Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Canon
88 Overall Score
vs
Tamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm

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

Tamron
74 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

90 out of 100 medium confidence 13 reviews

The Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM lens receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and lightweight design. Users appreciate it as a versatile upgrade from kit lenses, especially for mirrorless cameras like the R7 and R5 Mark II. A single negative review is due to a delivery issue, not product quality.

Pros
  • Sharp image quality
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • Great value for the price
  • Versatile for various settings
Cons
  • Possible delivery mismanagement
👍 Image quality 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3
👍 Weight and portability 6
👍 Value for money 4
👍 Versatility 2
👎 Delivery experience 1

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

85 out of 100 high confidence 60 reviews

The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 G2 is widely praised for its sharpness, lightweight design, and excellent value compared to pricier OEM alternatives like the Sony 70-200mm GM II. Users highlight fast autofocus, effective image stabilization, and solid build quality, making it a favorite for sports, wildlife, and everyday telephoto shooting. A few concerns include the lack of a 200mm reach, potential dust ingress on the extending front, and isolated reports of gray market units without full warranty. Overall, it delivers professional-grade results at a fraction of the cost.

Pros
  • Exceptional sharpness across zoom range
  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Excellent value for money
  • Fast and accurate autofocus
  • Effective image stabilization
Cons
  • Lacks 200mm reach of competitors
  • Extending front element may collect dust
  • Gray market units without full warranty
  • Not parfocal
  • Incompatible with teleconverters
👍 Sharpness 18
👍 Value for money 15
👍 Weight and portability 14
👍 Autofocus performance 12
👍 Image stabilization 8
👍 Build quality 10

Scores

Professional
Canon
92
Tamron
69
Video Cinema
Canon
90
Tamron
72
Portrait
Canon
88
Tamron
50
Travel
Canon
87
Tamron
76
Street
Canon
84
Tamron
55
Wildlife Sports
Canon
82
Tamron
68
Landscape
Canon
80
Tamron
79
Budget
Canon
79
Tamron
68
Macro
Canon
70
Tamron
77

Specifications

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STMTamron Di III 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 180mm
Optics
Typezoomzoom
Focal Length Min28 mm70 mm
Focal Length Max70 mm180 mm
Elements1420
Groups1115
Aspherical Elements23★
ED Elements24★
CoatingSuper Spectra Coating (SSC)Fluorine coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/22
Min Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades—9★
Build
MountCanon RFSony E
Formatfull-framefull-frame
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.49 kg★0.85 kg
Filter Thread67 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeSTM★VXD
Stabilization✓✓
Stabilization Stops5.5 stops★5 stops
Focus
Min Focus Distance270 mm★300 mm
Max Magnification0.24x1:2.6★

Pros & Cons

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

  • Strong stabilization (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile

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

  • Strong optical (98th percentile)98th %ile
  • Strong stabilization (97th percentile)97th %ile
  • Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
  • Strong versatility (78th percentile)
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average bokeh (25th percentile)

Pricing

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

No current pricing available

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

Verdict

★ Winner: Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM

Scores 88 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 22 specs.

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Better at:

BudgetStreetTravelPortraitProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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

Macro

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