The new Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A046) is scheduled for release in Australia on 25 July at an RRP of AU$1699.


Side view of Tamron’s 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens. (Source: Tamron.)

Designed for Sony’s E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras, the new lens is compact and lightweight for a large aperture, ultra wide-angle lens, being only 99 mm long and weighing just 420 grams. It features a filter diameter of 67 mm, which is surprisingly small for a lens of its type. The constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is maintained throughout the entire zoom range, while the optical design consists of 13 lenses in 11 groups, including three aspherical lens

elements, two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements and one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) lens element that has properties close to those of fluorite. In combination, they deliver high-resolution and contrast edge-to-edge, while minimizing common aberrations. BBAR (Broad-Brand Anti-Reflection) coating effectively reduces ghosting and flare.

Autofocusing is powered by the RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit, which enables it to deliver high-speed, high-precision and quiet operation, making it suitable for shooting virtually noise-free video as well as still photographs. This lens is fully compatible with various camera-specific features including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF. The minimum focusing distance of 19 cm provides a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.2 at 17mm, while at 26 cm, maximum magnification ratio of 1:6 is reached at the 28mm end of the zoom range.

Environmental seals are located at the lens mount area and other critical locations to prevent

infiltration of moisture and/or rain drops. This feature provides an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions. Also, the front surface of the lens element is coated with a protective fluorine compound that has excellent water- and oil-repellant qualities. Similar to the 28-75mm (Model A036), the 17-28mm (Model A046) has a zoom ring at the front and a focus ring at the rear. Both lenses have a filter diameter of 67mm, so the same filters such as PL (Polariser) and ND (Neutral Density) may be used with both models, and lens caps are interchangeable. The new lens is supplied with front and end caps plus a petal-shaped lens hood. Click here for details of local stockists.