Tamron 35–100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD Review
Tamron Co., Ltd. doesn’t frame the 35–100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD as a radical reinvention, and that’s exactly why it works. This lens feels like the result of quiet listening rather than loud ambition, shaped by feedback from photographers who loved the idea of the 35–150mm but didn’t always love carrying it. Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, it launches for Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount, covering full-frame sensors natively while remaining fully usable on APS-C bodies, where the effective field of view tightens into a longer portrait-oriented zoom due to crop factor. It’s very much a full-frame lens first, projecting a full image circle and behaving exactly as intended on Sony FE and Nikon Z full-frame cameras, but it doesn’t punish you if you occasionally mount it on a smaller sensor body.
In the hand, the lens immediately signals what it’s about. A constant F/2.8 zoom that comes in at roughly 119 mm in length and around 565 g for the Sony version feels almost disarmingly compact, especially in a category where size creep has become the norm. The Nikon Z version adds only a few millimeters and grams, enough to notice on paper but not in use. Mounted on modern mirrorless bodies, balance is neutral and comfortable, the kind of setup you can carry for hours without subconsciously planning breaks. The zoom range itself is restrained but deliberate, running through focal lengths most people actually use. Thirty-five millimeters works naturally for environmental portraits, street scenes, and travel, while the long end lands right in classic portrait territory, offering flattering compression without forcing you to step halfway across the room.
Optically, the lens follows Tamron’s recent philosophy of clean, contemporary rendering without drifting into harshness. The construction uses 15 elements in 13 groups, paired with a nine-blade circular diaphragm that helps keep out-of-focus areas smooth and unintrusive. Sharpness is there when you need it, but it’s not brittle, and skin tones benefit from that balance. Background blur is calm and controlled, particularly important for candid portrait work where messy bokeh can quickly distract. One of the more quietly useful features is the close-focusing ability at the wide end, down to 0.22 m, which opens the door to tabletop shots, details, and tight indoor scenes without switching lenses. It’s a small spec on paper, but in daily use it broadens what the lens can do far beyond portraits alone.
Autofocus is driven by Tamron’s VXD linear motor system, and it behaves exactly as you’d hope: fast, precise, and confident without drawing attention to itself. Focus locks quickly, tracks reliably, and doesn’t hunt when light drops, which matters when you’re working with people and moments rather than setups. For video shooters, focus transitions feel smooth and controlled, and compatibility with TAMRON Lens Utility adds flexibility for customizing behavior depending on whether you’re shooting stills or video. It’s a lens that quietly adapts to hybrid workflows without turning configuration into a chore.
From a specifications standpoint, it checks all the practical boxes without excess. Maximum aperture is F/2.8 throughout the zoom range, stopping down to F22, maximum magnification reaches 1:3.3 at the wide end, and filter size is a unified 67 mm, which will be appreciated by anyone already invested in Tamron’s mirrorless lineup. The exterior design is refined rather than flashy, with smooth ring action, improved surface finish, moisture-resistant construction, and a fluorine coating on the front element that makes the lens feel ready for everyday use rather than something you need to baby. It’s clearly meant to be used often, not saved for special occasions.
Pricing places the 35–100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD squarely in the upper mid-range, with expected street prices hovering around the high hundreds in US dollars, typically slightly lower for the Sony E-mount version and a touch higher for Nikon Z. It’s not inexpensive, but considering the constant aperture, compact size, autofocus performance, and full-frame coverage, it lands in a competitive and sensible position. You’re not paying for extremes here, but for refinement and balance.
Taken as a whole, this lens feels less like a headline product and more like a long-term companion. It doesn’t try to replace massive do-everything zooms, and it doesn’t chase exotic specs for bragging rights. Instead, it delivers a compact, fast, full-frame zoom that covers the most useful focal lengths with consistency and restraint. For photographers who value portability just as much as image quality, and who want a lens that earns its place on the camera rather than in the bag, the Tamron 35–100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD makes a quietly compelling case.