Lens Review: Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD

Mission distraction.

After some back and forth I decided to trade the precious for the new kid on the block Tamron tele zoom once I figured out that this way I could score a wide lens to complete a one brand zoom lens trinity since the precious still had considerable value.

While I was looking forward to a proper lens trinity I have not had a good track record warming up to wide zoom lenses.

Fujifilm 10-24mm was good but not enough to convince me to stay with Fuji the first, second, and maybe third time I tried…

Liked the Samsung 12-24mm but Samsung ditched its customers…

Liked the Tamron 10-24mm but not enough to keep it…

Really liked the Sigma 8-16mm on Pentax but moved on to mirrorless…

Lastly I tried out the Sony G 12-24mm f/4…

Thought that lens would do it for me. But I would rather a faster f/2.8 lens that was smaller and lighter and I would happily give up some range on the wide end. The only other wide f/2.8 zoom lenses at that time were the Sigma and Sony options. But both were larger, heavier, and more expensive than I wanted.

I was interested in the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 since it was released, but I really wanted Tamron to release a tele f/2.8 zoom. So with that I settled on an adapted legacy wide prime that I shared with one of my film cameras.

Meets my needs for a wide lens, but very much a one trick pony.

I have had a chance to try out the Tamron wide zoom. My wife and I needed a break from life’s proceedings so we got out and I took a brief stroll around UNC’s Bell Tower.

After a quick spin I am very impressed. Combine that with my expectations after the 28-75mm f/2.8 and I am confident that this is a winner.

Bokeh is not typically a wide lens selling point but what is available is pleasing to the eye.