What is the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 best used for?

Wedding & Events, Portrait, Documentary.

How much does the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 cost in the UK?

The 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 starts from £999 in the UK, available new at 2 retailers. Prices are tracked live on GearFrame.

Tamron

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Name: 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2
Brand: Tamron
Availability: InStock

Tamron's second-generation 70-180mm f/2.8 for Sony E is a new optical design: it adds VC optical stabilisation and focuses down to 30cm at 70mm for 1:2.6 close-ups. VXD linear-motor autofocus, moisture-resistant build, 67mm filters and 855g make it a lighter, cheaper alternative to a 70-200mm f/2.8 for portraits, events and travel.

Starting from

£999 new

RRP £999.99

Used from £633 (eBay)

Available at 2 retailers

Check price at Clifton Cameras

✓ Available at 2 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only

RetailerPrice

New

eBay

Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace

£708

Search eBay →

Clifton Cameras

£999

Check on Clifton Cameras →

Wex Photo Video

£999

was £1000

On Sale

Check on Wex Photo Video →

Amazon

—

Check on Amazon →

Used

eBay used

Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace

£633

Search eBay →

Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.

Value & Depreciation

£1330

Launch price

→

£899

Today

32%

Value drop

Over ~3 years, this lens has cost roughly £144/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today). That's one of the lower cost-per-year lenses in its class.

Core

Released

2023

Launch price

£1,329.99 (2023)

Focal Length

70–180mm

Aperture

f/2.8

Compatible Mount

Sony FE

Dimensions

83mm diameter × 156.5mm length

Weight

855g

Weather Sealed

Yes

Optics & Focus

AF Motor

VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor

Optical IS

VC (Vibration Compensation) optical stabilisation

Magnification

0.38x

Min. Focus Distance

0.3m

Select up to 2 cameras to compare against the 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2. It's always pinned as the baseline.

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GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait

7.9

Street

5.8

Travel

5.7

Wedding & Events

8.7

Filmmaking

6.4

Documentary

7.0

Sports & Action

6.7

Landscape

6.2

Casual

5.8

Food

6.4

Macro

6.2

Architecture

6.1

Underwater

6.4

✅ Great For

💍

Wedding & Events 8.7 Strong on focal length, autofocus and optical quality.

🧑

Portrait 7.9 Strong on focal length, optical quality and autofocus.

🎥

Documentary 7.0 Strong on autofocus, focal length and optical quality.

⚠️ Not Ideal For

✈️

Travel 5.7 Held back by focal length.

📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →