Thank you for mentioning the attributes of the lens that videographers would be interested in like focus breathing and how the VC performs when moving. Those are some of the deciding factors for me with this lens.
I just got this lens and it is incredibly sharp! I also have the 11-20 Tamron and that is another incredible lens. Tamron has really upped their game these past years.
I bought my first camera (Sony a6400) and lens (Tamaron 17-70). I was shooting manually by the end of my first day (3hrs +/-). This combo is incredible!! I absolutely love this lens. Thinking about adding the Sony 70-350mm and I'll be set for a good while.
Thanks for using 200% zoom. Makes it much easier to compare sharpness - especially in 1080p. Looks like a killer lens. I'm currently on primes only, but this lens is tempting for the versatility.
Thank you for this in depth review! I am tempted to get that lens for my A7R4 in crop mode. 26 mpx are sufficient for casual pictures. Compared to the 28-75, it has a wider range and seems to be optically as good if not better.
Came here to say that Tamron made an 18-300mm for both Sony E-Mount and Fuji X-Mount. Which probably means a Fuji version of the 17-70 is in the cards, alongside the 11-20.
Hopefully I didn’t mess up....sold my Sigma 56mm and 18-105 to purchase this lens today. Really just wanted one lens for photo and video and since I do mostly sports I think the 2.8 aperture will do the trick. Before I was switching between the 18-105 for sports video and the 56 which was not quite telephoto enough even with clear image zoom for sports photos. I guess I will find out tomorrow when it gets here!
@@DustinAbbottTWI Well not sure if I got a bad copy or what, but I the VC is no where near as good as my 18-105 was and I'm getting a very noticeable vignette in video which is a huge bummer because I would always take video from my 18-105 straight to my phone and out to Instagram. There is no way I could do it with this lens. I'm really bummed because I felt like it would be my one lens, but I will be taking it back tomorrow. UPDATE: Picked up a new copy today. Night and day difference. Time and testing will tell but I am certain that the 17-70 is my new go to.
@@dusty_burkhalter Hi, I own the 18-105mm on a sony6500 and thinking about getting the tamron 17-70mm for filmming. Are you happy with the tamron lens? I probably keep the 18-105mm until I'm completely satisfied but I was wondering how you feel about your experiences on this lens.
@@filmdreams personally even after my second copy I regretted trading it for my 18-105. I found the second copy to be soft, and terrible focus in photo. Maybe I got two bad copies. I took it back and ended up buying an A7C. I do now own the Tamron 17-28 f2.8 for Sony full frame. I’m not crazy about it either. Personally I won’t buy another 3rd party lens ever again. I’d say keep the 18-105. That is a solid video lens.
I love the way you placed your sponsor... It sounds like a 80's comercial (the music). You will be at your climax at indicating the exits on a plane before taking off with the same tone and music ;-) The review is perfect as usual
Upgraded and switched from the M50 MK ii to the Fuji X-T4 in the end. The lack of lens choices in the EF-M mount made me switch systems. Also, the lack of 3rd party options for the R mount pushed away from Canon, even though I still think they do great cameras. Loving the X-T4 and the 70-300 and I believe the Tamron 17-70 will be the perfect companion, particularly given it also has a 67mm filter thread. Also saw your review on the Fuji 33 and will also add that to the kit. I loved the Sigma 30 1.4 for my M50, but I think the Fuji is worth the extra money over the Sigma. All about trying to decide which order i will buy them, given the Tamron and the Fuji 33 are a similar price.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Hi Dustin. Thanks a lot for your review. It's really detailed! I'm intersted in the fujifilm variant of this lens. Since the optical scheme is the same, I guess the pros and cons are the same. Does this lens resolve the 40 MP? I have seen some comparison here on RUclips and most of the time, the pictures of the XT5 or X-H2 seem softer to me than the ones of a 24-26 MP camera (e.g X-T4 or X-H2s). In case, are you going to upload some examples? Thanks
My copy has been loaned out since day one of having it so I've not yet been able to play with it! Hence I live vicariously through your reviews, as always :) I knew it was going to be a fun addition to the lineup: the new AI based VC is a plus, and that focal range! Supremely glad you enjoyed it. Still the best reviews on the net, regardless of topic.
Really great review as usual of what looks like an outstanding lens for my A 6500. I had my heart set on the Sony PZ 18-105 f4 for the great range and power zoom feature for video but now am not sure I can live without the sharpness the Tamron offers! I guess I need to Google focus puller devices and see if anyone makes a simple peg fitted to the lens so I can make my own zoom lever! Thanks for the stellar review!
@@DustinAbbottTWI I want an APS-C body that designed like A7/A9 and shoots like A9 (20 or at least 10 fps electronically without blackout and without rolling shutter effect ) . But probably they're going for high resolution A9 body and forcing us to spend more 😭
I wish the same thing! The viewfinder not being in the middle to me is one of the main reasons i want to go full frame it’s not that i have a real issue w APSC sensor
Hi KT, I'm afraid the lens is already on its way back to Tamron. I have such a high demand for reviews (I've got five other projects sitting on my desk!!) that I don't have time for endless comparisons.
Awesome review. Going to pickup a copy this weekend for the wife's A6000 camera. Such a sweet lens. Probably will never come off :) Will be great for yosemite next week!
Hi Dustin, thanks for the review. I am planning a trip to Tasmania this coming October, I have the XH1 and 16-55mm combo which is too heavy and I cannot decide should I buy this lens to pair with my XT3 for lighter weight. Would I suffer much in term of IQ should I change to this lens with the XT3?
Thank you for the review, this lens looks like a great option! Do you have any opinions on purchasing a lens like this versus two or three of the Sigma 1.4 APS-C primes?
You won't get the versatility with the primes, but maybe you're more comfortable with the open aperture...if you're interested in filmmaking or want something for travel photography pick the tamron! I will pick it first and then the 56mm 1.4!
That really depends on your shooting style. The Tamron is obviously far more convenient, so if you are traveling, you may not want to mess with changing lenses all the time. Primes are fine if your shooting style is more deliberate, and you can get more flexibility with the wider maximum apertures.
I don't actually review Nikon, so I'm afraid there won't be any Nikon reviews coming from me. I don't have the time, energy, or money to cover every system out there.
Been a while since you did this review but I hear that some users have seen zoom creep on the 17-70 for top-down shots. Did you notice that? Cheers Dustin
It is not all that often that a great lens bursts onto the scene as with this Tamron. I have a Sony a6400, purchased mainly for its stellar AF abilities. Target subjects, ever moving grandchildren + their mobile phone image capturing devoted parents! The lens stabilisation is a + but is never a primary consideration for me. Note that you filmed the video on a FF Sony mirrorless. I have a Gen 1 a7R and assume this lens will operate on this older body, but in cropped mode. Fwiw, I believe this is the most enthused you have sounded in a lens review😉
If I shot only with APSC bodies, I would definitely choose this lens and I would pair it with the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 MF lens... However, since I shoot with both full frame (A7iii) and APSC (A6600) Sony cameras, I have selected the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens and pair this with the 14mm f/2.8 Auto Focus Samyang lens. Therefore, I have a selection of 14mm, 21mm, 28-75mm and 42-112.5mm equivalent focal lengths using these two lenses on my A7iii and A6600...
Hello Dustin, i'm interested in this lens for my X-T3 to replace my 16-80. After reading many reviews and opinions i get the impression, that the sony version performs better than the Fuji. Just can't explain, since they seem to be optically identical. May i ask you if you also tried the Fuji version? Thanks.
Super interesting lens! It was really great to hear and see your review of it. The lens is even better than I expected even though I know the solid quality / price-performance of Tamron's recent glass. Now it's up to Sony to bring a new crop-body with the most recent tech / ergonomics 😁😅.
I wish Tamron would release this for Canon EF-S, it would be a guarantee for my next purchase, I hate that 20mm gap between my 17-50mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8.
The problem is that a lens developed for mirrorless would require a completely different design on a DSLR, as there is a big difference between the spacing between the sensor and the optical path of the lens due to no mirror
I own the sigma trio. But I would be kinda worried for the 2.8 at night in low light situations. 1.4 receives maybe twice of light vs 2.8. I Don know what to do.
fantastic lens for Sony APSC, as is my Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR Di III, but when used on such a small bodies like Sony APSC are, tripod collar is a must, I have big problems with sharpness when photographing on mountains because of wind, tripod collar is only solution, I do not understand why Tamron is not producing this, luckily I have found one on aliexpress: Ishoot S135FE tripod collar which should fit my Tammy 28-75/2.8 XR Di III, may be, this also can fit this 17-70 tammy.
Hmmm, how stable is your tripod? I'm having a hard time imaging a scenario where a tripod collar would be needed on a lens like this. To my knowledge, no lens this size is ever designed with a tripod collar in mind.
@@DustinAbbottTWI My tripod is not a problem - problem is with small Sony A6000 body , where tripod mount is not very sturdy, when I set this new Tamron to 300mm, it is getting very long, working as power booster, Tamron has 525g and Sony A6000 has 344g
I'm not sure I can determine that, as you can't utilize the two systems independently. If one is on, both are on, at least as far as your independent control.
So on the eleventh year of the APS-C E-mount there finally is "the lens" for it? I never really understood Sony's lineup in APS-C. The cameras, especially now, have amazing capabilities, but there hardly are any really good lenses for it, while you can now get almost anything for full-frame E-mount at any given price range. Most people I know who have these cameras just use the 16-50 or 18-55 kit lenses, sometimes the basic telezoom (55-210?), but never more than that. So at least these people never really built a real kit around the good camera at its core. Anyone out there amoung you doing more ambitious photography with an APS-C alpha? I would love to hear about it.
Hi I'm currently a senior in high school in Ny. I've been shooting sports from January of 2019 - present. (Jan-june 2019 w/the rebel t6 then upgraded to a6400 up too present date). I have been shooting softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, (baseball no longer/it's boring for me), & yet to shoot swimming as well as non-american sports & I want to. When I switched I was shooting w/the sigma 56 for basketball (replacing the 50 on the t6), 70-300 for soccer (replacing 75-300 kit lens on t6), & the 18-105 (🤦♂️I Absolutely abhor & loathe this freakin lens for multiple reasons). I have changed my gear w/the telephoto now being the sigma 100-400 b/c I wanted more reach & the long end at 300 was previously soft & would look even worse as I cropped. I got the sigma 24-70 b/c I wanted a lens I could use instead of the 18-105 & this fits perfectly b/c I don't shoot wider than 24, the lens itself is better for my use case improving my video/Cinematography, it's sharper, I don't like to, if I ever do shoot bball, shoot past 70mm so this lens was perfect. (I still have the 🤦♂️18-105 just incase I can't use the sigma on a gimbal). So yeah, I use the 56, 24-70, & 100-400 to shoot semi-professionally. I prefer aps-c b/c of the DOF & the perspective I have and can use for the vision I'm working to achieve. My Instagram is @mtruproductions. I would like the a7siii vid codecs in an a6600 & that would be amazing b/c the 8-bit is like shooting on a jpeg, I prefer the ergonomics of the a6600 & the battery life would be helpful so I may get that as a 2nd body eventually & I don't really have any other gripes w/it besides this at the moment. Let me know if you have any questions, I've been shooting sports seriously & working incredibly hard to learn as much as I can. I'll help however I can. (😂 Believe it or not this is the simplified version of my journey) What I would Really want is for them to create the 50-100 1.8 for e mount, a 50-140 2.8 like fugi, and just some more sharp lenses in general starting from 50mm. That'd be pretty good for how I shoot bball, but this 24-70 is good b/c I can force myself to shoot and learn the other focal lengths, See through them, even though I don't like shooting wide. Since for 2 years straight I've been shooting w/the 50 & 56 for bball and I wanted something a little different. I also do Not want shallow depth of field, if I ever want any I can get enough w/aps-c & the amount that's possible on ff I specifically Don't want that amount. Shallow dof is also at those f-stops incredibly hard to pull focus & Doesn't help me achieve the perspective I want for video so that would again be a waste.
Dear @Dustin Abbott, it is a wonderful in-depth review. One question- how this lens will perform for taking outdoor portraits at 70mm F/2.8? Will it be a dealbreaker for casual portrait shooters?
Best review out there ... as always. I would prefer it on real APS-C body, this cropped video does not look so good (guess because it's not oversampled from 6k like on 24Mpx sensor).
Hi and thx for those videos. Just bought the A6100 Have ordered the sigma 56mm F1.4 Will replace my kit 16-50 with this tamron 17-70 2.8 instead of the sony 16-55 2.8 G due to VC in tamron and general reviews ( and price ) But my question is... Would you complete this with the tamron 11-20 2.8 ? I am not sure about the additional use of this wide angle even if I think it could help me during my live streaming DJ music (to get more space covered ) even if for the moment I use a go pro for that purpose... Could I have your advice if you have time ? Thank you. ( I also make pictures of landscape, animals, buildings, streets, house ... family )
Hello from your latest subscriber, and thanks for the video! I've been tempted to switch from my Canon 200d/SL2 to a a6600 for some time now but never made the jump because I was not prepared to stomach the cost of the Sony G lens....I think that just changed!
How does this lens compare to the Sony 18-135, in your opinion? Right now, the 18-135 is my everyday carry lens. I realize the Tamron has an aperture advantage but, on the other hand, the Sony has, basically, twice the reach. Which I like. I shoot, primarily, with a Sony a6500. If going for planned, specific images, I have a number of very good, fast primes. For free form, catch as catch can outings I have a two lens kit, my 18-135 and my Sigma 100-400. Sometimes three lenses, if I throw in a macro lens. Thanks, for any insight you can share.
The Tamron is the sharper lens of the two, for sure, and has lower distortion. But yes, you lose out on a lot of focal range, so, if you're happy with the 18-135, then stick with it. The Tamron's big advantage is if you are shooting in dimmer conditions, as that big maximum aperture is going to be a huge advantage over the often two-stop slower Sony lens.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the quick reply and for your observations. The Tamron certainly has the aperture advantage. But, as I'm using an a6500 with IBIS and the Sony lens has OSS, it does pretty well as the light drops. If the Tamron is considerably sharper, it might be worth giving up some reach. Perhaps I can rent the Tamron, for a few days, and see what I think of it. Again, thanks. Much appreciated.
Hi Dustin, Great video, I would highly appreciate your advise as I am in the process of buying a zoom lens and I'm really lost, I have a Sony a7RIII and now I'm torn between the Tamron 17-70mm and the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. I would highly appreciate your advise on this point. Thank you
We, Nikon Z50 users, desperately need this lens with Z-mount! PLEASE TAMRON!!! For Nikon Z system DX (APS-C) there are only adapted lenses available in the department of fast standard DX zooms.
I was waiting for your review specifically before buying this lens for my a6400! It's sad that it's so very soft at 70mm, even with only 18mp, I'm afraid it might be even worse then my 18-135!
Awesome, thank you for your efforts. One request please shoot some chart on your A7R3 with 17-70 f/2.8 as you did now & with 24-105 f/4 on A7R3 scaling them to 18 Mp.
I'm afraid the lens is already on its way back to Tamron. I have such a high demand for reviews (I've got five other projects sitting on my desk!!) that I don't have time for endless comparisons.
This seems more flexible. It is wider and you can always crop a bit to get the 105mm framing. From this and other reviews this seems closer to the 16-55 2.8 in image quality. I don't find 18mm wide enough for an everyday or travel standard zoom. this seems a great balance between focal length, price, image stabilization, size. It makes a A6400/6100 with this competitive compared to an A7iii and Sony 24-105 or Tamron 28-200. The wider aperture compensates for the smaller sensor. I am sure this is great for editorial work. I own the 16-55, but I would have bought this instead if available. Longer range, stabilization, close focus are more important to me than a slightly better sharpness, when image quality is pretty close anyway.
An interesting lens especially in the fact that Tamron has designed a lens so similar to my former standby, the Sigma 17-70. I think it has too much distortion at 17mm for me along with the rather poor bokeh. Sharpness is great but versatility is pretty important for me. Not getting really enjoyable shallow focus close-ups is a downer for me.
Sigma is definitely the only other to have a lens with this exact focal length, though with a variable aperture. The new Tamron lens is considerably sharper, but yes, the bokeh is less than desirable.
Tamron shouldn't do that to FF shooters who carry both 17-28mm and 28-75mm lenses... Everybody knows now that they could also make this lens for FF but they won't for commercial reasons. Keeping the same 67mm diameter as the 28-75mm lens is quite provocative too... But I forgot... I am a Micro four thirds user... LOL
@@DustinAbbottTWI There has not... But hopefully there will be, after tamron sell all the stock of their 17-28 and 28-75 FF lenses. Have you tried the lens in FF mode to see the vignetting you get?
That's what's bothering me too. I've seen some videos where stopping down to f4 improves sharpness (like in this video), but in others they say it's soft through all apertures at 70mm. Not sure what's going on!
Why on earth must people test an APS-C lens on a full frame camera? (with different sensor and built-in stabilization). If they don't own a 6X00 then simply don't do a test! Of course you can use a APS-C lens on a A7III, but such a test does not have the same significance as on an 6X000
The short answer is that I don't own a Sony APS-C camera, and Tamron wanted my thoughts on the lens even if I could only use the 18 MP APS-C mode on my A7RIII.
Thank you for mentioning the attributes of the lens that videographers would be interested in like focus breathing and how the VC performs when moving. Those are some of the deciding factors for me with this lens.
Glad it was helpful!
I just got this lens and it is incredibly sharp! I also have the 11-20 Tamron and that is another incredible lens. Tamron has really upped their game these past years.
Absolutely.
I bought my first camera (Sony a6400) and lens (Tamaron 17-70).
I was shooting manually by the end of my first day (3hrs +/-). This combo is incredible!! I absolutely love this lens. Thinking about adding the Sony 70-350mm and I'll be set for a good while.
That's a pretty killer two lens kit. A lot of coverage!
Thanks for not forgetting about us apsc shooters!
You're welcome.
Well this lens is the reason I decided to keep my Sony APS-C thanks for the review
It's a good reason!
Thanks for using 200% zoom. Makes it much easier to compare sharpness - especially in 1080p. Looks like a killer lens. I'm currently on primes only, but this lens is tempting for the versatility.
Glad to help out!
Thank you for this in depth review!
I am tempted to get that lens for my A7R4 in crop mode. 26 mpx are sufficient for casual pictures. Compared to the 28-75, it has a wider range and seems to be optically as good if not better.
It's not a bad idea if you are okay with those limitations.
As a Fuji shooter, this is one of those lenses that made me go “Man, imagine if they had opened up their ecosystem earlier...”
If Fuji opens up their system and improves their video AF tracking there would be more people jumping from Sony...
That is so true. This lens would be hugely successful on Fuji.
That's all true, but man, the fuji primes, I can't love the 14 f2.8 and 90 f2 enough! But I'm a Sony shooter now.
Maybe they would make a Fuji X version if enough people show interesst, maybe
Came here to say that Tamron made an 18-300mm for both Sony E-Mount and Fuji X-Mount.
Which probably means a Fuji version of the 17-70 is in the cards, alongside the 11-20.
Hopefully I didn’t mess up....sold my Sigma 56mm and 18-105 to purchase this lens today. Really just wanted one lens for photo and video and since I do mostly sports I think the 2.8 aperture will do the trick. Before I was switching between the 18-105 for sports video and the 56 which was not quite telephoto enough even with clear image zoom for sports photos. I guess I will find out tomorrow when it gets here!
I suspect you'll be happy.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Well not sure if I got a bad copy or what, but I the VC is no where near as good as my 18-105 was and I'm getting a very noticeable vignette in video which is a huge bummer because I would always take video from my 18-105 straight to my phone and out to Instagram. There is no way I could do it with this lens. I'm really bummed because I felt like it would be my one lens, but I will be taking it back tomorrow.
UPDATE:
Picked up a new copy today. Night and day difference. Time and testing will tell but I am certain that the 17-70 is my new go to.
Something wasn't right with your first copy for a number of reasons. I'm glad you persisted with a second.
@@dusty_burkhalter Hi, I own the 18-105mm on a sony6500 and thinking about getting the tamron 17-70mm for filmming. Are you happy with the tamron lens? I probably keep the 18-105mm until I'm completely satisfied but I was wondering how you feel about your experiences on this lens.
@@filmdreams personally even after my second copy I regretted trading it for my 18-105. I found the second copy to be soft, and terrible focus in photo. Maybe I got two bad copies. I took it back and ended up buying an A7C. I do now own the Tamron 17-28 f2.8 for Sony full frame. I’m not crazy about it either. Personally I won’t buy another 3rd party lens ever again. I’d say keep the 18-105. That is a solid video lens.
Been waiting for your review of this lens! Thank you for being as detailed as always, looks like I'm buying a 17-70 soon.
It's definitely a solid choice.
I love the way you placed your sponsor... It sounds like a 80's comercial (the music). You will be at your climax at indicating the exits on a plane before taking off with the same tone and music ;-)
The review is perfect as usual
LOL - maybe my next gig will be the doing airline safety infomercials :)
Upgraded and switched from the M50 MK ii to the Fuji X-T4 in the end. The lack of lens choices in the EF-M mount made me switch systems. Also, the lack of 3rd party options for the R mount pushed away from Canon, even though I still think they do great cameras.
Loving the X-T4 and the 70-300 and I believe the Tamron 17-70 will be the perfect companion, particularly given it also has a 67mm filter thread.
Also saw your review on the Fuji 33 and will also add that to the kit. I loved the Sigma 30 1.4 for my M50, but I think the Fuji is worth the extra money over the Sigma.
All about trying to decide which order i will buy them, given the Tamron and the Fuji 33 are a similar price.
I'm testing this lens on the X-H2 right now and am really enjoying it as a standard zoom.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Hi Dustin. Thanks a lot for your review. It's really detailed! I'm intersted in the fujifilm variant of this lens. Since the optical scheme is the same, I guess the pros and cons are the same. Does this lens resolve the 40 MP? I have seen some comparison here on RUclips and most of the time, the pictures of the XT5 or X-H2 seem softer to me than the ones of a 24-26 MP camera (e.g X-T4 or X-H2s). In case, are you going to upload some examples? Thanks
My copy has been loaned out since day one of having it so I've not yet been able to play with it! Hence I live vicariously through your reviews, as always :) I knew it was going to be a fun addition to the lineup: the new AI based VC is a plus, and that focal range! Supremely glad you enjoyed it. Still the best reviews on the net, regardless of topic.
Thanks for the great feedback, Marc.
Really great review as usual of what looks like an outstanding lens for my A 6500. I had my heart set on the Sony PZ 18-105 f4 for the great range and power zoom feature for video but now am not sure I can live without the sharpness the Tamron offers! I guess I need to Google focus puller devices and see if anyone makes a simple peg fitted to the lens so I can make my own zoom lever! Thanks for the stellar review!
My pleasure.
Great review once again. This lens made me think switch back to APS-C from A73, I wish Sony to release a A7/A9 style APS-C body though
I agree on the body, for sure. The a7 platform is much better ergonomically, and it still isn't that big.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I want an APS-C body that designed like A7/A9 and shoots like A9 (20 or at least 10 fps electronically without blackout and without rolling shutter effect ) . But probably they're going for high resolution A9 body and forcing us to spend more 😭
I wish the same thing! The viewfinder not being in the middle to me is one of the main reasons i want to go full frame it’s not that i have a real issue w APSC sensor
I 💯% agree with everything you guys wrote above 🙂.
@@richrollin4867 I want APS-C for wildlife
Dustin can't wait for your 35 1.4 GM review!
Me too!
@@DustinAbbottTWI When's it coming out??
Thanks for a detailed review... A comparison review with this lens and Sony 16- 55 f/2.8 would be very nice 👍
Hi KT, I'm afraid the lens is already on its way back to Tamron. I have such a high demand for reviews (I've got five other projects sitting on my desk!!) that I don't have time for endless comparisons.
@@DustinAbbottTWI ok...no problem...thanks
You're right about this being a system seller. I would've gone with Fuji if this lens existed on X-mount.
I believe it!
it exists now!
Awesome review. Going to pickup a copy this weekend for the wife's A6000 camera. Such a sweet lens. Probably will never come off :) Will be great for yosemite next week!
It will be a great choice for that.
Another great review Dustin, Congratulations on the 100k subs, Very well deserved 😁👍
I really appreciate that!
Hi Dustin, thanks for the review. I am planning a trip to Tasmania this coming October, I have the XH1 and 16-55mm combo which is too heavy and I cannot decide should I buy this lens to pair with my XT3 for lighter weight. Would I suffer much in term of IQ should I change to this lens with the XT3?
Thanks for your great review. I bought the version for Fuji X and it's a great lens!.
Definitely.
Great review! Definitely interested in it for my Sony a7rii
Thank you for this in depth review
My pleasure!
Thank you for the review, this lens looks like a great option! Do you have any opinions on purchasing a lens like this versus two or three of the Sigma 1.4 APS-C primes?
You won't get the versatility with the primes, but maybe you're more comfortable with the open aperture...if you're interested in filmmaking or want something for travel photography pick the tamron! I will pick it first and then the 56mm 1.4!
That really depends on your shooting style. The Tamron is obviously far more convenient, so if you are traveling, you may not want to mess with changing lenses all the time. Primes are fine if your shooting style is more deliberate, and you can get more flexibility with the wider maximum apertures.
I had the same question! Been eyeing the Sigma primes for quite a while now but the Tamron is definitely getting my attention!
Great review as always, thanks.
Thanks for watching!
I've enjoy each of your (definitive) reviews... But, no Nikon Camera reviews so far! (Just D850 vs Canon 5D M5) Hope you cover up soon.
Thank you👌
I don't actually review Nikon, so I'm afraid there won't be any Nikon reviews coming from me. I don't have the time, energy, or money to cover every system out there.
Been a while since you did this review but I hear that some users have seen zoom creep on the 17-70 for top-down shots. Did you notice that? Cheers Dustin
It's been a long time. I don't remember that, but I also rarely use lenses long term because they are loaners.
Thanks for the review Pastor Abbott.
You're very welcome.
Can this lens be used on a Sony Full Frame camera such as the A7R4? Please advise…
It is not all that often that a great lens bursts onto the scene as with this Tamron.
I have a Sony a6400, purchased mainly for its stellar AF abilities.
Target subjects, ever moving grandchildren + their mobile phone image capturing devoted parents!
The lens stabilisation is a + but is never a primary consideration for me.
Note that you filmed the video on a FF Sony mirrorless. I have a Gen 1 a7R and assume this lens will operate on this older body, but in cropped mode.
Fwiw, I believe this is the most enthused you have sounded in a lens review😉
Hi Robert, yes, the lens would work in APS-C mode. Enthusiasm is because it is good lens, not because I'll own it (I don't even have an APS-C camera!)
If I shot only with APSC bodies, I would definitely choose this lens and I would pair it with the Samyang 12mm f/2.0 MF lens... However, since I shoot with both full frame (A7iii) and APSC (A6600) Sony cameras, I have selected the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens and pair this with the 14mm f/2.8 Auto Focus Samyang lens. Therefore, I have a selection of 14mm, 21mm, 28-75mm and 42-112.5mm equivalent focal lengths using these two lenses on my A7iii and A6600...
That's the kind of logic I often had, too. You want to maximize your investment by getting to use lenses on multiple patforms.
One like for the old German Money Note. :-)
I've had a lot of those along the way!
Great report. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Hello Dustin, i'm interested in this lens for my X-T3 to replace my 16-80. After reading many reviews and opinions i get the impression, that the sony version performs better than the Fuji. Just can't explain, since they seem to be optically identical. May i ask you if you also tried the Fuji version? Thanks.
I haven't used the Fuji version, but it is identical optically so shouldn't be different in performance.
Super interesting lens! It was really great to hear and see your review of it. The lens is even better than I expected even though I know the solid quality / price-performance of Tamron's recent glass. Now it's up to Sony to bring a new crop-body with the most recent tech / ergonomics 😁😅.
Tamron has become the king of zooms on Sony.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes!
I wish Tamron would release this for Canon EF-S, it would be a guarantee for my next purchase, I hate that 20mm gap between my 17-50mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8.
The problem is that a lens developed for mirrorless would require a completely different design on a DSLR, as there is a big difference between the spacing between the sensor and the optical path of the lens due to no mirror
Excellent review. Just might get this over the Sigma trio.
If versatility is your priority, the zoom is hard to pass up
I own the sigma trio. But I would be kinda worried for the 2.8 at night in low light situations. 1.4 receives maybe twice of light vs 2.8. I Don know what to do.
Definitively a system selling lens for me!
That doesn't surprise me.
fantastic lens for Sony APSC, as is my Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR Di III, but when used on such a small bodies like Sony APSC are, tripod collar is a must, I have big problems with sharpness when photographing on mountains because of wind, tripod collar is only solution, I do not understand why Tamron is not producing this, luckily I have found one on aliexpress: Ishoot S135FE tripod collar which should fit my Tammy 28-75/2.8 XR Di III, may be, this also can fit this 17-70 tammy.
Hmmm, how stable is your tripod? I'm having a hard time imaging a scenario where a tripod collar would be needed on a lens like this. To my knowledge, no lens this size is ever designed with a tripod collar in mind.
@@DustinAbbottTWI My tripod is not a problem - problem is with small Sony A6000 body , where tripod mount is not very sturdy, when I set this new Tamron to 300mm, it is getting very long, working as power booster, Tamron has 525g and Sony A6000 has 344g
Tripod collar for Canon 70-200/2.8L has arrived, I have modified it litlle bit and it perfectly fits this Tamron
Does the vibration control add additional stabilization on top of IBIS or does it behave like OSS and split access control?
I'm not sure I can determine that, as you can't utilize the two systems independently. If one is on, both are on, at least as far as your independent control.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I would think a test of IBIS + Tamron vs. IBIS only would give some insight.
So on the eleventh year of the APS-C E-mount there finally is "the lens" for it? I never really understood Sony's lineup in APS-C. The cameras, especially now, have amazing capabilities, but there hardly are any really good lenses for it, while you can now get almost anything for full-frame E-mount at any given price range. Most people I know who have these cameras just use the 16-50 or 18-55 kit lenses, sometimes the basic telezoom (55-210?), but never more than that. So at least these people never really built a real kit around the good camera at its core. Anyone out there amoung you doing more ambitious photography with an APS-C alpha? I would love to hear about it.
That's a valid point. Sony has continued to make competitive bodies but is obviously much more focused on full frame lens development.
Hi I'm currently a senior in high school in Ny. I've been shooting sports from January of 2019 - present. (Jan-june 2019 w/the rebel t6 then upgraded to a6400 up too present date). I have been shooting softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, (baseball no longer/it's boring for me), & yet to shoot swimming as well as non-american sports & I want to. When I switched I was shooting w/the sigma 56 for basketball (replacing the 50 on the t6), 70-300 for soccer (replacing 75-300 kit lens on t6), & the 18-105 (🤦♂️I Absolutely abhor & loathe this freakin lens for multiple reasons). I have changed my gear w/the telephoto now being the sigma 100-400 b/c I wanted more reach & the long end at 300 was previously soft & would look even worse as I cropped. I got the sigma 24-70 b/c I wanted a lens I could use instead of the 18-105 & this fits perfectly b/c I don't shoot wider than 24, the lens itself is better for my use case improving my video/Cinematography, it's sharper, I don't like to, if I ever do shoot bball, shoot past 70mm so this lens was perfect. (I still have the 🤦♂️18-105 just incase I can't use the sigma on a gimbal). So yeah, I use the 56, 24-70, & 100-400 to shoot semi-professionally. I prefer aps-c b/c of the DOF & the perspective I have and can use for the vision I'm working to achieve. My Instagram is @mtruproductions. I would like the a7siii vid codecs in an a6600 & that would be amazing b/c the 8-bit is like shooting on a jpeg, I prefer the ergonomics of the a6600 & the battery life would be helpful so I may get that as a 2nd body eventually & I don't really have any other gripes w/it besides this at the moment. Let me know if you have any questions, I've been shooting sports seriously & working incredibly hard to learn as much as I can. I'll help however I can. (😂 Believe it or not this is the simplified version of my journey)
What I would Really want is for them to create the 50-100 1.8 for e mount, a 50-140 2.8 like fugi, and just some more sharp lenses in general starting from 50mm. That'd be pretty good for how I shoot bball, but this 24-70 is good b/c I can force myself to shoot and learn the other focal lengths, See through them, even though I don't like shooting wide. Since for 2 years straight I've been shooting w/the 50 & 56 for bball and I wanted something a little different.
I also do Not want shallow depth of field, if I ever want any I can get enough w/aps-c & the amount that's possible on ff I specifically Don't want that amount. Shallow dof is also at those f-stops incredibly hard to pull focus & Doesn't help me achieve the perspective I want for video so that would again be a waste.
There's still a lot of room for new APS-C development on Sony, for sure.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Correct, but they want us to go to 35mm format 😑when I don't want it. Nor does it help me bring what I envisage into reality.
Dear @Dustin Abbott, it is a wonderful in-depth review. One question- how this lens will perform for taking outdoor portraits at 70mm F/2.8? Will it be a dealbreaker for casual portrait shooters?
I think it will perform just fine. Nice subject isolation.
Best review out there ... as always. I would prefer it on real APS-C body, this cropped video does not look so good (guess because it's not oversampled from 6k like on 24Mpx sensor).
Understood, but I'm not independently wealthy, so I can't own everything!
@@DustinAbbottTWI I feel your pain. Good you found a workaround.
Hi and thx for those videos.
Just bought the A6100
Have ordered the sigma 56mm F1.4
Will replace my kit 16-50 with this tamron 17-70 2.8 instead of the sony 16-55 2.8 G due to VC in tamron and general reviews ( and price )
But my question is... Would you complete this with the tamron 11-20 2.8 ? I am not sure about the additional use of this wide angle even if I think it could help me during my live streaming DJ music (to get more space covered ) even if for the moment I use a go pro for that purpose...
Could I have your advice if you have time ? Thank you. ( I also make pictures of landscape, animals, buildings, streets, house ... family )
I would say either the Tamron 11-20mm or the Samyang AF 12mm F2 for a cheaper alternative.
@@DustinAbbottTWI i took Tamron 11-20.
I have Tamron 17-70 2.8
Tamron 11-20 2.8 and Sigma 56 1.4
Hello from your latest subscriber, and thanks for the video! I've been tempted to switch from my Canon 200d/SL2 to a a6600 for some time now but never made the jump because I was not prepared to stomach the cost of the Sony G lens....I think that just changed!
And that's why I call the lens a system seller. You just proved the point!
This is rumored coming to Fuji x mount. You think this is optically superior? I would get this just for the stabilization alone.
I'm not surprised to hear that, and yes, it is a great lens.
Hi dear, very nice video, a quast.. Tamron works well with R6 with adapter ef, I mean it can make the 12 frame second in h+ mode.. If you know.???
Not with this lens. This lens is only designed for Sony and can't be used on Canon even via adapter.
How does this lens compare to the Sony 18-135, in your opinion? Right now, the 18-135 is my everyday carry lens. I realize the Tamron has an aperture advantage but, on the other hand, the Sony has, basically, twice the reach. Which I like. I shoot, primarily, with a Sony a6500. If going for planned, specific images, I have a number of very good, fast primes. For free form, catch as catch can outings I have a two lens kit, my 18-135 and my Sigma 100-400. Sometimes three lenses, if I throw in a macro lens. Thanks, for any insight you can share.
The Tamron is the sharper lens of the two, for sure, and has lower distortion. But yes, you lose out on a lot of focal range, so, if you're happy with the 18-135, then stick with it. The Tamron's big advantage is if you are shooting in dimmer conditions, as that big maximum aperture is going to be a huge advantage over the often two-stop slower Sony lens.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the quick reply and for your observations. The Tamron certainly has the aperture advantage. But, as I'm using an a6500 with IBIS and the Sony lens has OSS, it does pretty well as the light drops. If the Tamron is considerably sharper, it might be worth giving up some reach. Perhaps I can rent the Tamron, for a few days, and see what I think of it. Again, thanks. Much appreciated.
Hi Dustin, Great video, I would highly appreciate your advise as I am in the process of buying a zoom lens and I'm really lost, I have a Sony a7RIII and now I'm torn between the Tamron 17-70mm and the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. I would highly appreciate your advise on this point. Thank you
Buy the 28-75. You can only use the 17-70mm in APS-C mode, so only 18 MP.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you very much for the advice, I will do so.
We, Nikon Z50 users, desperately need this lens with Z-mount! PLEASE TAMRON!!! For Nikon Z system DX (APS-C) there are only adapted lenses available in the department of fast standard DX zooms.
I completely agree that both Canon and Nikon really need third party support on mirrorless.
Now Sony needs a pro apsc body to take full advantage of this lens.
I thought the a6600 was the pro model.
I assume you are referring to an APS-C sensor in something more like an a7 body?
I was waiting for your review specifically before buying this lens for my a6400! It's sad that it's so very soft at 70mm, even with only 18mp, I'm afraid it might be even worse then my 18-135!
It's not soft, though, and stopped down to F4 it is very sharp across the frame.
this lens looked like a good option to change my sigma 18-35 f1.8 +mc11 adapter but i think its not worth it
@@daniellehotsky1776 can you post comparison shots on dpreview nex7 forums? thanks
compare against sigma 24-70 2.8...
or atleast your thoughts?
They really aren't comparable lenses - one is for full frame (sigma), while this one is only for APS-C.
@@DustinAbbottTWI i am gonna use'em(whichever i buy) on a crop body...like a6600...i am just curious that, is the tamron sharp enough
The Tamron will probably be sharper than the Sigma in that application, actually
@@DustinAbbottTWI ok ... thank you..
Awesome, thank you for your efforts. One request please shoot some chart on your A7R3 with 17-70 f/2.8 as you did now & with 24-105 f/4 on A7R3 scaling them to 18 Mp.
Hi Amit, I'm afraid I don't have the 24-105 on hand. It was a loaner.
i wonder why tamron put this out, it basically predates their 17-28 and 28-75 on one lens
This is for APS-C only. The 17-28 and 28-75 work (also) for full frame.
Darksteel nailed it. APS-C only.
@@Benderlaiv ahh, thats a solid point! thanks man!
Comparisons with sony 18-105 pleaseeeee 🙏
This is what I'm hoping for too!
I'm afraid the lens is already on its way back to Tamron. I have such a high demand for reviews (I've got five other projects sitting on my desk!!) that I don't have time for endless comparisons.
@@DustinAbbottTWI no worries Dustin, your review of this lens is easily the best I've seen so I thank you for that!
This seems more flexible. It is wider and you can always crop a bit to get the 105mm framing. From this and other reviews this seems closer to the 16-55 2.8 in image quality. I don't find 18mm wide enough for an everyday or travel standard zoom. this seems a great balance between focal length, price, image stabilization, size. It makes a A6400/6100 with this competitive compared to an A7iii and Sony 24-105 or Tamron 28-200. The wider aperture compensates for the smaller sensor. I am sure this is great for editorial work. I own the 16-55, but I would have bought this instead if available. Longer range, stabilization, close focus are more important to me than a slightly better sharpness, when image quality is pretty close anyway.
@@stefpix and how about comparing it to 16 70 sony f4 zeiss in terms of sharpness? Zeiss is very compact though
Οι 100 δραχμές πως βρέθηκαν εκεί;
An interesting lens especially in the fact that Tamron has designed a lens so similar to my former standby, the Sigma 17-70. I think it has too much distortion at 17mm for me along with the rather poor bokeh. Sharpness is great but versatility is pretty important for me. Not getting really enjoyable shallow focus close-ups is a downer for me.
Sigma is definitely the only other to have a lens with this exact focal length, though with a variable aperture. The new Tamron lens is considerably sharper, but yes, the bokeh is less than desirable.
Tamron shouldn't do that to FF shooters who carry both 17-28mm and 28-75mm lenses... Everybody knows now that they could also make this lens for FF but they won't for commercial reasons. Keeping the same 67mm diameter as the 28-75mm lens is quite provocative too... But I forgot... I am a Micro four thirds user... LOL
I'm not sure there has even been a 17-70mm F2.8 zoom for full frame.
@@DustinAbbottTWI There has not... But hopefully there will be, after tamron sell all the stock of their 17-28 and 28-75 FF lenses. Have you tried the lens in FF mode to see the vignetting you get?
I got the 28-70 f/2.8 for full frame. For 6### I have 18-135. I cannot justify buying this lens. Sucks!
I haven't tested the 18-135, though I'm confident it is not optically in the same class as this lens.
I watched dozens of reciews of this lens. It looks unuseable at 70mm 2.8
That's what's bothering me too. I've seen some videos where stopping down to f4 improves sharpness (like in this video), but in others they say it's soft through all apertures at 70mm. Not sure what's going on!
That is completely NOT my experience with it.
@@DustinAbbottTWI its not a big deal I had already ordered it but it looks really soft at 70 in all videos at 2.8
Wow. I don't know what to tell, but that's not at all what I saw or the MTF charts show.
Where those early reviews with preproduction lenses? Something tamron fixed when they went to production, it happens
No Pentax mount so not watching.
...but commenting?
speeding up your footage on a talking head, looks a bit weird.
Try slowing it down. My face does the most terrible contortions imaginable :)
Why on earth must people test an APS-C lens on a full frame camera? (with different sensor and built-in stabilization). If they don't own a 6X00 then simply don't do a test! Of course you can use a APS-C lens on a A7III, but such a test does not have the same significance as on an 6X000
The short answer is that I don't own a Sony APS-C camera, and Tamron wanted my thoughts on the lens even if I could only use the 18 MP APS-C mode on my A7RIII.
@@DustinAbbottTWI You simply could have answered them you don't own an 6X00 and won't compromise
How exactly are my findings invalidated?