Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical Zoom Lens for Konica Minolta and Sony Digital SLR Cameras
- Sony / Minolta -compatible lens designed specifically for digital SLR's
- 17-50mm focal range equivalent to 26-78mm in 35mm format
- Maximum aperture of f2.8
- Filter diameter of 67mm
- Minimum focus distance of 0.27 meters over entire zoom range
Product Description
The SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 is a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras, expanding the product concept of the popular SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 zoom lens. In addition, portrait shots are made beautiful with the natural out-of-focus effect characteristic provided by the fast F/2.8 aperture. Additionally, a broader photographic expression through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture offers enhanced photographic pleasure. The lens boasts one of the best close-up shooting performances in the class of fast standard zoom lenses designed exclusively for digital cameras and featuring an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, to ensure stress-free photographic shots at all focal lengths and distances.
December 4th, 2009 - 08:36
This lens is a fast and sharp lens that really produces sharp pictures. It does a great job focusing in all levels of light. I’m using it on the Sony Alpha A700. My main reason for this purchase was for the lighting situations and have not been disappointed at all. While it has a zoom lock, I have not had to use it due to the firmness of the zoom ring, but its not so firm that you can’t easily adjust the zoom.
I would recommend this for anyone who wants to step up from the kit lens but don’t want to (or can) spend the big bucks of the top end lenses.
Rating: 5 / 5
December 4th, 2009 - 10:52
I’ve been using this lens for a couple of weeks now and am very impressed with its quality. I have used it with my Sony Alpha a300 with no issues. I’ll compare it to the kit lens (SAL 18-70) that it replaced as that is the only other wide zoom I’ve used myself.
Pros:
-The Tamron is heavier and more sturdy than the Sony lens.
-It has better sharpness throughout the frame, but especially in the corners; it’s slightly soft at f2.8 (though still better than the kit lens) and gets sharper as you stop it down.
-Using it for indoor or nighttime shooting is great compared to the kit lens.
-The aperture is 2.8 throughout the zoom range, meaning that you don’t loose light when you zoom in towards 50mm.
-The macro works decently well, especially with the narrow depth of field you get with a big aperture.
Cons:
-It doesn’t go to 70mm like the kit lens, but I checked over my existing photos and barely used anything past 50mm anyways, plus you get 17mm vs. 18mm on the wide end.
-Weight takes a little getting used to, but in a good way.
-Not cheap, but not too expensive compared to similar lenses.
-Slight distortion on the wide (17mm) end, though again, it’s not as bad as the kit lens and you don’t really notice.
I would definitely buy this lens again and would recommend it to a friend. Definitely a very good and worthwhile upgrade to the SAL 18-70 kit lens.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 4th, 2009 - 13:51
This lens is an excellent lens. I bought it when I had my a100, and saw subtle changes in image quality.(al00 had a lot to be desired) After using it on my a700, which has an improved focusing system and the “Exmor” CMOS sensor, I am amazed at the quality I’ve been able to get. It took me a while to get used to how quick the focusing was; I would press the shutter half way and often times snap the the picture by mistake. Great lens.
Rating: 5 / 5
December 4th, 2009 - 14:24
I bought this lens to replace my Sigma 18-50, after hearing the rave reviews of the Sigmas build quality long story short the Sigma died after 3 weeks of use (stripped gears). I then say the reviews of the Tamron and decided to try it. I was surprised by the following: Sharp Even wide Open , no color cast like the Sigma. Lighter and focuses alot faster. I like the way the Sigma feel in my hand but the image quality of the Tamron is far surperior, atleast on my A-700.
Rating: 4 / 5
December 4th, 2009 - 14:41
This lens is great. Razor sharp at f5.6 or greater. Not too bad at f2.8! Really great day-to-day lens and you will be the only person not using a flash at those family functions! When I couple this with the great high ISO performance of the Sony a700 it is unstoppable indoors. There’s just not many shots I can’t get anymore indoors and for those few I can always still fall back on the flash.
This lens represents some of the best bang-for-the-buck in photography today.
Rating: 5 / 5