Hey,

One angle you *might* want to consider that I haven’t really seen spelled out yet is **technical compatibility** with your specific Sony body, especially if you’re timing this around BF/Cyber.

I’ve been running Tamron E‑mount zooms on Sony since the original A7 days, and over a few Black Fridays I’ve learned this the hard way: the discount is nice, but if the lens + body combo is quirky, that “deal” gets old fast.

A few things to watch before you lock in a BF/Cyber purchase:

1. **Body generation matters**
The 28–75 and 70–180 behave differently on, say, an A7III vs A7IV vs A7R bodies.
- Older bodies (A7II/A7RII/A6500) sometimes show: slower AF acquisition, occasional hunting in low light, and less reliable Eye‑AF.
- Newer bodies (A7IV, A7RIV/V, A6700) do much better, *but* you’ll want to make sure both lens **and** body firmware are current.

2. **Firmware updates (timing gotcha)**
Tamron pushes firmware to fix AF, Eye‑AF, and video issues. Around BF, people often buy, slap the lens on, and then complain when AF is weird… but they never updated.
- Make sure you’re comfortable using Tamron’s firmware update tools (USB dock or body‑through updates, depending on the model).
- I’d suggest checking Tamron’s site *before* BF to see if your target lenses have any known compatibility notes with your specific camera model.

3. **Video vs stills behavior**
If you shoot video, be careful: some Tamron zooms have slightly more **focus breathing** and can show different AF behavior in video vs stills (pulsing, micro‑adjustments). This shows up more clearly on newer Sony bodies with advanced AF modes. I’d personally test this ASAP while return windows are still open, rather than assuming “it’s Tamron, it’ll be fine.”

4. **Future‑proofing vs the discount**
If you plan to upgrade bodies in 2025/26 (e.g., from A7III to A7V or a higher‑res R body), I’d aim for lenses that are known to play nice with Sony’s newer AF algorithms. The current 28‑75 G2 and 70‑180 G2 are generally fine, but I’d still check:
- Continuous AF tracking performance on your *exact* body
- Compatibility with specific AF modes you care about (Bird, Animal, Car… some combos are a bit inconsistent)

**So, how does this tie back to BF/Cyber?**

– Yes, Tamron usually does real discounts.
– But I’d **absolutely** do a quick compatibility check now: your body model, your shooting use (stills/video), and your firmware situation.
– When the sale hits, buy from somewhere like B&H/Adorama/Amazon with an easy return policy, test AF, tracking, and video *immediately*, and don’t hesitate to return if the combo feels off.

In my opinion, it’s worth waiting for BF/Cyber for these lenses, but be careful: don’t just chase the price — make sure the lens actually plays nicely with your specific Sony body and shooting style.

Hope this helps! Feel free to drop which body you’re on and I can be more specific about known quirks.

Hey,

One angle I haven’t seen in this thread yet is the environmental side of *when* you buy, not just how much you save.

**Background:** Over the years I’ve worked with a few retailers on logistics, and Black Friday / Cyber Monday is basically peak chaos. Tons of rush shipping, split shipments, returns, and repackaging. All of that ramps up transport emissions and waste.

**Why it matters:** Lenses like the Tamron 28–75 and 70–180 are already pretty resource‑intensive to produce. The greener move, in my experience, is:
- Buy once, keep long
- Avoid unnecessary shipping events (returns / exchanges / impulse upgrades)

BF/Cyber sales often push people into fast decisions, which leads to more returns and, sometimes, "open box" stock that just keeps circulating.

**Practical approach / solution:**
- If you *know* these are the lenses you’ll stick with for several years, waiting for a real $100–200 BF discount is fine. That’s one shipment, long lifetime use – environmentally reasonable.
- But lock in your choice *before* the sale: rent first or borrow if you can, so you’re not testing and returning during BF.
- When the time comes, buy from one retailer with ground shipping (B&H/Adorama usually do well here) and avoid multiple small orders.
- Also keep an eye on **refurb/used from reputable dealers** (KEH, MPB, B&H used). Extending the life of existing glass is, IMO, the most eco‑friendly option, and their BF pricing can be as good or better than new.

So yeah, I’d say: if you’re set on these Tamrons long term, it’s reasonable to wait for 2025 BF/Cyber, but plan carefully to avoid extra shipping and returns. That’s the conservative, lower‑impact route.

Hope this helps!

Hey, one angle I haven’t seen hit hard yet is **warranty + insurance** around BF deals.

In the US, Tamron’s Black Friday discounts through big retailers (B&H, Adorama, Amazon *sold by Amazon*) are usually **full legit**: same Tamron USA warranty, same eligibility for their service, no drawback there. Where you really gotta be careful is:

- **Gray-market / sketchy discounters** that pop up on price engines with an extra $50–$100 off. A lot of those are *import* versions with no Tamron USA warranty. That’s fine until AF dies a year in and you’re paying out of pocket.
- Some “bundle” deals (filters, cheap tripod, etc.) hide the fact it’s an import body. Always check it literally says **“Tamron USA Warranty”** on the product page.

Insurance-wise (like State Farm personal articles, PPA, or whatever), they don’t care if you bought during BF, but they **do** care about proof of purchase + serial. Authorized dealer = no drama if you need a claim or repair estimate.

So IMO for 2025: wait for the BF/Cyber price drops, but stick to the big authorized guys or Tamron direct. Saving an extra $80 from a random seller isn’t worth losing the warranty on a $900+ lens.

Hope that helps you game out the “hidden cost” side of the deals!

Hey, one angle I haven’t seen hit hard yet is **warranty + insurance** around BF deals.

In the US, Tamron’s Black Friday discounts through big retailers (B&H, Adorama, Amazon *sold by Amazon*) are usually **full legit**: same Tamron USA warranty, same eligibility for their service, no drawback there. Where you really gotta be careful is:

- **Gray-market / sketchy discounters** that pop up on price engines with an extra $50–$100 off. A lot of those are *import* versions with no Tamron USA warranty. That’s fine until AF dies a year in and you’re paying out of pocket.
- Some “bundle” deals (filters, cheap tripod, etc.) hide the fact it’s an import body. Always check it literally says **“Tamron USA Warranty”** on the product page.

Insurance-wise (like State Farm personal articles, PPA, or whatever), they don’t care if you bought during BF, but they **do** care about proof of purchase + serial. Authorized dealer = no drama if you need a claim or repair estimate.

So IMO for 2025: wait for the BF/Cyber price drops, but stick to the big authorized guys or Tamron direct. Saving an extra $80 from a random seller isn’t worth losing the warranty on a $900+ lens.

Hope that helps you game out the “hidden cost” side of the deals!

Hey,

One thing you might want to consider that I haven’t seen mentioned much is **resale value vs. the Black Friday discount**.

From what I’ve been watching (I stalk KEH / MPB / FredMiranda way too much), Tamron zooms like the 28–75 and 70–180 don’t crater in value overnight. Used prices usually sit maybe ~$200 under the regular new price… and they don’t really drop much more even after BF/Cyber.

So if Tamron does, say, $100–$200 off on BF:
- If you buy **now** and later decide to sell, you’ll probably "lose" around that same $100–$200 in depreciation.
- If you **wait for BF**, you save that up front, but if a new version gets announced later, the resale hit can be bigger than the BF savings.

I’d be careful about waiting months just to save an amount that you might anyway “lose” in resale. If you’re gonna shoot a lot between now and BF, the “value” of the photos might outweigh the discount, IMO.

That said, if you’re not in a rush and Tamron has a pattern of $150–$200 off on those lenses, waiting isn’t crazy either. Just think of it like: *am I optimizing for lowest entry price, or lowest total cost after resale?*

Hope this helps!