Tamron 35-150 f2/2.8 Review for Wedding Photography
I thought I would make a quick post about my experience with a lens that I was very lucky to get my hands on six months ago; the Tamron 35-150 f2/2.8.
For many, this lens has been like gold dust to acquire (or more like a Playstation 5, which is probably even rarer than gold dust!). I placed my pre-order with Wex moments after it went on pre-order sale and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first photographers in the UK to get their hands on one!
It was a bit of risk shelling out £1,600 on a lens that had almost zero reviews or sample shots available to view online. However, I had been using the Tamon 17-28mm, 28-75mm, 70-180mm for some time and I was quietly confident that the quality of the 35-150 glass would be on a par with the other excellent lenses in the current Tamron lineup…I was wrong, it’s actually far superior!
I’ll start off with three examples that sit as the main selling point of this lens, the flexibility when it comes to the huge focal range. The following three images are taken by me standing in the same spot, the first at 35mm, second at 92mm and finally at 150mm.
As you can see from the three shots, the 35mm to 150mm range gives you great opportunity to go wide or get close which is great for discreet wedding photographers who like to mix up the gallery but don’t want to be pacing up and down the aisle or swapping out lenses/cameras at key points during the ceremony.
Below is another example of the range. The first is taken during the speeches providing a wide angle of the guests toasting the speaker. The second is zoomed in to the table on the top right hand corner of the room. Having the zoom was really handy on this occasion as there was very little space to move around here, I was only able to stand at either end of the room.
A lot is said about the weight of the lens. Yes, it’s heavier than many lenses other Sony photographers would be used to, especially if they predominantly work with primes. However, I soon got used to carrying the additional weight, it certainly helps using the SpiderPro holster as that keeps the bulk off the shoulders and places it onto the hips.
One of the questions I have been asked a few times is – Can this single lens be used to cover the whole wedding? I believe that in good light and depending on the style of shooting, yes it probably can. The f2 aperture at 35mm certainly gives images a distinctive ‘look and feel’ and helps it stand out from other zooms that only open up to f2.8.
I personally shoot with the Tamron 35-150 on one of my Sony A9 bodies and the Sony 50mm f1.2 on the other A9. I can (and have) shot solely with this pair of lenses at a number of weddings. My Tamron 17-28 is permanently sat on one of my Sony A7iii cameras and occasionally comes out of the bag if I need super wide external/internal venue shots.
I’m sure you’re probably just here to see some examples of this lens! So here are some very random photos from wide angle venue shots, to zoomed in mingling photos, to confetti runs and cake/flower details images. All using the Tamron 35-150 bonkers focal range from the winter months through to spring!
So my conclusion after using this lens for 6 months. It’s fantastic! I was once a lens snob, or more specifically a prime lens snob. I would only use a 18mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm. The thought of using a zoom was a bit yucky! Then I realised there were candid moments happening on the other side of courtyard whilst I had a 35mm in my hand that had passed by in the time it took to swap to an 85mm and vice versa.
I do predominantly use this lens at its 35mm end at f2, but having the versatility to quickly reach to 150mm without swapping cameras/lenses and still being able to generate really lovely sharp images is a joy! Paired up with the Sony 50mm 1.2 this lens is a must have!
If you have any questions about the Tamron 35-150 f2/2.8 lens then drop me a line on my contact page or head over to my Instagram page here – robtarrenphoto and send me a DM on there.
