Posted on April , 2026
In my 10 years of photography, I’ve used all kinds of lenses. But this 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078) offers a focal length that even I have never experienced before. On top of that, it’s a constant F2.8, yet it's light and compact.
Is it… a standard zoom?
Anyway, my first impression was simple: "This looks like it could shoot anything. This is going to be fun."
When you think of a standard zoom, the 24-70mm range probably pops into your head first. It’s easily the lens type I’ve used most in my life. This lens, however, is a zoom that leans a bit more toward the telephoto side.
I wondered how that difference would feel as I went out to shoot "anything and everything," just as I’d first imagined. I hope you can feel the unique charm of this lens through these works.
Seriously, this lens is good.
First Photo: Focal Length: 100mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/2000sec ISO: 100 Camera: Nikon Zf
I took this photo at the front of a friend’s cafe. I wanted to capture the beautiful shadows of the plants created by the mid-morning sun while using the greenery as an accent color, so I used the telephoto end to compress and crop the scene. I think the light hitting the eyes added a nice touch of freshness.
Focal Length: 35mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/320sec ISO: 100 Camera: Nikon Zf
First, portraits. Despite being a constant F2.8 zoom, it’s light and compact. I felt it could handle both casual, everyday portraits and more sharp, artistic shots, so I tried both.
As you can see from the results — it nailed it.
To test how it handles high-contrast situations, I shot inside a shop with sunlight streaming through the windows. It maintained excellent resolution in both the highlights and shadows, giving me the ideal look.
Even in backlit shots with strong light, the lens captures everything clearly while maintaining a soft, delicate touch. Conversely, in front-lit or shadow-heavy shots, it shows real strength while still feeling gentle. No matter the focal length, the results look as if they were shot with a prime lens. This level of expressive power really surprised me.
And since it reaches 100mm — something standard zooms that end at 70mm can't do — you can play around with lens compression. That makes things interesting.
Focal Length: 98mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/200sec ISO: 125 Camera: Nikon Zf
I wanted to use some foreground bokeh to create a sense of "peeking in," so I shot at the telephoto end to get that distance in the blur. Because it’s so compact for a zoom, it’s great for snapping casual shots while having lunch together.
Focal Length: 65mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/320sec ISO: 100 Camera: Nikon Zf
I used burst mode while having the model move around. The AF performed perfectly — no worries about speed or accuracy. I felt free to just shoot.
Focal Length: 100mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/320sec ISO: 100 Camera: Nikon Zf
A shot in the backlit glow of the sunset. This is a tough condition for any lens, yet it rendered every single strand of the model’s hair with delicate detail. The round bokeh is also soft and beautiful; this shot really makes you feel the quality of the lens.
Focal Length: 71mm Exposure: F8 Shutter Speed: 1/100sec ISO: 280 Camera: Nikon Zf
I was completely satisfied with how it handled portraits.
Next, I wanted to see if it could be the "one lens" to take on a trip. So, I took it with me to Shanghai. For me, the ideal travel lens is: "a zoom with decent range," "as fast (bright) as possible," "as compact and lightweight as possible," and "capable of rendering with sharp resolution." Basically, a lens that caters to a photographer’s every selfish whim.
This lens? It answered every single one of those whims.
Personally, travel is when I spend the most time holding a camera. I mean, I have it on me all the time. I want to shoot from breakfast until I go to bed. Plus, I walk a ton. Sometimes I have a lot of other luggage, too. So, I really don't want the weight or size to become a burden. When you get tired, your motivation to shoot fades. During this trip, I spent about two full days with this lens attached to my camera the whole time, and it was so easy. That’s a huge deal for me, and I fell in love with it instantly.
This photo is a cityscape of Shanghai. I wanted to capture the city—often called the "Magic City" — in my own way. The subtle hues of the sunset are rendered just right. It’s one of my favorites.
Focal Length: 35mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/320sec ISO: 100 Camera: Nikon Zf
Focal Length: 56mm Exposure: F4.5 Shutter Speed: 1/320sec ISO: 100 Camera: Nikon Zf
Focal Length: 100mm Exposure: F2.8 Shutter Speed: 1/100sec ISO: 140 Camera: Nikon Zf
I often do product photography for work, and depending on the environment, 70mm sometimes feels just a bit short. I often find myself thinking, "I'll just crop it later." But when I brought this lens along, it was just perfect. I didn’t expect it at first, but I realized: "Hey, this is actually great for product shots, too!"
This was shot with natural light.
By using 100mm, I can crop out unnecessary elements, making it perfect for this kind of shot. You can really see the gentle feel of the natural light and the softness of the bokeh here.
Focal Length: 100mm Exposure: F11 Shutter Speed: 1/125sec ISO: 160 Camera: Nikon Zf
A shot using a single strobe. Having the security of 100mm was great. In the end, I shot everything that day at 100mm.
Man, I really like this lens! Well, I knew that from the moment I took the first shot!! (laughs)
The rendering is just so comfortable and pleasing.
I’ve always loved the softness and gentle color reproduction of TAMRON lenses, and this lens delivers exactly that. If anything, it felt even more delicate!
On top of that, it’s light and compact. That’s the best part.
For this review, I shot everything on a Nikon Zf. Since the Zf itself is compact, there haven't been many options for a constant F2.8 zoom that balances well with it. The 35-100mm F2.8 instantly jumped to the top of the list for usability with the Zf. It was that easy to use.
Technology has come so far lately that almost any lens takes good pictures. When deciding which one to choose, "convenience" and "usability" are top priorities for many people. If that’s you, you absolutely have to try this lens.
If you’re a beginner who doesn't have a zoom yet, this is an excellent choice for your first lens. You can shoot anything with it. And even if you go on to collect many other lenses later, this is the kind of lens you’ll never regret owning.
This lens is a new challenger in the world of standard zooms. It makes choosing gear a real (but good) struggle.
"Which one should I use?" "I want to use so many of them." "It’s hard to decide!"
...That’s exactly the spot I’m in right now.
The 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078) was developed with the desire to make portrait photography more accessible and enjoyable. It condenses the most in-demand focal lengths for portraits while achieving a large aperture of F2.8 and an incredibly lightweight and compact design. Combining high image quality and soft bokeh across the entire zoom range, it excels in a wide range of applications, from travel portraits to street photography. With its refined design and comfortable operation, it's a lens that allows you to enjoy photography effortlessly, from everyday use to special occasions.
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