Tamron Takes Home Two EISA Awards for 2026-2027 — 21 Consecutive Years of Recognition
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Wide Angle Zoom TAMRON Standard Zoom Sony E-mount Nikon Z Lens News EISA Awards

Tamron has been awarded two EISA Awards for 2026-2027, extending a run of recognition from the Expert Imaging and Sound Association that now stretches back 21 consecutive years.

The Japanese optics manufacturer picked up EISA Wide Angle Zoom Lens 2026-2027 for the 16-30mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (Model A064), and EISA Standard Zoom Lens 2026-2027 for the 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078). It's the 28th EISA Award in Tamron's history, and the second year running that the brand has taken two categories in a single cycle.

For photographers and content creators in South Africa weighing up a fast zoom, the two winners are worth a closer look — they sit at opposite ends of the everyday shooting range and, between them, cover most of what a working kit needs.

EISA Wide Angle Zoom Lens 2026-2027: Tamron 16-30mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (Model A064)

The A064 is the second-generation successor in Tamron's ultra wide-angle line, and the jury singled out the balance it strikes between reach and size.

From the EISA citation:

“The TAMRON 16-30mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (Model A064) is an outstanding ultra wide-angle zoom that combines excellent optical performance with remarkable portability. Expanding the zoom range while maintaining a compact, lightweight design, it delivers consistently sharp, high-contrast images across the frame and throughout the focal range. Its fast, constant F2.8 aperture, rapid and accurate VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism, and close-focusing capability make it equally at home with landscapes, architecture, interiors, travel, video and creative close-up photography. Moisture-Resistant Construction, internal zoom mechanism and compatibility with TAMRON Lens Utility™ application further enhance its versatility, make this lens an exceptional choice for demanding photographers and content creators alike.”

The practical takeaway: an internal zoom mechanism means the barrel doesn't extend as you zoom, which keeps balance consistent on a gimbal and makes life easier when you're working with filters. Combined with Moisture-Resistant Construction, it's a sensible pairing for landscape work along the Cape coastline or early starts in the Cederberg, where dust and spray are part of the deal.

EISA Standard Zoom Lens 2026-2027: Tamron 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078)

The A078 is a compact standard zoom for full-frame Sony E-mount and Nikon Z mount mirrorless cameras, built around the focal lengths portrait shooters reach for most.

From the EISA citation:

“The TAMRON 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078) is a compact standard zoom lens designed for full-frame Sony E-mount and Nikon Z mount mirrorless cameras. It covers the focal lengths that are most commonly used in portrait photography, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 100mm, while maintaining a relatively fast F2.8 aperture throughout. The VXD linear motor focus mechanism operates extremely effectively, supporting Hybrid AF and Eye AF systems. The lens has a very high resolution at both the centre and edges of the frame, while delivering beautifully smooth bokeh. Other practical features include Moisture-Resistant Construction and a USB Type-C Connector Port which allows for customization and firmware updates via the TAMRON Lens Utility application.”

Covering 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 100mm in a single barrel at a constant F2.8 makes the A078 an efficient one-lens answer for portrait sessions, weddings and event work — the kind of shoot where swapping primes mid-ceremony isn't an option. The onboard USB Type-C port means firmware updates and button customisation happen directly through Tamron Lens Utility, without a separate dock.

About the EISA Awards

The Expert Imaging and Sound Association is a collaboration between 54 respected international specialist consumer electronics magazines, websites and journalists, all producing regular independent technical reviews of new products. Contributing members extend well beyond Europe to more than 30 countries — including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and India — pooling their experience across EISA's five Expert Groups: Photography, Mobile Devices, Hi-Fi, Home Theatre & Vision, and In-Car Electronics.

Because the awards are decided by working reviewers who have spent time with the products rather than by a manufacturer-funded panel, an EISA win carries real weight as an independent signal of performance.

Two decades of consistency

Tamron's first EISA Award came in 1992-1993 for the SP AF35-105mm F/2.8 Aspherical (Model 65D). Since 2006 the brand has won every single year — a 21-year streak that spans the shift from DSLR to mirrorless, and one that few lens makers can match.

Recent winners include the 28-300mm F/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD (A074) and 90mm F/2.8 Di III MACRO VXD (F072) in 2025-2026, and the 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 (A065) and 17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD (A068) in 2024-2025.

Availability in South Africa

Tamron lenses are distributed in South Africa by Singer Photographic Services. For local pricing and availability on the 16-30mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 (A064) and the 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (A078), speak to your nearest authorised Tamron dealer.