---
product_id: 1427961
title: "Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A09NII)"
brand: "tamron"
price: "R38964"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
category: "Tamron"
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1427961-tamron-af-28-75mm-f-2-8-sp-xr-di
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Constant f/2.8 aperture for low light mastery Close focus at 0.33m for detailed shots World’s smallest & lightest fast zoom lens Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A09NII)

**Brand:** tamron
**Price:** R38964
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📸 Elevate your frame: Pro-grade zoom, pocket-sized power!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A09NII) by tamron
- **How much does it cost?** R38964 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1427961-tamron-af-28-75mm-f-2-8-sp-xr-di)

## Best For

- tamron enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted tamron brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Compact Powerhouse:** Experience the freedom of the world’s smallest and lightest fast zoom lens, engineered with XR glass for superior optics in a sleek package.
- • **Precision Close-Ups:** Get up close and personal with subjects thanks to a minimum focusing distance of just 0.33m, perfect for portraits and creative shallow depth of field.
- • **Pro-Level Optical Excellence:** Tamron’s SP series with LD and aspherical elements delivers razor-sharp images with minimal chromatic aberration and distortion—at a fraction of the price.
- • **Seamless Nikon Compatibility:** Built-in autofocus motor ensures smooth, quiet, and fast focusing on most Nikon DSLRs, making every shot effortless.
- • **Unmatched Low-Light Performance:** Shoot stunning images in challenging lighting with a bright, constant f/2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range.

## Overview

The Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical lens is a compact, lightweight, and versatile zoom lens designed for Nikon DSLRs. Featuring a constant bright f/2.8 aperture, advanced XR and LD glass elements, and internal focusing, it delivers professional-grade sharpness, excellent low-light capability, and close-up performance. Praised for its optical quality rivaling premium lenses at a fraction of the cost, it’s a must-have for serious photographers seeking high performance without bulk or breaking the bank.

## Description

From the Manufacturer This ground-breaking high-speed mid-range zoom is prized by pros and serious shooters for its fast F/2.8 constant aperture, evenness of illumination, and its outstanding imaging performance, and by all photographers for its compact size and reasonable weight that make it feel like an ordinary standard zoom. These admirable characteristics have been achieved by the use of special XR and LD glass, the efficient use of aspherical elements, and non-rotating internal-focus (IF) design. This remarkable zoom lens also focuses down to 0.33m (13”) (1:3.9 magnification) at all focal lengths for satisfying close-up performance and is compatible with APS-C and full-frame-format SLRs. Not surprisingly it is widely acclaimed as a classic. Worlds smallest & lightest lens The most compact and lightest in the history of fast zoom lenses. Thanks to the revolutionary downsizing "XR" technology employed by Tamron in the development of high-power zoom lenses such as the 28-200mm and 28-300mm, the dramatic compactness that makes this lens the world's smallest and lightest is achieved. Its compactness makes it look and feel like an ordinary standard zoom lens, yet the versatility that a fast constant maximum aperture offers will definitely reshape your photographic horizons. SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di Features Digitally Integrated (DI) Lenses for the Best Imaging Performance Di (Digitally Integrated Design) is a Tamron designation that applies to lenses that have been optimized for digital capture using advanced multi-coating techniques and optical designs that assure excellent image quality across the entire picture field. Because of these characteristics, Di lenses provide outstanding performance on cameras with full-frame and APS-C format sensors as well as on 35mm film. Low Dispersion (LD) Glass for Greater Lens Sharpness Low Dispersion (LD) glass reduces chromatic aberration Low dispersion (LD) glass elements in a lens help reduce chromatic aberration; the tendency of light of different colors to come to different points of focus at the image plane. Chromatic aberration reduces the sharpness of an image, but glass with an extremely lowdispersion index, has less of a tendency to separate (defract) a ray of light into a rainbow of colors. This characteristic allows the lens designer to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the center of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (towards the edges of the field) that often occurs at short focal lengths (the wide-angle end of the zoom range.) Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating Shooters Tamron SP (Super Performance) series is a line of ultra-high-performance lenses designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality. In creating SP lenses Tamron’s optical designers put their foremost priority on achieving superior performance parameters—they are all designed to a higher standard with little regard for cost constraints. As a result, Tamron lenses bearing the SP designation feature impressive and innovative designs that have established an enviable reputation for excellence among those knowledgeable photographers that demand the very best. Extra Refractive Index Glass (XR) Special glass for better performance and more compact lens designs Extra Refractive Index (XR) glass can bend light rays at steeper angles, thereby decreasing the physical length of the lens while enhancing imaging performance by minimizing optical aberrations. This has allowed Tamron to develop a line of shorter, smaller-diameter, lighter lenses without sacrificing lens speed, and actually upgrading image quality compared to older designs. XR glass is costlier than conventional glass but it yields enhanced optical power distribution, making possible many of the outstanding and innovative lens designs that bear the XR designation. XR glass, with its superior light-bending power, makes it possible to design a short-barrel lens with the same light-gathering ability (aperture value) as a long-barrel lens—even with a smaller lens diameter. By using this principle Tamron has been able to shorten the length of the entire optical system and produce lighter, more compact lenses of the same speed, and also to provide greater zoom ranges in lenses that are much more convenient to carry by hand. Internal Focusing (IF) System Internal focusing provides numerous practical benefits to photographers including a non-rotating front filter ring that facilitates the positioning of polarizing and graduated filters, and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing. Even more important, Tamron’s Internal Focusing (IF) system provides a much closer minimum focusing distance (MFD) throughout its entire focusing range. In addition, IF improves optical performance by minimizing illumination loss at the corners of the image field, and helps to suppress other aberrations that become more troublesome at different focusing positions. Aspherical Lens Elements (ASL) Aspherical Lens Element Tamron uses several hybrid Aspherical lens elements in many lenses bearing the Aspherical designation. These innovative optics allow us to achieve the ultimate in image quality, and at the same time produce lenses that offer remarkable zoom ranges in extraordinarily compact packages. By perfecting theses cutting-edge advances for series production, Tamron has advanced the state of optical design, and virtually eliminated spherical aberration and image distortion from the high-power-zoom series.Through the effective application of Hybrid Aspherical Technology, one lens element can take the place of multiple elements without compromising performance. This is what allows us to produce remarkably compact long-range lenses that deliver a uniformly high level of image quality at all focal lengths and apertures. Zoom Lock (ZL) Another original Tamron mechanical engineering concept is the Zoom Lock (ZL), a simple convenience feature that prevents undesired extension of the lens barrel when carrying the camera/lens unit on a neck strap.

Review: Outstanding lens! - I have never bought a non-Canon lens because I just love the look, feel, and optical quality of the Canon line particularly the L series lenses. But I kept reading glowing reviews about this lens. On multiple websites. So, I went out and took a look. First impression: the build quality is not as good as a Canon L series lens. Duh! It costs about 1/4 as much for goodness sake. This is a plastic lens - not metal. But I must admit that the build quality was pretty darn good. Better, I think, than the Sigma lenses I've seen. Fit and finish was very nice and tight. I'd give the build quality a 4/5. Not bad. I figured I could live with it. Next, I put the lens on my camera. I'd read reviews complaining about the speed of the focusing. It may not be quite as quick as my 200 f2.8 L series lens but it was pretty darn good and for my purposes, plenty fast. A 4.5/5 I'd read reviews complaining about the noise and the fact that the AF was not USM. I thought the AF worked very quietly. Not at all distracting and barely discernable. Noise - not an issue. Then, I took pictures with the lens and I was absolutely floored! How in the world did Tamron manage to produce a lens that performed so well optically for such a reasonable price?! Beautiful contrast, excellent resolution, gorgeous colors, and extremely sharp, particularly above f2.8. But, f2.8 is very good as well. Obviously the first comparison that comes to mind is between this lens and the Canon 24-70 f2.8 L. I would say, I kid you not, that this lens is in every respect optically the equal of the Canon or better than the Canon. I could not believe it. I tested this lens directly against a brand new copy of the Canon 24-70 f2.8L. Method: I tested both lenses on a tripod @ F 2.8 and 8.0 @ 28mm 50mm and 70mm. Target limestone wall 9.5 feet parallel to the sensor plane. Remote release employed. No mirror lockup. Center and all four corners were evaluated to my naked eye on a monitor using 100% crops. Both lenses were new copies received within the last 7 days. The limestone wall lent itself perfectly to evaluating sharpness and subtle contrast and color rendition. There was enormous detail present in the wall with subtle colorations present. Findings: 28MM F8: Tamron definitely sharper in the center and corners 28MM F2.8: Tamron definitely sharper in the center and corners 50MM F8: Tamron slightly sharper in the center and very slightly sharper in corners 50MM F2.8: Tamron slightly sharper in center and equal in corners. 70MM F2.8: Canon sharper in center and at corners. Incidentally noted was inability of Tamron to focus as sharply as I was able to achieve with manual focusing. 70MM F8: Tamron sharper in center with Canon slightly sharper in corners. Some have said that there is less flare with the Canon, but if you use the lens hood that should not be a problem. I didn't notice excessive flare in my copy. Admittedly there is significant copy to copy variation in both the Canon and the Tamron, but my findings convinced me that at 1/4 the price, and with the Tamron weighing 1 pound less than the Canon that the Tamron was the lens for me. Optically 5/5!! I cannot recommend this lens highly enough. It is the first non-Canon lens I have owned and I am thrilled.
Review: You will love this lens- I'm pairing this with an a77 - First of all, this lens is fantastic. There are a few reasons why, and I will go over them, but if you are looking for a great walk around lens that is nice and fast, look no further. This lens is heavy, built well, and produces wonderful images. Visit Tamron's site to download the lens guide PDF: http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/prod/2875mm.asp#ad-image-0 Let's get down to brass tacks, the pros and cons of this lens. I will tell you why I like this lens and how I use it. I am a working photographer. I earn a living shooting weddings and events in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This lens helps me earn money because it produces great results in a wide range of applications. To be truthful, I push the limits of both my camera and the lighting situations I find myself in and would consider my knowledge at an expert level. First there must be a basis for comparison. Lenses are not created equal, and the price of a lens is volatile, that is to say that once a professional level of optics are attained, very small advances in performance can come at a very high cost. Therefore, I consider the Category, Sensor Size the lens is designed to work with, Distortion, Chromatic Aberration, Aperture, and Price, in that order. CATEGORY: Constant f2.8 28-75 Full Frame Lens. This Lens is competing with other Lenses with constant aperture at f2.8 with a focal length between 16-75. Tamron Does offer a weather sealed version of this lens for around $1100. It has a pezio drive and is directly competing with the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Lens. You can find these two lenses here: Nikon: http://www.desertcart.com/Nikon-17-55mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Nikkor/dp/B000144I2Q $1399 Tamron: http://www.desertcart.com/Nikon-17-55mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Nikkor/dp/B000144I2Q $1099 SENSOR SIZE: No, the lens does not have a sensor in it, but it is made for a Full Frame camera. You can use this lens on an APSC sensor size, which is good. Some even believe that you will have better results using a FF lens on an APSC sensor because of the crop factor pulling the sharpest part of the lens, the center area, into focus and discarding the edges of the lens. DISTORTION: Distortion, This is a legacy designed lens. This is important because the lens was designed when cameras did not have built in line correction and micro correction. Moreover, this lens was designed when the average consumer did not have access to programs like DxO Optics Pro 9 and Light Room (both of these programs have built in profiles to correct lens distortion on specific camera bodies). This is important to you because it was designed when the lens had to be good optically because corrections in post production were very difficult. This lens Hit the market in the at least 2003. This lens has some soft areas wide open at 28mm. They are mainly in the edges of the lens. Center is tack sharp. This is not a bad thing though, remember that an aperture of 2.8 should give a very shallow depth of field, and an extremely narrow focus. Therefore one would expect the edges to be soft. I absolutely love this. DXO optics has tested this lens and approves of it. But don't let someone else's numbers confuse you. All their numbers mean is that it is a great lens for the price. I'm sure that someone will begin comparing this statement to some $4k plus lens, but remember, this lens is not competing in the $4k arena. It does, however, hold up very well. In my use I have seen very little to no distortion. I take portraits of individuals and groups, so I would not expect to see a lot of distortion. If I were taking photo of buildings, any distortion the lens has would become more apparent. CHROMATIC ABERRATION So far I have seen nothing that I would say detracts form the image. The Lens is prone to flaring when pointed toward direct bright light, like a sunset, but what better of an image to get than a silhouette of a bride and groom with a natural lens flair? For me its great, maybe not so much for you. APERTURE This is an f2.8, constant throughout the zoom range, right? Yes. but do you know what that means? Are all 2.8's equal? The answer is both yes and no. To make this simple, aperture is nothing more than a mathematical ratio. it actually looks like this f 1:2.8, We just drop the "1:" and display it as f2.8. So now that you know it's a ratio, what is it competing? It is comparing goal length to the diameter of the aperture, or how big of a whole the aperture has at a known focal length. To find out how big your aperture is in MM just divide the focal length by the current aperture. So a focal length of 100mm at an aperture of 2 would be 100mm/2=50mm. This means that your aperture would be physically open by 50mm at a focal length of 100mm. This is important because, as ratios are always comparing aperture diameter to focal length, they should be constant across different lenses. So you could say that a 50mm prime at an f2 has an aperture diameter of 25mm. The example above showed that a lens with a focal length of 100mm at an f2 would be 50mm in diameter. This is correct, but would be costly to build and quite heavy. Instead many lenses have an articulated aperture, which is to say that their maximum aperture changes throughout the zoom range. you will usually see something like an 18-55 f3.5-5.6. That means that on the wide end of the lens the max aperture is 3.5, so 18/3.5=5.14mm and 55/5.6=9.82mm. This lens example from above is almost always going to be bad in low light, and would probably be a kit lens. The Tamron Lens that this article is about is a 24-75 f2.8 which means that the max aperture on the wide end is 24/2,8=8.57mm and on the zoom end the aperture diameter is 75/2.8=26.78mm. Let's compare them: Common 18-55 f3.5-5.8 Max Aperture diameter wide angle: 5.14mm max aperture zoomed in: 9.82mm Tamron 24-75 f2.8 Max Aperture diameter wide angle: 8.57mm max aperture zoomed in: 26.78mm Bigger diameter aperture is better because it gives you more usable light in low light situations, it also gives you more control on depth of field. PRICE: It's $500. This is a steal for this lens. It works in many situations and gives you the most control over your creativity- considering the alternatives, it is about ½ or less the price. I have truly enjoyed this lens and you will too. My suggestion is to buy the body of the camera you want- do not buy a bundled lens- and get this lens as your walk around lens. Check out samples with this lens and others buy visiting www.RobertHammPhotography.com

## Features

- Excellent low light and fast action lens
- Diaphragm blades: 7.Great for portraits and creating shallow depth of field
- Fast 28 minimum aperture throughout the zoom range
- Includes Six (6) Year manufacturer's warranty
- Nikon mount with built in focus motor, compatible with most Nikon DSLRs
- The designation “Di” (Digitally Integrated Design) marks a generation of lenses, which have been specially adapted to the higher requirements of digital SLR cameras (APS-C and full frame)

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B001955P8W |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Best Sellers Rank | #219 in SLR Camera Lenses |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,013) |
| Date First Available | April 18, 2005 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 1.12 pounds |
| Item model number | A09NII |
| Manufacturer | Tamron |
| Product Dimensions | 3.62 x 2.87 x 2.87 inches |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Tamron
- **Compatible Mountings:** Nikon F (FX)
- **Focal Length Description:** 28-75 millimeters
- **Lens Type:** Standard

## Images

![Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) with Built-In AF Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (Model A09NII) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SPk6k2cUL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: this lens works in AF on Nikon D5000?**
A: Yes it works perfectly in AF on Nikon D5000.

**Q: will this work well with a d3100? and auto focus?**
A: HiI too am using a D3100 and considering this lens. I just checked on this link below and it says âNo limitation known, providing the correct mount is chosen.â http://www.tamron.eu/lenses/sp-af-28-75mm-f28-xr-di-ld-aspherical-if-macro/Did u try it? If so, any issues?Thank u

**Q: Does anyone make a lens hood to fit the Tameron 28-75 f/2.8 lens?**
A: www.amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-RHAFA09-Replacement-Af28-75mm-Model/dp/B0010CDWIY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383922642&sr=8-1&keywords=tamron+28-75+hood

**Q: filter size**
A: 67mm

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding lens!
*by J***I on November 2, 2004*

I have never bought a non-Canon lens because I just love the look, feel, and optical quality of the Canon line particularly the L series lenses. But I kept reading glowing reviews about this lens. On multiple websites. So, I went out and took a look. First impression: the build quality is not as good as a Canon L series lens. Duh! It costs about 1/4 as much for goodness sake. This is a plastic lens - not metal. But I must admit that the build quality was pretty darn good. Better, I think, than the Sigma lenses I've seen. Fit and finish was very nice and tight. I'd give the build quality a 4/5. Not bad. I figured I could live with it. Next, I put the lens on my camera. I'd read reviews complaining about the speed of the focusing. It may not be quite as quick as my 200 f2.8 L series lens but it was pretty darn good and for my purposes, plenty fast. A 4.5/5 I'd read reviews complaining about the noise and the fact that the AF was not USM. I thought the AF worked very quietly. Not at all distracting and barely discernable. Noise - not an issue. Then, I took pictures with the lens and I was absolutely floored! How in the world did Tamron manage to produce a lens that performed so well optically for such a reasonable price?! Beautiful contrast, excellent resolution, gorgeous colors, and extremely sharp, particularly above f2.8. But, f2.8 is very good as well. Obviously the first comparison that comes to mind is between this lens and the Canon 24-70 f2.8 L. I would say, I kid you not, that this lens is in every respect optically the equal of the Canon or better than the Canon. I could not believe it. I tested this lens directly against a brand new copy of the Canon 24-70 f2.8L. Method: I tested both lenses on a tripod @ F 2.8 and 8.0 @ 28mm 50mm and 70mm. Target limestone wall 9.5 feet parallel to the sensor plane. Remote release employed. No mirror lockup. Center and all four corners were evaluated to my naked eye on a monitor using 100% crops. Both lenses were new copies received within the last 7 days. The limestone wall lent itself perfectly to evaluating sharpness and subtle contrast and color rendition. There was enormous detail present in the wall with subtle colorations present. Findings: 28MM F8: Tamron definitely sharper in the center and corners 28MM F2.8: Tamron definitely sharper in the center and corners 50MM F8: Tamron slightly sharper in the center and very slightly sharper in corners 50MM F2.8: Tamron slightly sharper in center and equal in corners. 70MM F2.8: Canon sharper in center and at corners. Incidentally noted was inability of Tamron to focus as sharply as I was able to achieve with manual focusing. 70MM F8: Tamron sharper in center with Canon slightly sharper in corners. Some have said that there is less flare with the Canon, but if you use the lens hood that should not be a problem. I didn't notice excessive flare in my copy. Admittedly there is significant copy to copy variation in both the Canon and the Tamron, but my findings convinced me that at 1/4 the price, and with the Tamron weighing 1 pound less than the Canon that the Tamron was the lens for me. Optically 5/5!! I cannot recommend this lens highly enough. It is the first non-Canon lens I have owned and I am thrilled.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ You will love this lens- I'm pairing this with an a77
*by R***M on February 13, 2014*

First of all, this lens is fantastic. There are a few reasons why, and I will go over them, but if you are looking for a great walk around lens that is nice and fast, look no further. This lens is heavy, built well, and produces wonderful images. Visit Tamron's site to download the lens guide PDF: http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/prod/2875mm.asp#ad-image-0 Let's get down to brass tacks, the pros and cons of this lens. I will tell you why I like this lens and how I use it. I am a working photographer. I earn a living shooting weddings and events in Hampton Roads, Virginia. This lens helps me earn money because it produces great results in a wide range of applications. To be truthful, I push the limits of both my camera and the lighting situations I find myself in and would consider my knowledge at an expert level. First there must be a basis for comparison. Lenses are not created equal, and the price of a lens is volatile, that is to say that once a professional level of optics are attained, very small advances in performance can come at a very high cost. Therefore, I consider the Category, Sensor Size the lens is designed to work with, Distortion, Chromatic Aberration, Aperture, and Price, in that order. CATEGORY: Constant f2.8 28-75 Full Frame Lens. This Lens is competing with other Lenses with constant aperture at f2.8 with a focal length between 16-75. Tamron Does offer a weather sealed version of this lens for around $1100. It has a pezio drive and is directly competing with the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Lens. You can find these two lenses here: Nikon: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-17-55mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Nikkor/dp/B000144I2Q $1399 Tamron: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-17-55mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Nikkor/dp/B000144I2Q $1099 SENSOR SIZE: No, the lens does not have a sensor in it, but it is made for a Full Frame camera. You can use this lens on an APSC sensor size, which is good. Some even believe that you will have better results using a FF lens on an APSC sensor because of the crop factor pulling the sharpest part of the lens, the center area, into focus and discarding the edges of the lens. DISTORTION: Distortion, This is a legacy designed lens. This is important because the lens was designed when cameras did not have built in line correction and micro correction. Moreover, this lens was designed when the average consumer did not have access to programs like DxO Optics Pro 9 and Light Room (both of these programs have built in profiles to correct lens distortion on specific camera bodies). This is important to you because it was designed when the lens had to be good optically because corrections in post production were very difficult. This lens Hit the market in the at least 2003. This lens has some soft areas wide open at 28mm. They are mainly in the edges of the lens. Center is tack sharp. This is not a bad thing though, remember that an aperture of 2.8 should give a very shallow depth of field, and an extremely narrow focus. Therefore one would expect the edges to be soft. I absolutely love this. DXO optics has tested this lens and approves of it. But don't let someone else's numbers confuse you. All their numbers mean is that it is a great lens for the price. I'm sure that someone will begin comparing this statement to some $4k plus lens, but remember, this lens is not competing in the $4k arena. It does, however, hold up very well. In my use I have seen very little to no distortion. I take portraits of individuals and groups, so I would not expect to see a lot of distortion. If I were taking photo of buildings, any distortion the lens has would become more apparent. CHROMATIC ABERRATION So far I have seen nothing that I would say detracts form the image. The Lens is prone to flaring when pointed toward direct bright light, like a sunset, but what better of an image to get than a silhouette of a bride and groom with a natural lens flair? For me its great, maybe not so much for you. APERTURE This is an f2.8, constant throughout the zoom range, right? Yes. but do you know what that means? Are all 2.8's equal? The answer is both yes and no. To make this simple, aperture is nothing more than a mathematical ratio. it actually looks like this f 1:2.8, We just drop the "1:" and display it as f2.8. So now that you know it's a ratio, what is it competing? It is comparing goal length to the diameter of the aperture, or how big of a whole the aperture has at a known focal length. To find out how big your aperture is in MM just divide the focal length by the current aperture. So a focal length of 100mm at an aperture of 2 would be 100mm/2=50mm. This means that your aperture would be physically open by 50mm at a focal length of 100mm. This is important because, as ratios are always comparing aperture diameter to focal length, they should be constant across different lenses. So you could say that a 50mm prime at an f2 has an aperture diameter of 25mm. The example above showed that a lens with a focal length of 100mm at an f2 would be 50mm in diameter. This is correct, but would be costly to build and quite heavy. Instead many lenses have an articulated aperture, which is to say that their maximum aperture changes throughout the zoom range. you will usually see something like an 18-55 f3.5-5.6. That means that on the wide end of the lens the max aperture is 3.5, so 18/3.5=5.14mm and 55/5.6=9.82mm. This lens example from above is almost always going to be bad in low light, and would probably be a kit lens. The Tamron Lens that this article is about is a 24-75 f2.8 which means that the max aperture on the wide end is 24/2,8=8.57mm and on the zoom end the aperture diameter is 75/2.8=26.78mm. Let's compare them: Common 18-55 f3.5-5.8 Max Aperture diameter wide angle: 5.14mm max aperture zoomed in: 9.82mm Tamron 24-75 f2.8 Max Aperture diameter wide angle: 8.57mm max aperture zoomed in: 26.78mm Bigger diameter aperture is better because it gives you more usable light in low light situations, it also gives you more control on depth of field. PRICE: It's $500. This is a steal for this lens. It works in many situations and gives you the most control over your creativity- considering the alternatives, it is about ½ or less the price. I have truly enjoyed this lens and you will too. My suggestion is to buy the body of the camera you want- do not buy a bundled lens- and get this lens as your walk around lens. Check out samples with this lens and others buy visiting www.RobertHammPhotography.com

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by L***0 on March 31, 2021*

Amazing constant f2.8/28-75mm zoom lens. Light weight and small in size which help weight reduction in holding camera longer comfortably. Very sharp image produced in every shot even without built-in lens stabilization system. A decade old design from Tamron, but it can still produce superb images in modern camera today.

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