Tamron 20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Nikon Z)

Reviews of the optically identical Sony version found it sharp across most of the frame from f/2.8, with especially strong results at 20mm and a slight dip in the corners at 40mm wide open. Chromatic aberration is low. Distortion and vignetting rely on correction, which Nikon bodies apply in camera for this lens.

AF is quick, quiet and dependable for video. Testers noted the extending barrel, the lack of switches or a custom button, and the narrow range compared with a 24-70. Most still saw it as a very good value that does something no first-party lens does, and on Nikon Z it undercuts the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S on size by a wide margin.

The Nikon Z version had only just reached shops at the time of writing, so owner feedback comes mostly from Sony users of the same optics. They describe it as a lens that stays on the camera for travel, street and family use, and like how pocketable a 20mm f/2.8 setup becomes. Vloggers value the 20mm end and the light weight on gimbals and grips.

Complaints are mostly about range: 40mm is short for portraits. Some miss an AF/MF switch, and a few report the zoom ring being stiff when new. The barrel grows by about 1cm when zooming toward 20mm.