Lens Reviews / Tamron Lenses i Not yet tested

17-70mm

Updates:
03/03/2021: Field Test & Gallery Images added

 

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Field Test

A good choice for many shooting situations

by Jeremy Gray | Posted 03/03/2021

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/6s, ISO 100. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens is a 4.1x zoom lens for Sony E-mount. This new APS-C lens is roughly equivalent to a 25-105mm zoom lens, making it a versatile lens for many shooting scenarios.

I tested Tamron's new 17-70mm lens on a full-frame Sony A7R IV camera in APS-C crop mode -- which is Sony's highest megapixel APS-C camera -- and Sony's flagship APS-C model, the A6600. During my time with the lens, it proved to be a good all-around lens, and it delivered solid performance across the board. Its focal length range is useful for many situations, and it's a good choice for Sony E-mount shooters looking for a travel lens with a fast aperture.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 64mm (96mm equiv.), f/8, 1/20s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Key Features

• 4.1x zoom lens for Sony E-mount (APS-C)
• Constant maximum aperture of f/2.8
• Equivalent to 25.5-105mm on a full-frame camera
• Vibration Compensation optical image stabilization
• L x D: 4.7" (11.9 cm) x 3" (74.6mm)
• Weighs 18.5 oz. (525 g)
• 67mm filter thread
• 16 elements in 12 groups, including 2 LD (Low Dispersion) and 3 aspherical elements (2 molded glass aspherical elements, one hybrid aspherical element)
• Minimum focus distance of 7.5" (19 cm) at 17mm, 15.4" (39 cm) at 70mm
• Maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.8
• Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive (RXD) stepping motor unit for autofocus
• Supports Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF in compatible Sony cameras
• $799 USD

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/8, 1/30s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Lens design and handling: Stylish, sleek and well-designed zoom lens

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD zoom lens shares the same style as other recent Tamron lenses. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, as the lens looks modern and sleek. The build quality feels nice, as well.

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens is a stylish lens. Its design is consistent with other recent Tamron lenses, which I think is a good thing.

The large zoom ring sits towards the front of the lens and has markings at 17, 24, 35, 50 and 70mm focal lengths. Zooming from 17mm to 70mm requires less than 90° of rotation, so you can rapidly go through the 4x zoom range. The zoom ring has a nice, ridged surface, which is easy to grip, even when wearing gloves. The focus ring has a nice grip, although its rotation is very light and offers little resistance.

The zoom ring has a nice grip. You can rotate from 17mm to 70mm with less than 90 degrees of rotation and the zoom ring offers nice resistance. The focus ring, on the other hand, is a bit too light and doesn't offer much resistance at all.

There are no buttons or switches on the lens itself. This means that you will need to use your camera's menus to disable stabilization or to enable manual focus. Overall it's a small issue, and likely won't impact regular shooting for many, but I do wish there was at least a focus switch on the lens itself.

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens balances nicely on the Sony A6600 body. The lens weighs 18.5 oz. (525 g) and feels good in the hands, even during extended shooting. When at 17mm, the lens is 4.7" (11.9 cm) long. When shooting at 70mm, the lens is slightly front heavy, but it's not bad. The lens does extend when zooming, but only by about an inch. The filter thread doesn't rotate when adjusting zoom, which is useful when using a circular polarizing filter on the 67mm thread.

This comparison shows how the length of the lens changes as you zoom from 17mm (top) to 70mm (bottom).

Overall, the lens offers good build quality and handling. The lens has a modern look and style that I like. The zoom ring has a good feel to it, as well. The focus ring is a bit light and lacks a focus switch, but these are small issues with an otherwise well-designed and affordable f/2.8 zoom lens.

Image quality and performance

Image quality

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens has 16 lens elements in 12 groups. Of these 16 elements, two are Glass Molded Aspherical (GM) elements and there is a single hybrid aspherical element. The lens also has a pair of LD (Low Dispersion) elements, which help suppress chromatic aberration and color fringing. As we will see in this section, many aspects of image quality are good, while others come up a bit short.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 37mm (55.5mm equiv.), f/6.3, 1s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

All the crops seen below are 100 percent crops from raw image files converted in Adobe Camera Raw using default settings and built-in lens correction profiles enabled. I have selected specific images to show, but you can download the full-size raw files for each focal length/aperture combination I tested (17mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm and 70mm) in the Gallery. Further, please excuse the dust spots on the image sensor, which are especially visible at smaller apertures.

17mm

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. Full test scene at 17mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At 17mm, performance is quite good when shooting wide open at f/2.8. The lens captures good fine detail, shows strong contrast and good colors. The center of the frame shows good detail. However, when considering the extreme corners, the image is quite soft, and there's some noticeable darkening (vignette).

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 17mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 17mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

By stopping down to f/4, sharpness in the center of the frame is improved somewhat. However, corner sharpness doesn't significantly improve, but it's only an issue in the image frame's extreme corners. Vignette decreases as you stop down, although it is still visible at f/4 and to a lesser extent at f/5.6, and even a bit at f/8. Vignette is not hard to correct during processing, so it should be an easy fix for users bothered by the corner darkening.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/4, 1/2500s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 17mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/4, 1/2500s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 17mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Overall, performance at the widest focal length is a bit of a mixed bag. The lens is sharp in the center of the frame from f/2.8 through f/11, but corner performance is iffy overall. Fringing and aberrations are generally well-controlled, with only slight purple fringing visible when zooming in on high-contrast edges. There is also some distortion, which like vignette, can be corrected if it's distracting.

25mm

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 25mm (37.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. Full test scene at 25mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At 25mm, the next marked focal length on the lens, I captured a trio of sharpness test shots (f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6). Here, image quality is improved overall. Sharpness is better not only in the center of the image area but also in the corners compared to shooting at 17mm. Further, the vignette is much less noticeable.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 25mm (37.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 25mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 25mm (37.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 25mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

35mm

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 35mm (52.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. Full test scene at 35mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Performance remains good at the next marked focal length, 35mm. At f/2.8, center sharpness is nice. The image is detailed and crisp, and it is even better at f/4. Corner sharpness is good here as well. Vignette is also well-controlled at f/2.8, although it is still slightly noticeable in certain situations. At f/4, corner darkness decreases, and at f/5.6, the entire frame is very consistent in terms of sharpness and brightness.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 35mm (52.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 35mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 35mm (52.5mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 35mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

50mm

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 50mm (75mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. Full test scene at 50mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

I stuck with f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6 at 50mm (technically, it is 51mm even though I was visibly centered at 50mm on the lens barrel). The performance here is good. At f/2.8, the lens is sharp across nearly the entire frame, with only slight softness visible at the extremes of the frame. By stopping down to f/4 and f/5.6, overall sharpness improves. Vignette is slightly noticeable, although much like at 35mm, it improves as you stop down and is better controlled than at 17mm.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 50mm (75mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 50mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 50mm (75mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/5000s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 50mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 50mm (75mm equiv.), f/4, 1/2500s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 50mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 50mm (75mm equiv.), f/4, 1/2500s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 50mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

70mm

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/4000s, ISO 100. Full test scene at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At its longest focal length, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 performs well, especially when considering the center of the frame. The image is sharp at f/2.8, although it does get noticeably sharper in the center of the image as you stop down to f/4 and beyond.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/4000s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/4000s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/4, 1/2000s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/4, 1/2000s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Corners are a bit soft at f/2.8 and f/4, although corner performance improves significantly at f/5.6 and f/8. As is the case at other focal lengths, at f/16 and f/22, diffraction is quite noticeable.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/8, 1/500s, ISO 100. 100% center crop at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A7R IV at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/8, 1/500s, ISO 100. 100% bottom right corner crop at 70mm. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Overall image quality

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens produces good image quality across much of its focal length range, even when shooting wide open. The performance at the wide-angle extreme is noticeably degraded compared to 25mm-70mm, but it is still pretty good.

The biggest issues at 17mm are softness in the corners, distortion, and vignette. The latter two issues are easily fixed. At 17mm, especially when shooting landscapes, stopping down to f/5.6-f/11 is a good idea. Beyond 17mm, performance is impressive across the frame, especially at f/4 and f/5.6. With that said, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot the lens wide open when the situation demands it.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 69mm (103.5mm equiv.), f/7.1, 3.2s, ISO 250. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. Here you can see distortion. Pay close attention to the street lights, you can see that as you get closer to the edge of the frame, they are no longer straight up and down. You can see distortion when looking at the vertical edges of buildings as well. You can correct this distortion in a photo editor, but you will lose some field of view when doing so. I don't correct distortion when editing images for lens reviews, so you can see distortion in different photos throughout this Field Test.

Given the affordable price point of the lens, I think it delivers impressive performance overall. A zoom lens, particularly one priced well under $1,000, naturally comes with some compromises. You can't have it all, but the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD does a good job of delivering in important areas while coming up a bit short in only minor ways.

In the Field: Autofocus and the overall user experience

With its Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive (RXD) autofocus system, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens delivers quick and quiet autofocus performance. The lens focuses quickly throughout the focal length range, and even when focusing on close subjects. The lens supports Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF as well, on compatible Sony cameras, which is nice.

Regarding close focusing, the 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD can focus as close as 7.5" (19 cm) at 17mm. This isn't macro-level close-focusing, but it's still plenty good for trying to get close to a foreground object for a landscape photo, for example. At 70mm, the lens can focus as close as 15.4" (39 cm).

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/15s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. Handheld at 1/15s, thank you, VC.

The overall user experience with the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is very good. I've discussed the lens's overall good image quality, and its quick autofocus performance as well. This impressive performance paired with solid build quality makes the lens enjoyable to use. It is lightweight and compact enough to carry around for extended periods. The focal length range, equivalent to 25.5-105mm in full-frame terms, is beneficial as well.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 44mm (66mm equiv.), f/5.6, 1/80s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

For landscape photography, the 17-70mm lens works well. Granted, due to somewhat problematic corner performance and vignette, I tended to zoom in slightly and stop down a bit when I wanted strong performance across the frame.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 69mm (103.5mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/400s, ISO 640. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 69mm (103.5mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/400s, ISO 640. 100% crop. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. Here you can see some purple fringing. It's not bad, but it is noticeable in certain situations.

The lens displays pretty good control of aberrations, even in harsh light or back-lit scenes. There is some cyan/magenta fringing in a few situations, particularly when considering out of focus areas in front of and behind the subject. With that said, the lens can struggle a bit when it comes to controlling lens flare. The included lens hood is basically a must-have when shooting during the day.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/320s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/320s, ISO 100. 100% crop. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. In this crop, you can see a bit of false color around the out of focus tree branch. The Tamron 17-70mm produces this type of aberration in front of and behind the subject.

For more general nature photography, the close focus distance works well. Although an f/2.8 lens is not quite the same on an APS-C camera as an f/2.8 lens on a full-frame camera when it comes to depth of field, the Tamron 17-70mm does a good job creating subject separation. The bokeh, on the other hand, is not a strong suit for the lens. The bokeh is not particularly smooth and it's not consistent across the frame.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/250s, ISO 100. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/2.8, 1/250s, ISO 100. 100% crop. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file. The bokeh doesn't stay perfectly round as you get nearer the edge of the frame, and in some cases bokeh can end up looking like it's been sliced nearly in half. In this case, it's not so bad. However, you can see some inconsistency in the bokeh as well. Notice how the sphere is not the same brightness all the way across.

Ultimately, versatility is the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8's greatest strength. It performs well across many situations. When I was looking for photo opportunities, I could shoot many subjects without changing lenses. Specialized lenses may perform better at specific tasks, but versatility has value, especially for a photographer who doesn't want to carry around a large bag of lenses.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 34mm (51mm equiv.), f/6.3, 3.2s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A6600 at 61mm (91.5mm equiv.), f/6.3, 0.6s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A6600 at 21mm (31.5mm equiv.), f/7.1, 0.6s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A6600 at 70mm (105mm equiv.), f/4, 1/800s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A6600 at 24mm (36mm equiv.), f/7.1, 3.2s, ISO 640. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A6600 at 65mm (97.5mm equiv.), f/4, 1/800s, ISO 100. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Shot on Sony A6600 at 68mm (102mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/30s, ISO 200. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Field Test Summary

Very versatile zoom lens for Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras

What I like most:

• Good design
• Good overall image quality, especially when considering sharpness
• Useful in many different situations and lightweight enough to use all day

Shot on Sony A6600 at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/8, 1/5s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

What I dislike:

• AF/MF and VC ON/OFF switches would've been nice additions
• Underwhelming optical performance at 17mm
• Some issues with distortion, vignette and certain aberrations

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a good choice for Sony E-mount users looking for a new standard zoom lens, especially as a second lens in addition to (or an upgrade from) the typical 18-55mm kit lens. The extra light-gathering and zoom capabilities make the Tamron lens a significant upgrade over a kit lens.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 17mm (25.5mm equiv.), f/8, 2s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The optical performance is quite good with the Tamron, as well. The lens does a good job controlling for aberrations, and performance at most focal lengths is great. The lens is sharp even at f/2.8.

With its versatility, decisive autofocus, built-in image stabilization and lightweight design, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 lens is a worthwhile addition to most photographer's kits.

Shot on Sony A6600 at 27mm (40.5mm equiv.), f/7.1, 1/3s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

• • •

 

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Product Overview

(From Tamron lens literature)

The new 17-70mm F2.8 is Tamron's first high-speed zoom lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C size sensors. It features a maximum aperture of F2.8 across the entire 4.1x zoom ratio that covers a focal length of 17-70mm that is ideal for regular use (a full-frame equivalent of 25.5-105mm), and superb optical performance. It is a small, lightweight lens that is also equipped with Tamron's VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism to minimize camera shake. This VC mechanism leverages AI technology when shooting video.

The lens features Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating and a φ67mm filter size – the same as the Tamron series of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Compatible with many of the features that Sony builds into its cameras, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF, the lens is the ideal everyday zoom lens for a multitude of situations. It is a highly practical lens that enables photographers to attain high image quality while enjoying the benefits of the large F2.8 aperture.

Product Information

1. 1. World’s first high-speed standard zoom lens for APS-C cameras with the focal length range of 17-70mm 4.1x zoom ratio

   The Model B070 has a focal length range of 17-70mm, equivalent to 25.5-105mm on full-frame cameras. It is the first F2.8 high-speed zoom lens in the world for APS-C mirrorless cameras to achieve a 4.1x zoom ratio.

2. 2. Outstanding optical performance

   The optical construction of the new 17-70mm F2.8 features 16 elements in 12 groups. Two GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) lens elements and one hybrid aspherical lens element are precisely arranged to maintain high-resolution performance from edge to edge.

3. 3. Upgraded VC effective in combination with Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras, leveraging AI for video shooting

   The 17-70mm F2.8 features Tamron's proprietary VC mechanism. Additional sophisticated algorithms optimized for this model and a dedicated, independently operating MPU all combine to superbly compensate for vibration. This feature is available when the lens is used with cameras with or without in-body image stabilization. When shooting video, by leveraging AI technology, image stabilization performance improves compared to conventional models.

4. 4. Close focusing−MOD is just 0.19m (7.5 in) at wide-angle end

   The 17-70mm F2.8 zoom focuses close, down to 0.19m (7.5 in) MOD (Minimum Object Distance). This is far superior to the performance achieved by conventional high-speed zoom lenses for APS-C cameras. In addition, the 0.39m (15.4 in) MOD at the 70mm telephoto end ensures good close-range shooting performance allowing photographers to enjoy compelling close-up shots.

5. 5. A highly portable compact design

   The 17-70mm F2.8 zoom measures a scant 119.3mm (4.7 in) in length and 74.6mm in maximum diameter and weighs only 525g (18.5 oz). This is remarkable for a lens with built-in VC image stabilization. When used with Sony's APS-C mirrorless cameras, this zoom is nicely balanced and provides a comfortable user experience.

6. 6. The RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit is exceptionally quiet and perfect for video use

7. 7. Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating provide extra protection

8. 8. Compatible with many camera-specific features and functions, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF

Pricing & Availability

The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens is expected to ship on January 14, 2021 with a suggested retail price of $799 USD.