| Latest Review Posted | Tamron SP AF XR LD Aspherical IF Di II 17-50mm F2.8
Overview - A versatile, fast, sharp wide-normal zoom that is a great alternative to other lenses in this category.
Build quality - The 17-50 is plastic bodied with a metal lens mount, heavier than the DA 18-55 but not weighty. It balances nicely on my *ist DS. My copy has no slop in the zoom or focus rings, no zoom creep. It's a definite step up from the kit lens, and feels pretty good in hand.
Image quality - Sharp throughout the zoom range, with a slight advantage to the middle and longer end. Remarkably sharp at f2.8, again better at the middle to longer end of the range. At 17mm there's softness in the extreme corners that gets better with stopping down, along with some mild CA at the edges of the frame. Bokeh is pretty good for a wide zoom, better than the kit lens and good background choice and placement can make for some nice shallow DOF shots. Color and contrast can be a little flat right out of the camera, but it perks up nicely with some post-processing, if that's the look you're going for.
Usage tips - The zoom lock button only works at 17mm, I use it to help with mounting/dismounting the lens off the body. Also, it's not technically a macro zoom, but the minimum focus distance is about 10 inches, which makes it halfway decent for small-subject photography in a pinch. It is an internal focusing design, with the plus of a non-rotating front element, but the focal length changes with focus distance.
Value - This is a fantastic option if you're looking ... |
