The Tamron 17-28mm is the value champion. At $899 it's less than half the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II's price, with image quality that holds up at every focal length except the missing 28-35mm range. For landscape, astro, and architecture shooters who don't need the GM II's edge-case features, this is the right Sony E-mount wide zoom buy. Lighter than the Sony GM II by 127g and far cheaper than every other pick in this lineup.
Strengths
- +420g — 23% lighter than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II at less than half the price
- +67mm filter size accepts standard filter kits (vs Sony GM II's 82mm)
- +Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness with virtually no color fringing
- +Compact 99mm length — easier to pack for travel
- +Best price-to-image-quality ratio in this round-up
Watch-outs
- −17-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm
- −RXD motor is slower-focusing than Sony's XD Linear motors in the GM II
- −Build quality feels less premium than the Sony GM lenses
- −No image stabilization (relies on Sony in-body IBIS)
How it compares
Best value pick. Narrower zoom range than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II (17-28 vs 16-35) but at less than half the price. Compared to the Sigma 16-28mm, slightly less wide on the short end but similar pricing and build philosophy. Less focal flexibility than the Sony GM II but lighter and cheaper.
Who this is for
At a glance: landscape, astro, and travel photographers who want professional-grade wide-zoom image quality without paying Sony GM pricing.
Why you’d buy the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
- 420g — 23% lighter than the Sony FE 16-35mm GM II at less than half the price.
- 67mm filter size accepts standard filter kits (vs Sony GM II's 82mm).
- Excellent corner-to-corner sharpness with virtually no color fringing.
Why you’d skip it
- 17-28mm range is narrower than the Sony GM II's 16-35mm.
- RXD motor is slower-focusing than Sony's XD Linear motors in the GM II.
- Build quality feels less premium than the Sony GM lenses.
Rating sources
Our 4.7 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
