The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is a fast and compact ultra-wide zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras. It offers a versatile focal range equivalent to 16.5-30mm in full-frame terms, with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture that enables low-light shooting and shallow depth of field effects.
It also features a weather-resistant construction, a quiet and accurate autofocus system, and a close minimum focus distance. In this review, we will look at the main features, pros and cons of this lens, based on various sources¹²³⁴.
Introduction
The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD was announced in June 2021 as a fast and compact ultra-wide zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras.
It is part of Tamron's Di III series of lenses, which are designed to deliver high image quality and performance for mirrorless cameras. It is also part of Tamron's A series of lenses, which are characterized by their advanced features and functions.
This is the first lens of its kind to offer a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture across its focal range for APS-C cameras. It is also the second lens in Tamron's lineup to cover the ultra-wide angle range for APS-C cameras, following the Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD, which has a slower and variable aperture but also offers optical stabilization.
The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is compatible with Sony's Fast Hybrid AF system, Eye AF function, Direct Manual Focus (DMF) mode, and in-camera lens correction features. It also supports firmware updates via the camera body.
Features
| Feature | Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD |
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C |
| Focal Length | 11-20mm |
| Full-Frame Equivalent | 16.5-30mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 |
| Angle of View | 105°20′-71°35′ |
| Optical Design | 12 elements in 10 groups |
| Special Elements | One XLD element, two LD elements, two GM elements |
| Coatings | BBAR-G2 coating |
| Aperture Blades | 7 (rounded) |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.15m (wide) / 0.24m (tele) |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.28x (wide) / 0.26x (tele) |
| Autofocus System | RXD stepping motor |
| Filter Size | 67mm |
| Weather Resistance | Yes (dust and moisture resistant, fluorine coating) |
| Dimensions | 73 x 86.2 mm |
| Weight | 335 g |
Pros and Cons of the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
Pros
- Fast and constant f/2.8 maximum aperture
- Compact and lightweight design
- Excellent optical performance
- Weather-resistant construction
- Quiet and accurate autofocus system
- Close minimum focus distance
Cons
- No optical stabilization
- Some focus breathing
- Some vignetting and distortion
- No lens hood included
Conclusion
The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is a fast and compact ultra-wide zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras that offers a versatile focal range equivalent to 16.5-30mm in full-frame terms, with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture that enables low-light shooting and shallow depth of field effects.
It also features a weather-resistant construction, a quiet and accurate autofocus system, and a close minimum focus distance.
This lens delivers excellent optical performance across its focal range, with sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and bokeh that rival or surpass some of the first-party alternatives from Sony or Fujifilm.
It also controls chromatic aberrations, flares, and ghosting very well, thanks to its special elements and coatings. However, it also shows some vignetting and distortion, especially at the wide end, which can be corrected in-camera or in post-processing. It also exhibits some focus breathing, which may affect video shooters who need to change focus during recording.
The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lacks optical stabilization, which may be a drawback for some users who need to shoot handheld in low-light situations or with slow shutter speeds. However, it can benefit from the in-body stabilization of some Sony cameras, such as the Sony a6600 or the Sony ZV-E10.
It also has a close minimum focus distance of 0.15m at the wide end and 0.24m at the tele end, which allows for some creative close-up shots with a wide-angle perspective.
The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD is a very attractive option for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless camera users who are looking for a fast and compact ultra-wide zoom lens that offers high image quality and performance for various genres of photography and videography, such as landscape, architecture, astrophotography, travel, vlogging, and more.
It is also very competitively priced cheaper than some of the first-party alternatives from Sony or Fujifilm that offer slower and variable apertures or lack weather resistance.
If you are looking for a fast and compact ultra-wide zoom lens for your Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless camera that offers excellent image quality and performance for various genres of photography and videography, then the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD may be the best choice for you.
Further Reading
(1) Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD Review | PCMag
(2) A Review of the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Lens
(3) Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Lens (Sony E) – B&H Photo Video
(4) Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD Review | Photography Blog