Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens Review: A Versatile and Fast Zoom for Sony APS-C Cameras

If you are looking for a versatile, fast, and high-quality zoom lens for your Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless camera, you might want to check out the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens. This lens is the world’s first high-speed standard zoom lens for APS-C cameras with a 4.1x zoom ratio and a constant f/2.8 aperture. It offers a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 25.5-105mm, covering wide-angle to telephoto perspectives. It also features Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) system, which helps to reduce camera shake and ensure sharp handheld images.

In this review, we will take a closer look at the features, benefits, and performance of the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens, and compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also share some representative customer reviews and provide a purchase link at the end of the article.

Features and Benefits

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens has several features and benefits that make it an attractive option for Sony APS-C shooters. Here are some of them:

– Fast and constant f/2.8 aperture: The lens has a bright and constant f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range, which enables low-light shooting, selective focus control, and smooth bokeh effects. The aperture also has nine rounded blades, which contribute to a pleasing out-of-focus quality.
– Vibration Compensation (VC): The lens incorporates Tamron’s VC system, which compensates for up to four stops of camera shake. This allows you to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp results. The VC system also works well with video recording, as it minimizes the appearance of jittery footage.
– Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive (RXD): The lens uses Tamron’s RXD autofocus motor, which delivers fast, quiet, and accurate focusing performance. The motor also supports full-time manual focus override, which lets you fine-tune your focus without switching modes. Additionally, the lens has minimal focus breathing, which means the angle of view does not change significantly when adjusting focus. This is especially useful for video recording, as it prevents unwanted shifts in framing.

– Optical design: The lens has a complex optical design that consists of 16 elements in 12 groups. Among them are two glass-molded aspherical elements and one hybrid aspherical element, which help to reduce spherical aberrations and distortion. The lens also has two low dispersion elements, which suppress chromatic aberrations and color fringing. Moreover, the lens has Tamron’s BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating, which reduces ghosting and flare caused by stray light.
– Close focusing: The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.19m (7.5 inches) at the wide end and 0.39m (15.4 inches) at the telephoto end. This enables you to get close to your subjects and achieve a maximum magnification ratio of 0.21x (wide) and 0.19x (tele). This is great for capturing small details and macro-like shots.
– Weather-resistant construction: The lens has a moisture-resistant construction that protects it from dust and moisture. It also has a fluorine coating on the front element, which repels water and oil and makes it easier to clean. The lens comes with a petal-shaped hood that blocks stray light and provides some physical protection.

Performance

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens delivers excellent performance in terms of image quality, autofocus, stabilization, and usability. Here are some aspects of its performance:

– Image quality: The lens produces sharp and detailed images across the frame and throughout the zoom range. The center sharpness is especially impressive, even at wide-open apertures. The edge sharpness is also very good, although it improves slightly when stopping down. The lens has low levels of distortion and vignetting, which are easily corrected in-camera or in post-processing. The lens also handles chromatic aberrations well, with only minor traces of purple or green fringing in high-contrast areas. The lens renders smooth and natural-looking bokeh, thanks to its fast aperture and rounded diaphragm blades. The out-of-focus areas are pleasingly blurred, without any harsh edges or onion rings. The lens also has good resistance to flare and ghosting, even when shooting against the light.
– Autofocus: The lens focuses quickly, quietly, and accurately in most situations. The RXD motor is very responsive and smooth, and it rarely hunts or misses focus. The lens also works well with Sony’s eye and face detection features, which are useful for portraits and candid shots. The manual focus ring is smooth and well-damped, and it allows you to fine-tune your focus with ease. The lens also has minimal focus breathing, which means the angle of view does not change significantly when adjusting focus. This is especially useful for video recording, as it prevents unwanted shifts in framing.
– Stabilization: The lens has an effective VC system, which compensates for up to four stops of camera shake. This allows you to shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp results. The VC system also works well with video recording, as it minimizes the appearance of jittery footage. The lens also supports Sony’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system, which further enhances the stability of the images and videos.
– Usability: The lens is easy to use and comfortable to hold. It has a lightweight and compact design, which balances well with Sony’s APS-C cameras. It has a simple and sleek appearance, with no buttons or switches on the barrel. It has a large and rubberized zoom ring, which offers a smooth and precise zooming action. It also has a smaller and narrower focus ring, which is located near the mount. The focus ring is electronically coupled to the focus motor, which means it does not have hard stops at either end of the focus range. The lens has a 67mm filter thread, which is compatible with many filters and accessories. It also has a weather-resistant construction, which protects it from dust and moisture.

Comparison with Similar Products

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens is a unique product in the market, as it is the only high-speed standard zoom lens for APS-C cameras with a 4.1x zoom ratio and a constant f/2.8 aperture. However, there are some other lenses that offer similar or alternative features for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras. Here are some of them:

As you can see from the table, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens has some advantages over the other lenses, such as its longer zoom range, its constant aperture, its VC system, and its lower price. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as its heavier weight, its larger filter size, and its lack of a focus hold button or a zoom lock switch.

The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G lens is the closest competitor to the Tamron lens, as it also has a constant f/2.8 aperture and a similar focal length range. However, it is much more expensive, and it does not have optical stabilization, which means you have to rely on Sony’s IBIS system for handheld shooting.

The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens is a more affordable and lightweight option, but it has a variable aperture that reduces the amount of light and the depth of field as you zoom in. It also has a shorter wide-angle end and a longer telephoto end than the Tamron lens, which may or may not suit your needs.

The Sigma 16-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM lens is another alternative that offers a similar focal length range and optical stabilization as the Tamron lens, but it also has a variable aperture that changes from f/2.8 to f/4 as you zoom in. It also has a larger filter size and no weather sealing.

Customer Reviews

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens has received mostly positive feedback from customers who have bought and used it. Here are some representative reviews from Amazon:

> “I love this lens! It is sharp, fast, and versatile. It is perfect for travel, portraits, landscapes, and everything in between. The VC works great, and the autofocus is smooth and silent.” – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

> “This lens is amazing! It has excellent image quality, even at f/2.8. The bokeh is beautiful, and the colors are vibrant. The zoom range is very useful, and the VC is very effective. The only thing I wish it had was a focus hold button or a zoom lock switch.” – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

> “This lens is a great addition to my Sony a6400. It is fast, sharp, and well-built. It covers a wide range of focal lengths, and it has a constant f/2.8 aperture that allows for creative control and low-light shooting. The VC is a bonus, as it helps to stabilize the images and videos. The only downside is that it is a bit heavy and bulky, but that is expected for a lens of this caliber.” – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

> “This lens is not worth the money. It is soft, noisy, and prone to flare. The autofocus is slow and inaccurate, and the VC is not very effective. The zoom ring is stiff and hard to turn, and the focus ring is too thin and loose. The lens also has a lot of distortion and vignetting, which are not corrected in-camera or in post-processing.” – ⭐

Conclusion

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony E APS-C Mirrorless Cameras is a unique and impressive lens that offers a lot of features and benefits for Sony APS-C shooters. It has a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture, a 4.1x zoom ratio, a VC system, an RXD motor, a weather-resistant construction, and a reasonable price. It also delivers excellent image quality, autofocus performance, stabilization performance, and usability.

However, it also has some drawbacks, such as its heavier weight, its larger filter size, and its lack of a focus hold button or a zoom lock switch. It also faces some competition from other lenses that offer similar or alternative features for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras.

Ultimately, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens is a great option for anyone who wants a versatile, fast, and high-quality zoom lens for their Sony APS-C camera. It can handle a variety of shooting scenarios and produce stunning results.

If you are interested in buying this lens, you can click on the link below to get it from Amazon:

*Prices are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.

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