The market wasn’t exactly short of 35mm lenses before Tamron introduced the second of its new range of fixed-focal-length optics. Damien Demolder investigates whether we need another.
Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD review
Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD – Our Verdict
The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is a big and heavy lens, but it produces quality images. We make choices that often come down to quality against convenience, and in this case we’re looking at a lens that aims for clean images at the cost of size.
This is a crowded market, so it makes perfect sense that Tamron has tried to differentiate its 35mm lens from the others available. I was pleased to have image stabilisation on my side as I like to shoot handheld in low light, and I was delighted to be able to shoot at f/1.8 without suffering a huge penalty. While quality is definitely better at f/4 and f/5.6, at f/1.8 and f/2 I was still very happy with the results.
All in all this is a very good lens. Tamron hasn’t just made a me-too product, but has brought something new to the moderate wideangle sector. The unique features make it stand out, and those shooting general or documentary-style work will welcome the emphasis on image quality at wide apertures. I’m impressed.
