In Pursuit of Portability

Marcie Reif sees the power of Tamron’s compact new 20-40mm F/2.8 zoom for her portrait work.

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By Jenn Gidman
Images by Marcie Reif


Tamron has long sought to create a category disrupter in the standard zoom lineup, and its newest addition fits the bill: the 20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD, said to be the smallest and lightest lens in its class. With a versatile focal-length range, its fast F/2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range, and a compact body, this lens for Sony mirrorless camera systems is a perfect fit for extended photo or video sessions where handholding is a necessity.

That’s the case for Atlanta portrait photographer Marcie Reif, who needs a lens that can adapt to her high-energy child and family sessions. She recently put the 20-40 to the test with some of her clients and was pleased with how the lens allowed her to closely interact with her subjects without creating discomfort with a bulky, more invasive lens. “When you’re able to get that close, you’re able to be more playful, which in turn draws out more emotion,” she says.


20-40mm (29mm), F/2.8, 1/640 sec., ISO 800
Click image to view larger

The 20-40 gives Marcie extra versatility, offering the ultra-wide-angle perspective of 20mm all the way up to 40mm. When attached to an APS-C mirrorless camera, the 20-40 will cover the full-frame equivalent focal length range of 30-60mm that also covers the common standard range. “I tend to gravitate toward 35mm when taking portraits, so the 20-40 gives me that optimal focal length, plus the flexibility to experiment with the other focal lengths within its range,” Marcie says. “The option to go as wide as 20mm, like when kids are getting tossed in the air by their parents, helps up my creativity.”


20-40mm (20mm), F/2.8, 1/640 sec., ISO 400
Click image to view larger

Weighing just 12.9 ounces and measuring only 3.4 inches long, with a 2.9-inch diameter, the 20-40mm doesn’t drag Marcie down as she’s chasing after her youngest subjects and wrangling larger groups. “I appreciate having something so light in my hands for shoots that could stretch for a couple of hours,” she says. “Plus, there is a lot of movement in my sessions. If I’ve got my camera on a strap and I’m moving around, my camera is going to swing around. Having a small lens helps in that regard, too.”

Being able to shoot with the 20-40mm’s maximum F/2.8 aperture is also critical to Marcie’s style. “I’ve always been a wide-open shooter, so this lens fits right in with my workflow,” she says. “There’s a particular way I want my portraits to look, with a nicely blurred background and my subjects fully in focus, and the 20-40 gives me the ability to achieve that.”


20-40mm (40mm), F/2.8, 1/800 sec., ISO 400
Click image to view larger

Thanks to an AF drive system that’s equipped with a VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor system mechanism, the 20-40mm offers high-speed, high-precision AF that allows for pinpoint autofocusing, from the Minimum Object Distance of 6.7 inches at the 20mm end (11.4 inches at 40mm) to infinity. Meanwhile, the 20-40mm’s focus tracking performance allows photographers who shoot video to steadily track movement, with minimized noise from the AF motor. “To be honest, all of my Tamron lenses are incredible in terms of speed, and this one doesn’t diverge from that,” she says. “It's definitely fast enough to capture all the movement going on with my subjects.”


20-40mm (40mm), F/2.8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400
Click image to view larger

Despite its compact size, the 20-40mm lens doesn’t sacrifice in image quality. The meticulously designed body features four LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements for controlling light dispersion, combined with two GM (Glass Molded aspherical) lens elements for high optical performance. The 20-40mm’s BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating, meanwhile, suppresses ghosting and flare so images are as crisp as can be. “With portraits, it’s vital that I’m able to see true-to-life skin tones and tack-sharp results,” Marcie says. “The 20-40 comes through with flying colors.”


20-40mm (28mm), F/2.8, 1/1250 sec., ISO 800
Click image to view larger

The 20-40mm upends the narrative on standard zooms, and although it’s a lens that’s different than the ones Marcie typically uses for her portrait work, she’s glad she was able to witness firsthand what it can offer her. “Being able to capture an intimate portrait presents its own unique challenges, especially when children are in the mix,” she says. “The 20-40mm lens allowed me to get in close, help my subjects’ personalities shine, and meet those challenges.”


20-40mm (40mm), F/2.8, 1/500 sec., ISO 400
Click image to view larger

To see more of Marcie Reif’s work, check out her website and Instagram.

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