Today, I’m reviewing the Tamron 17-70mm 2.8 Di3 VCR XD, a compact and versatile lens that offers a 2.8 maximum aperture throughout its zoom range.
I found this lens to be excellent for general-purpose use or travel photography.
Compact Design and Impressive Autofocus
This Tamron lens feels much like a scaled-down 24-105.
It’s quite compact, with a 67mm filter thread and a weight of just 524 grams.
However, the lack of buttons, such as for vibration control and focus control, means you’ll have to manage these aspects through the camera body, which might slow you down.
The autofocus, powered by a stepping-style motor, is impressive, focusing quickly from near to far.
Bokeh and Optical Performance
Examining the bokeh, it isn’t great but it’s not terrible either.
The lens maintains a nice round shape even when you stop down, and there’s minimal cat eye effect.
The main downside is the busy nature of the bokeh itself.
Chromatic aberrations and flare are present but manageable.
Ghosting can occur when a bright light source like the sun is in the shot, which can be difficult to remove.
Versatile Manual Focus and Sharpness
Manual focus for close-up work or video feels somewhat loose and light, but the almost zero breathing when shifting focus makes this lens appealing for video work.
Regarding sharpness, both the center and corners showed very good results at the wide and telephoto ends, indicating this lens has sufficient resolution for APS-C sensors.
Choosing the Right Lens for Your Needs
If you’re an enthusiastic photographer looking for softer backgrounds in your portraits and can handle some issues like flare, chromatic aberrations, and less pleasing bokeh, this lens makes a lot of sense.
If you want a slightly higher quality lens and don’t mind the lack of stabilization then the Sigma 16 to 55 2.8 may be the better choice.
Additional notes
- The vibration control in this lens is a valuable feature, especially if your camera body doesn’t have built-in stabilization.
- If you’re shooting on a budget and still want high-quality images, the Tamron 17-70mm could be a great addition to your gear. It offers impressive sharpness, quick autofocus, and vibration control at a relatively affordable price point.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD for Sony E is a valuable player in the zoom lens league.
If you’re aiming to take your photography game a notch higher, this lens might just be the missing piece in your photography puzzle.
- Exploring the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E
- Navigating Photographic Horizons with the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary for Sony E
- Riding the Wave of Imaging Excellence with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art for Sony E
- Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Lens: Captivating Perspectives on Sony E
If you want to know more about Sigma lenses check out my other blog post below:
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