Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II
Prime/Zoom
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
Sony E · f/2.8 · 540g · $899
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II lands at 88 and Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 at 91. That puts Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II if…
- ✓Fast aperture
- ✓Quiet autofocus
- ✓Weather-sealed (most)
Pick Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 if…
- ✓540g — lightest f/2.8 24-70 alternative
- ✓Better than first-party G Master at $899
- ✓Quiet VXD AF motor
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSharpness
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2Compared on the sharpness sub-score
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 leads on sharpness (92 vs 88).
Autofocus
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2Compared on the autofocus sub-score
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 leads on af (92 vs 86).
Build
TieCompared on the build sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 more score per dollar ($899 vs $999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II | Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount | — | Sony E |
| Focal length | — | 28-75 mm |
| Aperture | — | f/2.8 |
| Construction | — | 17 elements / 15 groups |
| Min focus | — | 0.18 m |
| Filter | — | 67 mm |
| Weight | — | 540 g |
Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II
- +Fast aperture
- +Quiet autofocus
- +Weather-sealed (most)
- −Mount-specific
- −Weight varies
- −Price scales with quality
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
- +540g — lightest f/2.8 24-70 alternative
- +Better than first-party G Master at $899
- +Quiet VXD AF motor
- −28mm wide-end vs 24mm of Sony GM
- −No image stabilization
- −No fluorine front coating
FAQ: Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II vs Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
Which is better, Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II or Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2? +
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 scores 91 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II worth the price? +
At $999, Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sharpness.
Is Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 worth the price? +
At $899, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in value.
Does Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II or Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for sharpness, Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II or Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2? +
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 — leads on sharpness (92 vs 88). Compared on the sharpness sub-score.
Which is better for autofocus, Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 II or Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2? +
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 — leads on af (92 vs 86). Compared on the autofocus sub-score.