Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD for Nikon Z Review

So you're looking at the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 for Nikon Z. This is a big, fast zoom lens that promises to cover a huge chunk of your shooting needs in one go. It's a first-of-its-kind for the Z mount, offering a constant f/2 aperture at the wide end, which is a big deal for low light and background blur. At around $1,700, it's a serious investment, but it's aimed squarely at photographers and videographers who want one lens for travel, portraits, and events without swapping glass all the time. It's heavy at nearly 1.2kg, and it's not weather-sealed, which are things you need to know upfront. If you've been asking 'is there a fast, all-in-one zoom for my Nikon Z camera?', this is pretty much the only answer right now.

This lens is built for speed. The VXD autofocus motor is quick and quiet, landing it in the 47th percentile for AF performance. That's decent, but not class-leading. For video work, the stabilization is excellent, scoring in the 89th percentile, which helps a lot with handheld shots. The real story is the aperture. Starting at f/2 at 35mm and going to f/2.8 at 150mm gives you a lot of light to work with. Our tests show it's best for budget-conscious setups (73.9/100) and video (63.5/100), but it's weakest for street photography (38.9/100), mostly because of its size and weight. In practice, that f/2 aperture means you can shoot in dimmer conditions and get that nice, soft background blur for portraits without needing a prime lens.

At $1,689, this lens isn't cheap. You're paying for the convenience of that f/2-2.8 zoom range in a single package. For a Nikon Z shooter who wants one lens to do almost everything in decent light, it's a compelling, if expensive, option. The lack of weather sealing at this price is hard to swallow, though. You could buy two or three excellent prime lenses for the same money, like a 35mm f/1.8 and an 85mm f/1.8, and get better image quality and smaller size, but you'd lose the zoom convenience.

Let's talk competitors. The listed ones like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 or Meike 55mm f/1.8 are all prime lenses. They're smaller, lighter, and sharper for a fraction of the price, but you give up zoom flexibility. A more direct comparison would be something like the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S. That lens is lighter, sharper, and properly weather-sealed, but it's a full stop slower (f/4). For low-light performance and background blur, the Tamron wins. For build quality, optics, and portability, the Nikon is better. Another option is the Tamron 35-150mm for Sony E mount—it's the same optical formula, so if you're considering switching systems, that's a factor. For Nikon Z users specifically, if you need a fast, long-range zoom, this Tamron is your only real choice right now.

Should you buy this? It's a niche tool. If you are a wedding, event, or travel photographer who absolutely needs a fast aperture across a wide zoom range and you can live without weather sealing, this lens is a game-saver. The convenience is huge. But for most people, the weight, price, and build quality compromises are tough. If you shoot in bad weather, or if you value portability and top-tier optics, you're better off with a combination of Nikon's excellent f/1.8 primes or the 24-120mm f/4 zoom. This Tamron does one specific thing very well, but it asks you to compromise on a lot of other fronts.