Front filter size
ⓘ
Diameter of attachable filters.
67 mm
Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Sony E, Nikon Z