The Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is the value champion of fast Sony wide zooms. It combines near-G-Master center sharpness with a genuinely pocketable 420g body and a constant f/2.8 aperture, all for under $900. The compromises are a narrower zoom range and slightly soft close-focus corners, but as a light, weather-sealed travel wide-angle it is hard to fault.
- — Center sharpness rivals and at times matches the Sony G Master, especially on distant subjects
- — Exceptionally compact and light at 420g and about 10cm long
- — Restrictive 1.6x zoom range that stops at 28mm rather than 35mm
- — Full-frame corners can be a bit soft at close 1-2m focus distances
▾Why it's ranked here
The Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is the value champion of fast Sony wide zooms. It combines near-G-Master center sharpness with a genuinely pocketable 420g body and a constant f/2.8 aperture, all for under $900. The compromises are a narrower zoom range and slightly soft close-focus corners, but as a light, weather-sealed travel wide-angle it is hard to fault.
- — Center sharpness rivals and at times matches the Sony G Master, especially on distant subjects
- — Exceptionally compact and light at 420g and about 10cm long
- — Restrictive 1.6x zoom range that stops at 28mm rather than 35mm
- — Full-frame corners can be a bit soft at close 1-2m focus distances