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Tamron 20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD — Product view
Product view© TAMRON
TamronDi III VXD

Tamron 20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

FE · ZOOM
20-40mm
APERTURE
1:2.8
AFWR

Launch MSRP

$739
Weight
365g
Filter
⌀67mm
Min focus
0.17m
Max mag.
0.26×
Formula
12E / 11G
Released
2022
AlternativesCompare with…
01

Specification sheet

Optical construction

12
Elements
11
Groups
4 LD · 3 ASPH
9 rounded blades
  • 4x LD
  • 2x GM
  • 1x Hybrid Aspherical
  • BBAR-G2 Coating
  • Fluorine Coating
Aperture range
f/2.8 — f/22

Physical & ergonomics

DI III VXD
Weight
365g
⌀ × length
74.4 × 86.5mm
Filter
⌀67mm
Weather sealed
Yes
Aperture ring
No

Autofocus actuator

VXD Linear Motor
Autofocus
Stabilisation
Body IBIS
Teleconverter
Not supported
AF speed score
8.6 / 10

Close-up performance

Min focus distance
0.17m
Max magnification
0.26× (1:3.8)
0.26×
0×0.25×0.5× half macro1.0× macro
02

Optical character

This is the smallest constant f/2.8 standard-type zoom for full-frame E-mount: 365g and 86.5mm long. Tamron chose a 20-40mm range instead of the usual 24-70mm. It covers ultra-wide street and interior shots up to a natural 40mm, so it can stand in for a bag of small primes for travel and vlogging.

Four LD, two GM and a hybrid aspherical element give crisp results, with BBAR-G2 coating against flare. The VXD linear motor is fast and quiet. Close focus is 0.17m at 20mm, and the zoom ring needs only 65° of rotation. It shares the 67mm filter size with most Tamron mirrorless lenses, and a USB-C port supports TAMRON Lens Utility.

Reviewer consensus

Reviewers consistently 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, as is typical for compact designs.

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.

Owner sentiment

Owners 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.

03

Strengths, weaknesses & performance

Strengths

  • +365g, 86.5mm long for a constant f/2.8 zoom
  • +Sharp across the frame, especially at 20mm
  • +Fast, quiet VXD AF
  • +0.17m close focus at 20mm
  • +67mm filters, moisture resistant

Weaknesses

  • −Range stops at 40mm
  • −Barrel extends when zooming
  • −No AF/MF switch or function button

Six-axis rating

SHARPBOKEHAFFLAREBUILDVALUE
Sharpness
8.6
Bokeh Rendering
7.5
Autofocus Speed
8.6
Flare Resistance
8.1
Build / Sealing
8.1
Value / Size
9.0

Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.

04

Technical specifications

Optics
MountSony E (FE) · full frame
Focal length20–40mm
CategoryWide
Maximum aperturef/2.8
Minimum aperturef/22
Construction12 elements in 11 groups
Special elements4x LD · 2x GM · 1x Hybrid Aspherical · BBAR-G2 Coating · Fluorine Coating
Aperture blades9
Focus
Focus typeAutofocus
DriveVXD Linear Motor
Minimum focus0.17m
Max magnification0.26×
StabilisationNone (uses body IBIS)
TeleconvertersNot supported
Body
Weight365g
Diameter × length74.4 × 86.5mm
Filter thread⌀67mm
Weather sealingYes
Aperture ringNo
De-clickable apertureNo
Release year2022
Launch MSRP$739 USD
05

Sources

Specifications

  • tamron.com/global/consumer/lenses/a062/
  • tamron.com/global/consumer/lenses/a062/spec.html
  • tamron-americas.com/product/20-40mm-f-2-8-di-iii-vxd/
  • photographyblog.com/reviews/tamron_20_40mm_f2_8_di_iii_vxd_review
06

Similar focal length alternatives

  • VS20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD vs 17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD
  • VS20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD vs FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
  • VS20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD vs FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
  • TamronDi III VXD

    17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD

    Tamron 17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD
    17–50mmF4
    WT
    460g
    FLT
    ⌀67mm
    MFD
    0.19m
    MSRP
    $799
    AFWR
  • SonyG Master

    FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM

    Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
    16–35mmF2.8
    WT
    680g
    FLT
    ⌀82mm
    MFD
    0.28m
    MSRP
    $2,200
    AFWR
  • SonyG Master

    FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II

    Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
    16–35mmF2.8
    WT
    547g
    FLT
    ⌀82mm
    MFD
    0.22m
    MSRP
    $2,300
    AFWRRING·DC