Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Summary
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a solid optical performer — a wide-angle zoom (26mm equivalent) with f/2.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.
Genre Suitability
- Excellent for: Landscape, Sport, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Nightscape, Street, Travel
- Avoid for: Architecture, Portrait, Macro
Strengths
- Well-controlled aberrations
- Weather-sealed construction
- Fast linear motor autofocus
- Built-in optical stabilization
Weaknesses
- Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Below-average flare resistance
Specifications 18/20
| Optical construction | 16 elements in 12 groups (2 GM aspherical, 1 hybrid aspherical, 2 LD) |
| Coating | BBAR, fluorine |
| Focal length | 17-70mm |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 |
| Sweet spot | f/4 |
| Aperture blades | 9 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 18 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.2x |
| Min focus distance | 190mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | Yes |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Aperture ring | — |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 530g |
| Diameter | 74.6mm |
| Length | 119.6mm |
| Filter thread | 67mm |
| Year | 2021 |
Optical Quality 12/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Coma | 2.0 |
| Astigmatism | 1.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 0.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.5 |
| Lateral CA | 2.0 |
| Distortion | 0.5 |
| Bokeh | 0.5 |
| Flare resistance | 0.5 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
Rendering
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Below-average flare resistance
Distortion
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.
Genre Fit
~ Nightscape Photography 3/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
✓ Landscape Photography 4/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Below-average flare resistance
- Well-controlled astigmatism
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
✗ Architecture Photography 2/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Below-average flare resistance
~ Street Photography 3/5
Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Below-average flare resistance
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible coma — point lights stay tight to the corners
~ Travel Photography 3/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Heavy at 530g
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Below-average flare resistance
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
✗ Portrait Photography 2/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
✓ Sport Photography 4/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Slow f/2.8 aperture
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
✗ Macro Photography 2/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Good center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.2x)
- Noticeable distortion visible in architectural subjects
- Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
- Well-controlled longitudinal CA
- Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
- Below-average bokeh quality