Tamron SP AF 17-35 F2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF  reviews

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Pirate   review date: July-08-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

K-M AF 17-35mm F/2.8-4 (D)
Sigma AF 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 Di

price paid:

£150.00 (used)

positive:

IQ
Width Coverage
Build Quality
Price

negative:

Slight distortion wide open

comment:

Having owned the K-M version of this lens, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Tamron 17-35mm matches it in all departments, and possibly better in terms of build and price. For full frame bodies, this is an excellent choice for WA, plus it's well built, has a nice tactile feel, superb IQ, and great coverage. This is not a lens designed for cropped bodies, so it's best get you get an appropriate APS-C sensor lens for the full wide-angle coverage.

Overall this is an excellent bang for buck lens that delivers in spades for (if you're lucky) minimal outlay. Very highly recommended for FF shooters and one to seriously consider if you're after a WA option.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Johnc   review date: March-17-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

My only wide lens at the moment.

price paid:

300USD

positive:

Good build
Well Priced
Good Colour
Fast and accurate AF

negative:

Soft borders and corners when wide
Vignetting at 17mm

comment:

A good lens. Especially good with flash at night.
Vignetting an issue, especially at 17mm.
Always in my camera bag or on the A850

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 2 

user: wangavagusbanjo   review date: December-05-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 70-200mm f2.8 G
Sony 100mm f2.8 Macro
Sony 50mm f1.4

price paid:

$800 NZ

positive:

Sharp in the centre
Very inexpensive
Light

negative:

Borders and corners softer
Focus not very accurate at wide end on Dynax 7 and a700

comment:

A lot of lens for the money (1/4 of the cost of the CZ 16-35). Focuses accurately on the a900 with V1 firmware, but once V2 installed not accurate at the wide end initially. With continued use seems improved at the wide end - strange. Very sharp in the centre but softer on the edges and in the corners. F11 gives good results. More flares than at Woodstock when the sun is in the frame.

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 3 

user: ragemnin   review date: November-25-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

That's my only wide angle lens, so I could compare it only to Minolta 24-105D and Minolta 35-70. It's simply different.

price paid:

about 350 USD (new)

positive:

It's enough sharp from F11 to F14. Nice colour. Good distortion control. Good build, professional look.

negative:

With some angles very visible flare, but it's possible to avoid it (change your position). Corner sharpness is not enough good (F5.6-F8). F2.8 - F4 is completely unacceptable for me.

comment:

At this price it's very good lens. When you use apertures from 11 to 14 entire image quality is very good in most cases. Because of that in my opinion this lens is good only for landscapes, mostly with tripod (taking photo in room is not very convenient). Central sharpness is OK, edges don't look great and it's visible on all apertures. Do not use it on apertures beneath F9-F11, because you'll be dissapointed. In the begining you have to learn, how to do photos with this lens. Anyway distortion is nice controlled, which can you see on these pictures:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8IfsXx-wnQg/TO7bG4AooGI/AAAAAAAAADE/y7_mYqhfNac/d/DSC02616.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8IfsXx-wnQg/TO7bZB4hePI/AAAAAAAAADQ/hAaVNzlV1U8/d/DSC02618.jpg

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: PhilMorley   review date: September-02-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

300 used

positive:

cheap, light, wide :)

negative:

vignetting, distortion

comment:

very nice lens for the price.
vignetting and distortion can be heavy especially at 17mm.
my main use is f8-f18 and I am happy with sharpness across on a900. only used wide open once or twice and was happy withe center sharpness (didnt take much notice of edges)

sharpness: 5 

color: 4 

build: 3 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 5 

user: Ovas   review date: August-27-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 24mm f2.8

price paid:

770 USD

positive:

Nice on KM 7D. No distortion

negative:

Big

comment:

I have had this since 2005. Very nice on the 7D and also on A900. Gives sharp nice picktures with high contrast. Needs to be stepped down to perform the best.

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 3 

user: mz-n10   review date: April-06-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

24-70z
17-80

price paid:

260 usd (used)

positive:

Cheap
Light
Well built
relatively sharp
color

negative:

flares

comment:

now i know this isnt a fair comparison but shooting side by side (tamron on an a700, 2470z on an a200) the zeiss delivered better shots nearly 100% of the time (peeping of course). but that doesnt mean the tamron is bad, because it doesnt matter how well the 2470z does if you cant get wide enough to capture it.

strength of this lens is in its price, at nearly 10th of the price of the 16-35z. i only plan to really shoot this lens at the wide end so theres no reason for me to pixel peep the shots. colors are great on the lens.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 3 

user: RyanTheLion   review date: March-07-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

KM 28-75/2.8

price paid:

450 SGD (used)

positive:

sharpness,
colours,
weight

negative:

Flare

comment:

Nothing much to complain about this lens hence it's price.
Sharpness is excellent wide open

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 3 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: MinoltaMad   review date: October-28-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 85 f1.4 G D
CZ 24-70 f2.8 SSM
KM 28-75 f2.8 D
Minolta 28-70 f2.8 G
Tamron SPAF 70-200 f2.8 Di LD (IF) macro
Minolta 75-300
Minolta 35-70 f3.5-4.5
Sony 18-70 DT kit

price paid:

$350 AUD new

positive:

inexpensive for the quality of results
light
colour reproduction
close focus distance

negative:

build quality
some flare
corner sharpness

comment:

For the price and versatility this is a really surprising lens - much better than expected in final output. As a predominantly portrait photographer I really don't care that it can be slightly soft in the corners providing a pleasing border and highlighting the subjects. However, if I was a landscape or architect photographer you would have to go for the CZ 16-35 f2.8 for across the frame sharpness. Otherwise a great lens. It has some distortion but then again it is the effect I am after so it isn't a problem.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 3 

user: 9000AF   review date: September-07-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

- Sigma 24mm f2.8
- Minolta 24-105 f3.5-4.5
- Minolta 28-105 f3.5-4.5

price paid:

200 USD (new)

positive:

+ center sharp wo, corners good at f5.6
+ FF compatible
+ AF fast and accurate
+ compact size for FF
+ 77mm filter
+ moderate distortion
+ D-lens

negative:

- vignetting at 17mm
- flare control, hood useless
- soft from 30-35mm
- discontinued

comment:

Complements the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8, size, weight, look and feel are almost the same. APS-C benefits from sweet spot. I like this lens for landscapes and cars when you can't get far enough away. I mainly use this at 17-28mm since performance seems better at the wide end. On film 17mm is pretty spectacular and fun to use. I was contemplating the Tamron 17-50 until I got this on clearance and added the 28-75 later. I like the combination and it works on film/FF. Flare control is the only major issue with this lens. The front element looks like a fish bowl and catches light from all angles. I figured out that the hood is useless (and bulky), so I ended up using my hand to shade the lens.

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: gm4jjj   review date: April-12-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 17-35D CZ 16-80

positive:

Sharper than I expected on Full Frame. Benefits from being stopped down to get corners sharper of course. Quite nice central sharpness even at f/2.8
Can be found at reasonable prices.

negative:

Useless lens hood

comment:

This will tide me over until I can justify spending 4 times the price on the CZ 16-35mm

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: quietbun   review date: January-08-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

+ 18-70

price paid:

160 USD (used)

positive:

+ Build quality.
+ Nice color.
+ Fast focus on A700

negative:

+ Only 2.8 at 17
+ Size and weight

comment:

This is good lens. It's my walk-around lens though it forces me to move a lot. I would recommend for portrait shooter.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 3 

flare control: 4 

user: fustes   review date: December-09-08  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony 18-70mm Kitlens
Minolta 50mm f1.7

price paid:

180EUR

positive:

sharp at all ranges
full frame
low vignneting
fast af

negative:

apreciable distortion at 17mm
only 2.8 at 17mm
77mm filter and very necessary

comment:

sharpness: 3.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 5 

user: Looleylaylow   review date: February-23-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 24mm f2.8
Sigma 18-200

price paid:

$249 USD (used)

positive:

- Reasonably bright
- Good color
- Good value
- Distortion is manageable
- Nice range flexibility vs. wide primes

negative:

- Not razor sharp
- Build not quite up to Tamron 28-75

comment:

A decent low-cost alternative to Minolta primes. I found it to be slightly sharper than the 24mm (my 24 was disappointing) and it's nice to have the flexibily of some zoom when shooting wide. It's sharper and exhibits less distortion on the wide end than does the Sigma 18-200 but can't compare in sharpness to its longer big brother, the Tamron 28-75. A good option if landscapes aren't your top priority and you want some width indoors, but don't want to spend hundreds more on a Minolta 20mm or other such.

sharpness: 4 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Rudy   review date: December-20-05  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Cosina 19-35 3.5-4.5

positive:

price

negative:

softness at 17 2.8

comment:

Descent, but not the best lens in my opinion, i preferred the cheap cosina (vivitar voightlander..) 19-35 3.5-4.5, for sharpness wide open.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Iggy1965   review date: October-26-05  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

KM 17-35/2.8-4

price paid:

€ 259

positive:

Good build quality

negative:

Distortion at 17 mm

comment:

Great lens, feels good, nice mount and better sunhood than the KM equivalent. Great for for my a850 and the combination is good. But some day it will be sold together with its KM 17-35 22.8/4 D sister to fund the CZ 16-35 SSM