If you are looking for a wide-angle zoom lens for your Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless camera, you might be interested in the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens.
This lens claims to be the world's first 11-20mm f/2.8 zoom lens for APS-C cameras, offering a versatile range of perspectives equivalent to 16.5-30mm in full-frame terms.
It also boasts a fast and constant f/2.8 aperture, which enables better low-light performance, shallow depth of field, and astrophotography potential.
But how does it perform in terms of image quality, build quality, autofocus, and value? Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of this lens based on various reviews and sample images.
Pros and Cons of Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Pros
- Compact and lightweight: The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 is surprisingly small and light for a lens with such a wide and fast aperture range. It weighs only 335g and has a 67mm filter thread, making it easy to carry around and use with standard filters.
- Fast and constant f/2.8 aperture: It offers a bright maximum aperture that stays constant throughout the zoom range, unlike some other wide-angle zooms that have variable apertures. This gives you more creative control over depth of field and exposure, as well as better performance in low-light situations.
- Impressive overall performance: It delivers sharp and detailed images across the frame and throughout the zoom range, with minimal distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, or flare. The lens also has a fast and quiet autofocus system that works well with Sony's eye and face detection features. The lens also features weather-seals and a fluorine coating to protect it from dust, moisture, and fingerprints.
Cons
- Heavy distortion at 11mm: The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 exhibits noticeable barrel distortion at the widest end of the zoom range, which can be corrected in post-processing or by using the lens profile in-camera or in software. However, some users might prefer a more rectilinear rendering of straight lines and edges at this focal length.
- No optical stabilizer: It does not have an optical image stabilizer built into the lens, which means you will have to rely on your camera's in-body stabilization (if available) or use a tripod to avoid camera shake at slower shutter speeds. This might be an issue for some users who want to shoot handheld video or stills in low-light conditions or at longer focal lengths.
- Pretty pricey: It is not a cheap lens. This is more expensive than some other wide-angle zoom options for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras, such as the Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS or the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM. However, the Tamron lens does offer a faster aperture and better build quality than these alternatives.
Conclusion
The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a simply superb ultra-wide zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras. It combines a versatile and extensive zoom range with a fast and constant aperture, delivering excellent image quality, autofocus performance, and weather resistance.
It is compact and lightweight enough to carry around for landscape, architecture, interior, or astrophotography purposes.
The only drawbacks are the lack of optical stabilization and the noticeable distortion at 11mm, which might not bother some users but could be deal-breakers for others. The price is also on the high side compared to some competitors, but you do get what you pay for in terms of quality and features.
Further Reading
(1) Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD review | Digital Camera World
(2) Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD Review | PCMag
(3) Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD sample gallery
(4) Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Lens (Sony E) – B&H Photo Video