*UPDATE* This is the old Tamron 17-50 review. If you’re a Canon or Nikon DSLR user, Tamron released the an update to this lens called Tamron 17-50 VC lens which is as sharp as this lens with the Vibration Compensation feature.
My friend, Nick, who’s a Canon user, recommended me to get this lens. He bought one and was very happy to find a light and sharp f/2.8 lens for his EOS 30D camera.
I own a Canon EOS 50D
He bought it from Amazon and so did I. For this lens, they offer the best price online. They have it for Canon
Shot Using Canon EOS 50D and Tamron 17-50 Lens
The lens arrived on time from Amazon. After playing with it for only one day, this lens instantly becomes my favorite. I’m really glad I followed Nick’s advice.
It’s sharp, VERY sharp actually, even beating prime lens at f/5.6 (the optimal aperture). Vignetting, chromatic aberration and distortion are all well under control. It’s also light and easy to handle.
I own the much expensive and heavier Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8
If you can’t afford the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8
I’m glad I followed Nick’s recommendation.
Read on my full Tamron 17-50 review below to see if this is the right lens for you.
Specs • Performance • Sample Image • Conclusion • Where to Buy
Tamron 17-50 Review – Specs
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Official Name:
Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF)
Focal Length Markings:
17mm, 24mm, 35mm and 50mm
Features:
SP – Better build quality compared to standard Tamron lens. You’ll feel the professional build.
AF – Allows the lens to focus automatically on your subject.
Di-II – Specially made for cropped sensor DSLR. You shouldn’t use this lens with a full frame camera.
LD – Low Dispersion Glass to reduce chromatic aberration at the telephoto end.
Aspherical – To minimize the lens’ aberration and distortion.
IF – Internal Focusing. Lens will not change dimension during autofocus. Front element will not rotate, so you can use a polarizing filter with no problems.
Full Technical Specs (from Tamron’s website):
| Technical Specifications | |
| Groups / Elements | 13 / 16 |
| Angle of View | 78°45′-31°11′ |
| Number of Blade Diaphragm | 7 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 10.6in.(0.27m) |
| Filter Thread | 67mm |
| Weight | 430g (15.2oz) |
| Dimension (Diameter x Length) | ø2.9 x 3.2in. (ø74.0 x 81.7mm) |
| Macro Magnification Ratio | 1:4.5 (at f=50mm MFD 0.27m) |
| Available for | Canon, Nikon (with Built in Motor), Pentax, Sony |
Optical Performance
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Tamron 17-50 Review – Sharpness
Both center and border sharpness is very high on this lens on all focal length at any aperture, which totally amaze me. I would even say that it’s one of the sharpest lens for a cropped sensor camera.
Even at the maximum aperture of f/2.8, this lens is very sharp. The optimal aperture of this lens is on f/5.6. On the optimal aperture, this lens can even beat a prime lens.
See the sharpness test proof of this Tamron 17-50 review below.
Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor
Center Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
| 17mm | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| 24mm | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| 35mm | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| 50mm | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Border Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
| 17mm | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| 24mm | Great | Great | Excellent | Excellent |
| 35mm | Great | Great | Excellent | Excellent |
| 50mm | Great | Great | Excellent | Excellent |
Distortion
Distortion is visible at 17mm but it is relatively low. At 24mm the distortion is virtually gone. Above 24mm there is just slight pincushion distortion, but it’s negligible. See the distortin grid test image below.
Vignetting
Being a Di II lens, vignetting is visible on 17mm f/2.8 and on 50mm f/2.8. It’s slightly less on any focal length between 17mm and 50mm. Stopping down by one stop to f/4 or more will reduce vignetting significantly. Other than the 17mm and 50mm at f/2.8, vignetting is generally not an issue. See the vignetting test image below.
Chromatic Aberration
The Chromatic Aberration is about average on 17mm at f/2.8. Other than the 17mm at f/2.8, Chromatic Aberration is not a problem. To combat the Chromatic Aberration at 17mm, stop down to f/5.6 or more. For even more control, shoot RAW.
Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High
Chromatic Aberration
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
| 17mm | High | High | Low | Low |
| 24mm | Low | High | Very Low | Low |
| 35mm | Low | Low | Very Low | Negligible |
| 50mm | Very Low | Low | Negligible | Negligible |
Build Quality
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Materials
High quality plastics. Made in Japan.
Zoom Ring
Zoom ring is smooth and easy to rotate.
Focusing
Focusing ring is also smooth and responsive. The autofocus speed is fast and accurate.
This lens also features IF (Internal Focusing) mechanism. This means that your lens will not change dimension when it autofocus and the front element won’t rotate. So, using a polarizer is not a problem.
For Nikon user: This lens has a built in Motor, which means it can autofocus with cameras with no internal focusing such as Nikon D40
Compatibility
The Di-II acronym means that this lens can only be used for cropped sensor DSLR. You cannot use this lens for a full frame DSLR (such as Nikon D3
Sample Image
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Below are some sample shots that I took using this lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.
Get the best price online from Amazon: Canon
Conclusions
Back to: Menu • Introduction
The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is a very strong performer in all aspects. It is one of the sharpest zoom lens for cropped sensor DSLR (even beating prime lens at f/5.6). The downside would be vignetting and chromatic aberration that is slighly visible at 17mm f/2.8, but other than that I can’t find any significant flaw on this lens.
Here are the summary of my conclusions:
Drawbacks
- A bit weak at 17mm f/2.8 (Due to Vignetting and Chromatic Aberration)
- No Image Stabilization
Positives
- A very sharp lens, even sharper than most primes at the optimal aperture (f/5.6)
- Convinient zoom range
- Lightweight, fast aperture lens
- Excellent value for money
Good For
Anyone looking for a professional lens for a cropped sensor DSLR under a budget. Everyday use to professional use under normal weather condition.
Not So Good For
Photography under extreme weather condition (ex. Antartica, Ghobi Desert, etc.).
What Others Are Saying…
by “M. Hendry”
I was wary of picking this one up, but so far I haven’t noticed anything wrong at all with autofocus: very clear, crisp images, and I’m loving the speed compared to my D40′s stock lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6)…
Click here to read the full review
by “J. Barkley”
I use this Tamron with a Nikon D7000, and all I can say is my copy is sharp, sharp, sharp! Even at f2.8 the sharpness is in the very good range, by f4.0 it is in the excellent range, and at f5.8 it reaches a level of sharpness few lenses could match. I rent 2000+ lenses for weddings, so I know what a sharp lens is…
Click here to read the full review
Where to Buy
Support this site, buy the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 Di-II from B&H Photo (best price online):
In case Amazon doesn’t have it in stock, try Adorama (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony) or B&H Photo (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony).
See also the related lens reviews below to see what are your other choices.
Thanks for reading my Tamron 17-50 review and good luck with your photography!
| Lens Score | |
|---|---|
| Optical Quality | |
| Build Quality | |
| Value for Money | |
| Overall | |
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