Hands on: Tamron 28–75mm f2.8

The lens that almost never leaves my camera

Some lenses are bought for a specific job. Others quietly become part of everything you do. The Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 is very much the second type for me.

I use this lens for almost all my work. Jungle. Desert. Portraits. Events. Daily life. Street photography. If I could only take one lens with me, this would be it. Not because it is perfect on paper, but because it is fast, light, sharp, and affordable enough that I am not afraid to actually use it.

And that last part matters more than you might think.

One lens, everywhere

As a landscape and travel photographer I often combine an ultra wide 14mm with a standard zoom. The 14mm gives me the dramatic wide scenes, but the 28–75mm does almost everything else. From environmental portraits to compressed landscapes, from street moments to events where you have to react instantly.

What I love about this focal range is how natural it feels.28mm for context and atmosphere.35–50mm for everyday storytelling.75mm for portraits and details.

No thinking. Just shooting.

First impression

The first thing you notice is the weight. Or rather, the lack of it. At around 550 grams, this lens feels refreshingly light for a constant f/2.8 zoom. Especially when you have carried heavier 24–70mm lenses before, the difference is immediate. Long days become easier. Your camera feels balanced instead of front heavy.

The build is plastic, yes, but in a good way. It feels solid, not fragile, and most importantly: I am not scared to take it with me. This lens has been with me in sand, humidity, rain, heat, cold, and dust. It has been thrown into backpacks, used in crowds, and mounted during fast paced shoots. It just keeps going.

That freedom is underrated.

The autofocus is fast and quiet. For street photography this is essential. You want the lens to lock focus instantly without drawing attention. Combined with Sony Eye AF, portraits are easy and reliable, even at f/2.8.

That aperture is another big reason I love this lens. f/2.8 gives you flexibility. Low light events. Subject separation. Shallow depth of field when you want it, without forcing you into prime lenses.

In the field

I use this lens for:

• Street photography

• Portraits

• Events

• Travel

• Landscape

• Close-ups

• Abstracts

• Daily life and personal work

During travel, speed and flexibility matter more than absolute image quality. Moments do not wait while you change lenses. With the 28–75mm I can respond instantly. One step forward, one step back, twist the zoom ring, done.

This is especially true in places like markets, cities, or remote locations where dust, rain, or crowds make lens swapping a bad idea.

Landscape

The Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 has been with me everywhere. Misty mornings in the Netherlands, waterfalls in Iceland, thin air at Everest Base Camp, and deep into humid jungle landscapes. And somehow it always feels like the right lens.

At 28mm I can capture atmosphere and scale. Zooming in to 50–75mm lets me isolate trees, mountains, or layers in the landscape. That flexibility is gold when light changes fast and moments are short lived.

It is light enough to carry all day, fast enough for unpredictable conditions, and sharp enough that I never question the results. Cold, rain, dust, humidity. I stop worrying about the lens and focus on the scene.

That is exactly what a travel and landscape lens should do.

Street photograhy

Street photography is where the Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 really feels at home. I have used it in quiet moments with monks in Laos, in the chaos of Marrakesh’s narrow streets, and deep in Bangkok’s Chinatown at night.

At 28mm I can step into the scene and capture context and energy. A quick twist to 50 or 75mm lets me stay a bit more distant and pick out gestures, expressions, or small moments without being intrusive. That flexibility makes shooting on the street feel natural and relaxed.

The lens is fast, sharp, and focuses instantly. In low light markets or neon lit streets it keeps up without hesitation. I never feel slowed down by the lens, and that is exactly what street photography needs.

Portrait

For portraits, the Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 is incredibly flexible. Around 50 to 75mm it gives a natural perspective with just enough compression to flatter faces, without feeling tight or restrictive.

The f/2.8 aperture makes it easy to separate your subject from the background. Eyes snap into focus, backgrounds soften nicely, and the overall look feels clean and modern. Whether I am shooting in a controlled studio setup or using available light on location, the lens stays predictable and fast.

What I like most is the freedom. I can move, reframe, and experiment without swapping lenses. From environmental portraits to tighter headshots, it adapts instantly and keeps the flow going.

Travel

Travel is where the Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 truly earns its place. I have used it in Morocco, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, across heat, dust, humidity, rain, and long days on the road. Different cultures, different light, different rhythms. One lens, no compromises.

From portraits of people I meet along the way, to wide scenes that set the context, to details that tell the smaller stories. The focal range covers it all. I can shoot from the back of a car, walking through markets, hiking, or waiting for light to change without ever feeling limited.

What I appreciate most is peace of mind. I am never afraid to miss a moment because I brought the wrong lens. I stop thinking about gear and stay present in the experience. For travel photography, that freedom is everything.

Close ups

Close up photography is where this lens continues to surprise me. Leaves, frost, spider webs, small details in nature. The Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 is not a macro lens, but it gets close enough to make you slow down and really look.

At the longer end of the zoom range I can isolate tiny subjects and play with depth of field, especially at f/2.8. Backgrounds melt away, highlights turn soft, and small scenes suddenly feel intimate and graphic.

What I enjoy most is how effortless it feels. No special setup, no extra lens. Just noticing details along the way and reacting. It turns everyday textures into photographs, and that makes it dangerously easy to keep shooting.

Verdict

The Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 is not the most exotic lens in my bag, and that is exactly why it works so well. It is the lens I trust when conditions are unpredictable and moments are fleeting. It goes everywhere with me, handles whatever I throw at it, and never gets in the way of the photograph. If you are looking for a lens that lets you focus less on gear and more on seeing, this one quietly earns its place. It has earned mine many times over.