Following on from the impressive 28-75mm f/2.8 Sony FE-mount lens that Tamron released earlier this year, rumors are circulating that the Japanese lens manufacturer is planning to launch a brand new 70-200mm f/2.8 in early 2019.

Reviews have been incredibly positive for Tamron’s 28-75mm lens, said to offer fantastic levels of sharpness and a consistent aperture at almost one-third of the price of Sony’s own equivalent lens, albeit with a slightly narrower focal length. It seems that losing 4mm of width and adding 5mm of length has allowed the manufacturer to work some magic when it comes to consistent aperture zoom lenses, and there’s a chance that it might be able to do likewise with this telephoto offering.

With Sony’s own FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS weighing in at $2,598, many will no doubt be excited to see the price point when Tamron’s announcement arrives in the new year.

Rumors circulated earlier this year that Tamron was plotting a 17-35mm lens. If it produces an FE-mount version, Sony shooters could suddenly have a surprisingly sharp, very affordable holy trinity of fast zooms available — a package that will probably be significantly lighter than the Sony equivalents without a huge compromise when it comes to performance. For those photographers on a budget still shooting adapted glass on recently purchased a7 III and a7R IIIs, this could make for another nice stepping stone at a time when Sony’s own lenses remain an expensive option.