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Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (A078): The Portrait Zoom That Makes Your 24-70 Nervous

  • 4 hours ago
  • 4 min read

Tamron's new 35-100mm f/2.8 packs every portrait focal length into 565 grams. Here's everything we know before launch day.

Product graphic of Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD zoom lens for Sony mirrorless cameras promoting it as an alternative to a 24–70 lens with key portrait focal lengths.

The 24-70mm f/2.8 has been the default standard zoom for over a decade. It's the lens you buy because you're supposed to. And for a lot of shooters, it works fine — until you realize 70mm isn't quite enough for a tight portrait, and 24mm wide open at f/2.8 isn't exactly spectacular.


Tamron looked at that reality and did something nobody expected. Instead of making another 24-70, they made a 35-100mm f/2.8. And in doing so, they might have built the most practical portrait zoom on the market.


Why 35-100mm?

This lens exists because of the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 (A058). Launched in 2021, it quickly became one of the most praised portrait zooms ever made. The problem? At over 1.1kg and 158mm long, it was a beast. Users loved the images but many sold it because it was simply too heavy for everyday carry.

Studio product photo of Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens for Sony mirrorless cameras highlighting the 35–100mm portrait focal range and constant f/2.8 aperture.

The A078 is Tamron's answer: keep the focal lengths people actually use for portraits - 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm - ditch the rest, lock the aperture at a constant f/2.8, and make the whole thing fit in your palm.


See how portrait perspective changes between 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 100mm:


35mm

Portrait at 35mm focal length showing environmental perspective with a woman sitting in a bright studio interior, photographed with Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8.

50mm

Portrait at 50mm focal length showing natural perspective of a woman sitting on an armchair in a bright studio, photographed with Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 lens.

85mm

Portrait at 85mm focal length with soft background compression showing a woman sitting on an armchair in natural window light using the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8.

100mm

Close portrait at 100mm focal length showing strong background compression and shallow depth of field using the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 lens.

The result is a lens that measures 119.2mm in length and weighs 565g for Sony E-mount (121.5mm / 575g for Nikon Z). For context, that's lighter than most first-party 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses. Let that sink in.


The 20-40mm + 35-100mm Combo

Here's where it gets interesting. Tamron's 20-40mm f/2.8 (A062) has been a favorite among travel and street photographers for its compact size. Pair it with the 35-100mm and you've got a two-lens kit covering 20mm to 100mm at a constant f/2.8.


Both lenses share the same 67mm filter thread. Both are compact and lightweight. Together they weigh around a kilogram. That's a full f/2.8 range in a sling bag. No back pain. No excuses.


Key Specs at a Glance - Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD

  • Focal length: 35-100mm

  • Maximum aperture: f/2.8 constant

  • Optical construction: 15 elements in 13 groups (1 XLD, 2 LD, 3 GM elements)

  • Minimum focus distance: 0.22m / 8.7in (wide), 0.65m / 25.6in (tele)

  • Maximum magnification: 1:3.3 (wide) / 1:5.9 (tele)

  • Filter size: 67mm

  • Dimensions: φ80.6mm × 119.2mm (Sony E) / 121.5mm (Nikon Z)

  • Weight: 565g (Sony E) / 575g (Nikon Z)

  • Aperture blades: 9 (circular diaphragm)

  • Autofocus: VXD linear motor

  • Mount: Sony E-mount, Nikon Z mount

  • Connectivity: USB Type-C (Tamron Lens Utility compatible)

  • Weather sealing: Moisture-resistant construction, fluorine coating

  • Launch date: March 26, 2026

Top view studio product photo of the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD zoom lens for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras on a clean white background.

Close Focus That Actually Matters

At 22 centimeters on the wide end, this lens gets close. Really close. That's almost macro territory for a standard zoom, and it means tabletop photography, café shots, and indoor detail work are all on the table - pun absolutely intended. Combined with f/2.8 bokeh, everyday objects start looking cinematic.

Close-up photo of latte art in a cup demonstrating detail rendering and shallow depth of field from the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens.

Optical Design

Tamron packed 15 elements in 13 groups into this compact barrel, including one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) element, two LD elements, and three GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) elements. The BBAR-G2 coating handles ghosting and flare in backlit situations.

Optical construction diagram of the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens showing aspherical, LD and XLD glass elements used in the optical design.

The telephoto end is specifically optimized for smooth background bokeh — Tamron clearly designed this lens with portraiture as the primary use case, not just as a general-purpose zoom that happens to reach 100mm.


Tamron publishes MTF charts at both ends of the zoom range - 35mm and 100mm:

MTF chart of the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens at 35mm and f/2.8 showing sagittal and meridional contrast performance across the frame.


MTF chart of the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens at 100mm and f/2.8 showing sagittal and meridional contrast performance across the full frame image area.

Build and Handling

The A078 gets Tamron's latest design language: glossy black finish with improved scratch and fingerprint resistance, deeper grooves on the zoom and focus rings for better grip, and a Focus Set Button paired with a Custom Switch - both configurable through Tamron Lens Utility.


The lens is moisture-resistant with seals throughout the barrel, and the USB-C connector port is waterproofed. Fluorine coating on the front element keeps things clean in the field.


One detail worth noting: Tamron specifically engineered minimal barrel extension during zooming. This keeps the center of gravity stable — a big deal for gimbal-mounted video work and handheld shooting.


Who Is This For?

Tamron is pretty clear about the target audience: portrait shooters who want mobility, standard zoom users frustrated with lenses that stop at 70mm, and hybrid photo/video creators who need compact glass that performs.


If you've been carrying a 24-70mm and a separate 85mm prime "just in case," this lens replaces that combo in a single, lighter package.


Compared to What?

Against Tamron's own lineup, the A078 sits between the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 (A063) and the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 (A058). It's essentially the sweet spot — more reach than the 28-75 without the bulk of the 35-150.


Against first-party competition, the size and weight advantage is significant. Sony's 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II is roughly the same length but heavier at 695g with an 82mm filter thread. The Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 is a tank at 990g. Nikon's 24-70mm f/2.8 S comes in at 805g.


The trade-off is obvious: you lose the wide end (no 24-28mm) and gain meaningful telephoto reach (100mm vs 70mm). Whether that trade works for you depends entirely on how you shoot.

Night cityscape photo of the Shanghai skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower reflected on the Huangpu River, photographed with the Tamron 35–100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD lens.

My Take (Before Getting My Hands On It)

I haven't tested this lens yet - it launches March 26th and I'll have a full hands-on review the moment my unit arrives. But on paper, this is exactly the kind of lens I've been wanting to exist. The focal range makes more sense for real-world portrait and travel shooting than the traditional 24-70, the weight is genuinely impressive, and the 67mm filter compatibility with the rest of the Tamron ecosystem is the cherry on top.


The real question will be optical performance at the edges and AF tracking reliability. Specs are specs - glass tells the truth when you shoot it.


Stay tuned,

Mike


The Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078) launches March 26, 2026, for Sony E-mount and Nikon Z mount. Full hands-on review coming soon.


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