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Tamron AF17~50mm f2.8 Zoom Lens by Jon Sienkiewicz Camera manufacturers make good lenses, there’s no questioning that. But there are many other lenses available that fit your camera and are just as good—or quite better—than the camera brand. Tamron is one lens maker that consistently delivers lenses in this category. Article rating: 8.00

There are two common misconceptions associated with SLR cameras and lenses. The first is that you’ll always get better pictures with an SLR camera. The second is that SLR lenses manufactured by a camera maker always outperform independent brand lenses. Neither is true.

Of course, there are some instances where an SLR will get great results and almost everything else will flop. And for most of us, an SLR is much more fun to use—and that’s the most important thing at the end of the day. The ability to attach a long telephoto, macro or extreme wideangle lens is a thrill that only an SLR can deliver.

Camera manufacturers make good lenses, there’s no questioning that. But there are many other lenses available that fit your camera and are just as good—or quite better—than the camera brand. Tamron is one lens maker that consistently delivers lenses in this category.

Companies like Tamron that specialize in lens making devote 100% of their research and development toward lenses. They are not chasing after a dozen different rabbits with one set of hounds. Tamron has been around since 1950—a few years longer than SLR cameras have existed. They are a major manufacturer of accessory camera lenses as well as lenses for video and industrial use. In fact, they are one of the few independent lens brands that professionals brag about owning.

The Tamron AF17~50mm f2.8 XR LD Aspherical (IF) Zoom is a special lens indeed. At first glance the novice might think “why should I be even mildly interest in a 17~50 zoom? My DSLR came with an 18~55mm kit lens.”

Variable aperture. Those 18~55 and 18~70mm zooms have apertures that are f3.5 at the wideangle setting but squint down to f5.6 at the telephoto position. Not only does that mean less light—which of course translates to longer exposures—it also inhibits your ability to control depth of field (an important feature when shooting portraits). The Tamron 17~50 is a constant f2.8. It’s f2.8 at the 17mm wideangle setting and f2.8 zoomed out to 50mm. Shooting at f2.8 at 50mm allows you to isolate the subject in a portrait by making the background drop out of focus. You just can’t do it if you have to shoot at f5.6.

Technical Stuff
Used on a Nikon D70, for example, the focal length is equivalent to 26-78mm when converted to a 35mm format. It belongs to Tamron’s Di (Digitally integrated)-II class of lenses that are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers. This lens cannot be used with 35mm film cameras or digital SLR cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm, so Canon 5D owners are out of luck.

The close focus distance is a 10.6” (27 cm) over the entire zoom range. This is terrific—it let’s you get right down in there and, in fact, achieves a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.5 at 50mm.  The lens is compact and light, boasting an overall length of about 3.2-inches and it weighs less than 16 ounces. Filter diameter is 67mm.

This Tamron lens has a lot of abbreviations in its name, and as a rule that means it’s made from special glass. XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass is used to reduce various aberrations and keep the overall product small. Two hybrid aspherical elements maintain imaging performance and shorten and compress the entire optical system.  Finally, an LD (Low Dispersion) glass element is used to diminish on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations, an important factor for enhancing optical quality in digital photography, and to achieve outstanding optical performance over the entire zoom range.

Two small things I really like: it has a zoom lock that keeps the lens snugged-up and prevents the barrel from extending while being carried. It also comes standard with a flower-petal lens hood that reverses on the lens barrel for convenient storage. 

Field Trials
Build quality is exceptional. The zoom is smooth and firm and covers the entire range in about one-quarter turn. Even when extended, the lens is compact and easy to handle. The wide (1”) knurled zoom ring is just about the right size for most hands. Cosmetically it’s a joy, too. A thin, tasteful gold band is positioned just above the focusing ring, providing a handsome accent.

The larger aperture made it easier to see, compose and focus at every focal length. Although I own and use a Tamron 28~75mm lens that is a constant f2.8 and was built with the same design philosophy as this 17~50mm, I was surprised how much difference the faster f/stop made compared to the standard kit lenses. And the final word, lens performance was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Tamron—sensational.

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	Very nice, accurate article. Posted by: Fred Hartson Jul 10, 2006 @ 9:46 AM EST
	VERY GOOD IF THE LENS IS AS GOOD AS THE 28-300 TAMRON I HAVE I LOOK FOR WARD TO WHEN I CAN PURCHASE ONE. Posted by: COLIN GOODE Sep 30, 2006 @ 5:32 AM EST
	Very interesting. I just traded my Canon 30D, 17-85 USM IS,Tamron 28-75 f2.8, 430EX Flash for a preorder Nikon D300. The IQ of the Tamron was the best I have ever seen: sharp with great color compaired to the Canon. I did not have any CA problems and the corners were great. Since I'm starting over again, I will get the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 , then maybe the Nikon 18-200 VR. Maybe buy Xmas Nikon will come out with more new lens. The Nikon lens are very good at fast and accurate focasing, and if they had a 18-200 VR f2.8 I would pay any price for it. Art Posted by: Art Oswald Oct 16, 2007 @ 10:4 PM EST

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