Gear
Tamron 28-75mm G2 vs A036: Is the Gen 2 Worth Double the Used Price?
A side-by-side look at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 (A063) and the original A036 on a Sony A7III, based on paid event and portrait work rather than test charts.
The A036 sells used for around $500. The G2 sells used for around $700 to $800. Both cover 28-75mm at f/2.8 on full frame Sony. On a resolution chart the difference is small enough that you would have to look for it.
I still bought the G2. Here is the reasoning, and where the older lens is the smarter buy.
The autofocus gap is the whole argument
Tamron moved from the RXD motor in the A036 to the VXD linear motor in the G2. On paper that reads like a spec bump. In practice it changes what you can shoot.
Tracking a subject walking toward you
At a graduation, a grad walking down a campus path toward the camera at f/2.8 gives the AF system a moving target with shallow depth. The A036 hunts. It catches focus, loses it on the next frame, catches it again. My keeper rate in that situation ran somewhere around six or seven frames in ten.
The G2 locks and stays locked. I stopped thinking about it, which is the actual point.
Low light acquisition
In a dim reception hall the A036 racks slowly before it settles. The G2 snaps to the eye. When someone is mid-toast and mid-laugh, that half second decides whether you got the frame.
What the G2 adds beyond focus
Closer minimum focus. The G2 focuses to 7.1 inches at 28mm. That gets you detail shots of rings, place settings, and diplomas without swapping to a macro or cropping hard.
A custom switch and USB-C port. You can update firmware and remap the focus hold button without a separate dock. Small thing that stops being small the first time a firmware update fixes an AF quirk.
Better close-range sharpness. Corner performance at 28mm wide open improved. If you shoot group photos where people stand at the frame edges, that shows up in delivered work.
Where the A036 still wins
Price. It is the best value full frame f/2.8 zoom that exists on Sony E mount right now.
If your work is portraits with a mostly stationary subject, studio headshots, real estate, or product, the A036 delivers the same image quality for hundreds less. Buy the A036 and spend the difference on a light.
The optics were never the weak point. The motor was.
How this lens fits with a 50mm f/1.8
I carry both. They do different jobs.
The 28-75 covers coverage work. Wide establishing shots at 28mm, tight candids at 75mm, no lens change during a moving event. It is the lens on the camera 70 percent of the time.
The 50mm f/1.8 comes out when the light drops or when I want separation the zoom cannot give. At f/1.8 in a dark venue I gain a stop and a third over f/2.8, which is the difference between ISO 6400 and ISO 2500.
The 50mm also weighs almost nothing. On a three hour event that matters.
Buying used without getting burned
I buy from MPB because the condition grading holds up and returns work. Whatever the source, check these before the return window closes.
- Mount a body and run continuous AF on a subject walking toward you at f/2.8. Do it in a dim room, not by a window.
- Zoom through the full range and listen for grinding.
- Shoot a flat wall at 28mm f/2.8 and check all four corners at 100 percent.
- Check the rear element for haze and the contacts for corrosion.
- Confirm the firmware version and update it before your first paid shoot.
Settings that work with this lens on an A7III
| Situation | Focal length | Aperture | Shutter | ISO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor portrait, golden hour | 60-75mm | f/2.8 | 1/500 | 100-400 |
| Group shot, open shade | 35-50mm | f/4-5.6 | 1/250 | 200-800 |
| Indoor reception with bounce flash | 28-50mm | f/2.8 | 1/200 | 1600-3200 |
| Ceremony from the back of a room | 75mm | f/2.8 | 1/250 | 3200-6400 |
| Detail shots | 28mm close focus | f/2.8-4 | 1/200 | 400-1600 |
Set AF to AF-C with Wide or Tracking, turn on face and eye priority, and leave it there.
For the rest of my event camera setup, read Sony A7III Event Settings. For what I pack alongside it, see The Backup Gear Checklist.
FAQ
Is the Tamron 28-75 G2 sharper than the A036?
Slightly, mostly at the corners and at close focus distances. Center sharpness is close enough that clients will never see it.
Does the Tamron G2 work with Sony Eye AF?
Yes, including real-time tracking and animal eye AF on bodies that support it.
Should I buy the Tamron 28-75 G2 or the Sony 24-70 GM II?
The GM II is a better lens. It also costs roughly three times as much used. If the extra 4mm on the wide end and marginally faster AF do not change what you can deliver, the Tamron pays for a flash instead.
Is 28mm wide enough for events?
For most receptions and portrait work, yes. For tight venues and large group photos, no. Carry a wider option, whether that is a 20mm prime or an APS-C fisheye in crop mode.
Does the G2 have image stabilization?
No. It relies on the body IBIS on the A7III. Keep shutter speeds at 1/125 or faster for handheld work with people in the frame.
How much should I pay for a used A063?
Between $700 and $800 in excellent condition as of mid 2026. Below $650 usually means heavy use or a grey market unit without warranty.
Sources and further reading
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