First test
Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD PRICE: £799.99 TAMRON.EU
This wide-angle zoom for X Mount offers a faster aperture and lower price than the own-brand equivalent. Is it a no-brainer?
“THE TAMRON IS LESS ROBUSTLY BUILT, BUT YOU MAY BE HAPPY TO PAY THAT PRICE FOR AN EXTRA STOP OF LIGHT” moisture from getting in. The front lens element is also fluorine-coated, repelling water and oil. But there's no manual aperture ring, which I did miss. Instead, apertures are changed via command dial. In the field, it was quick and very easy to use. The zoom control is well- positioned, suitably wide and has a rubberised grip. The zoom action itself is smooth and offers just the right amount of resistance for precise framing. There’s no zoom lock, but I don’t see that as a bad thing. Its zoom range is eminently usable. To me, it’s a great travel optic, providing scope for shooting sweeping views while you sightsee in the day, then doubling up as a lens for low-light group images during the evening. No doubt it will also find favour with street, landscape and architecture photographers. Autofocusing is taken care of by Tamron’s RXD stepping motor unit, which is claimed to offer fast, accurate AF. I had no complaints with either speed or accuracy; the lens zips into focus with minimal fuss seemingly irrespective of light levels. You’re unlikely to miss the decisive moment due to tardy focusing. Focusing itself goes down to just 0.15m at the 11mm setting and 0.24m at 20mm. At 11mm, the maximum magnification ratio is 1:4, which gives scope for wide-angle close-ups and further enhances compositional flexibility. Manual focusing is simple, too. The ring at the end of the lens is well-sized and smooth in operation. It offers less resistance than the zoom control, and rightly so. Image quality is impressive, with results at the maximum aperture showing good sharpness across the frame. Tamron has put in the design hours for the lens’ optical construction, with two aspherical, two low dispersion and one extra- low dispersion element forming part of the 12-element-in-ten-group construction. Also, an anti-reflective coating on the inside of the lens cuts down ghosting and flare. PN
TESTED BY ROGER PAYNE
THE FIRST THING that struck me about the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD was its size – or lack thereof. When you consider this is a wide-angle zoom with a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the range, its diminutive proportions are impressive. This Fujifilm X Series- compatible optic is 86.2mm long at the 20mm setting, 73mm in diameter and weighs a mere 335g. Fujifilm’s own XF10-24mm is physically similar in size, but 50g heavier, plus it has an f/4 constant aperture. Admittedly, the Tamron is less robustly built, but you may be happy to pay that price for the benefit of an extra stop of light. Throughout the test period, the lens, which offers a 35mm equivalent to a 16.5-30mm, was parked on my Fujifilm X-E4 and it proved to be a portable, well-balanced set-up. Like the Fujifilm equivalent, the Tamron offers weather resistance with seals around the lens mount and other critical areas, preventing
Verdict Well worth considering as an alternative to the manufacturer’s own optics. It’s compact, lightweight and delivers impressive results throughout the range. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is a real boon, too, offering useful versatility in low-light scenarios or shots that demand greater separation between subject and background. PROS Constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, moisture resistance, fast and accurate AF, close focusing capability CONS Construction isn’t as robust as comparative Fujifilm optic, no aperture ring, no image stabilisation
BREAD AND BUTTER The versatile focal range coupled with snappy autofocus makes this an ideal daily carry
SPECS › Price £799.99 › In the box Petal hood, front and rear caps › Format APS-C › Compatibility Fujifilm (Sony also available) › Filter 67mm › Optical construction 12 elements in ten groups › Aperture range F/2.8-16 › Diaphragm Seven blades › Minimum focus 0.15m at 11mm › Weather sealed Yes › Image stabiliser No › Dimensions (lxd) 86.2x73mm › Weight 335g › Contact tamron.eu
NOSE FOR A GOOD PIC! The close focus capability opens new creative avenues
38 Photography News | Issue 109
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