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Tamron SP AF 17-50 mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)

Pictures:
Specifications:
Manufacturer Tamron
Model SP AF 17-50 mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)
Lens style Universal zoom
Focal length 17 - 50 mm
Maximum aperture f/2.8
Angle of view 78.75 - 31.18 o
Closest focusing distance 0.27 m
Maximum magnification 1:4.5
Minimum aperture 32
Number of diaphragm blades 7
Auto focus type AF
Lens Construction 16 elements / 13 groups
Filter diameter 67 mm
Macro No
Available mounts Nikon F
Sony A / Minolta
Pentax K
Canon EF-S
Dimensions 74 x 81.7 mm
Weight 434 g
Additional information
Average rating (27 owners reviews)
Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money

Overall

4.31 Good
Owners reviews (27)
  1. Jake
    Jake 28 December 2013, 15:14
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 204.138.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: $400
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: -Loud focus motor -Rotating front ring when focusing - No full time focus ring

    Pros: -No problem with sharpness across the board. -Relativley inexpensive -Versitile due to wide angle and portait focal lengths -Constant aperture

    Summary: Much better than any kit 18-55.

  2. Mopsig
    Mopsig 13 August 2013, 13:34
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 195.245.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 120,00 
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: very soft at 17mm wide open

    Pros: very sharp from 24mm up and f4 usable as macro lens

    Summary: a very good 24mm to 50mm macro lens :)

  3. Mike
    Mike 2 March 2013, 16:18
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 78.151.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: £279
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Can have terrible purple fringing in high contrast conditions. Would be good if the next revision of this lens was weather sealed.

    Pros: Sharp, very sharp. Useful focal range. Fast enough. Very cheap.

    Summary: A great value kit upgrade and walk around lens. It's on my K-5 most if the time. When it gets dusty or damaged I get a new one. My latest Chinese made copy is actually very good and as good as my last Made in Japan copy.

  4. trautwyn
    trautwyn 27 February 2013, 15:24
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 193.22.x.x
    Owner since: 4 years
    Price: 400 Euro
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: lack of image stabilization AF is somewhat slow

    Pros: f 2.8 over the full range quite lightweight somewhat limited range

    Summary: great value for the price and a huge step forward. Although I would wish for a bit more reach on the long end, maybe up to 70mm

  5. Doru
    Doru 13 December 2012, 13:03
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 193.239.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 285 EUR
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: slow/noisy auto focus, AF hunts in low light (like all lenses), CA at wide end.

    Pros: f/2.8 all zoom range, nice colors, good IQ (image quality), SHARP, nice bokeh, compact, light, cheap.

    Summary: yes, I have a new copy, this one it's sharp.

  6. Doru
    Doru 28 November 2012, 12:16
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 193.239.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 285 EUR
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: soft, CA at wide end, slow & noisy AF

    Pros: f/2.8, good color rendition, nice bokeh

    Summary: Maybe I was "hit" with a bad copy of this lense, because is everithing but sharp.

  7. Duron Maniac
    Duron Maniac 12 August 2012, 20:41
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 200.158.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price:
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Doesn't have full time manual focus, AF is not so fast, focus ring turns during AF.

    Pros: Great image quality, improves a lot in the long end stoping down to f/3.2 or f/3.5. Good body construction in the price range.

    Summary: A good upgrade over standard kit lens (18-55). Lower cost doesn't mean low quality in this model. Recomended.

  8. matteo
    matteo 25 June 2012, 18:58
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.21.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 280
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: quite slow autofocus (i think worst than canon18-55is) and not so perfect. at f 2.8 no good quality image in the center between 40-50mm, no stabilisation

    Pros: aperture 2.8 works very good between 17-30, good grip in hand (manual focus to), good value for money (build quality, 17mm, f2.8, lens hood included)

    Summary: For the price I payed I get a very good lens, not perfect but for what I need is good! I think the worst thing is the medium autofocus

  9. M22
    M22 21 May 2012, 21:46
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 188.106.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 300 €
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Loud AF; out-of-focus-highlights tend to show an onion-shaped structure; mediocre bokeh; zoom is stiff and "sticky" - could be smoother

    Pros: Sharpness and contrast across the focal range and wide open at f/2.8 (50mm is a little bit softer and needs f/4); "bang for the buck"; AF-accurecy is ok; compact design

    Summary: In my opinion the best APS-C fixed-aperture standard zoom in this price region.

  10. PhasedIN
    PhasedIN 24 February 2012, 04:40
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 24.8.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 330USD
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: feels a bit plasticky compared to my 24mm L-glass, AF is a bit louder than Canon's USM drives (but I'll live with it, nothing to complain about, really); front element sticks out a bit (I would recommend a filter, well worth it); chromatic aberration at f2.8 (not significant at f4.0 and beyond)

    Pros: LIGHT (this baby is only 430g, love that, bit time!); versatile: I shoot some landscapes, some portraits, this lens does it ALL with relatively good performance on my Canon 7D (I like that!); INEXPENSIVE (compared to some Canon APS-C and L-glass options... com'on Cannon! when I see a lens like this I realize that you are just gouging my pockets with your models.... 1000USD for the 17-55 f2.8 IS... seriously... get real! This lens beat it at 1/2 the price = #WINNER!!! (that's 'you loose' in twitter speak :)

    Summary: if you're reading this you know what to do, BUY MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

  11. Gawish
    Gawish 21 February 2012, 03:26
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 41.235.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: 500
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Slightly inaccurate + Noisy AF Feels Plasticy, comparable to Canon kit lens build quality High distortion on 17mm

    Pros: Very Sharp Minimal Vignetting Exceptional performance at 24mm up to 35mm

    Summary: Worth the money, great walk-around lens. Very sharp, which is the most significant value in the end. Would definitely recommend to a friend

  12. Adhi
    Adhi 28 October 2011, 21:16
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 206.53.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: $300
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Poor build quality & AF accuracy, soft in wide open

    Pros: Good price, Nice image but you must stop down to f4

    Summary: Don't think about it, just take the picture

  13. vietlh81
    vietlh81 6 October 2011, 14:44
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 193.48.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 300
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Slow and noisy AF. No IS.

    Pros: Sharp in wideopen. Cheap.

    Summary: Good lens in range 17-50mm. Best for Pentax, sony.

  14. aquadust
    aquadust 23 September 2011, 15:04
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 15.203.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 350EUR
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: relatively slow and very noisy AF, not very tough build quality, focusing ring rotates during AF

    Pros: PRICE, optical quality - sharp from wide open, nice colours and contrast, internal focusing, very good bokeh

    Summary: "cheap" standard zoom lens for everyone, performs as it had hidden L-grade canon glasses inside :), almost as sharp as canon 17-55 which costs more than 900EUR. Ideal lens for shooting where you do not need extremely fast AF (all but sport)

  15. GP
    GP 22 August 2011, 12:23
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 87.23.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 350 euro
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: no af override(sadly), no stabilization, only for DX af ring gets a bit in the way

    Pros: The best PRO wide zoom in my bag! forget the nikons!forget the 17-55!forget the sigmas! i've checked and tried everything in the 24-70 equiv. range,as i use it a lot,and if you have any doubt go straight here.Nice handling,SUPERB image quality,decent at 2.8 and look what happens if you close it a bit to f/3.5-5! Even distortion and vignetting -if not corrected in post production,camera raw has a profile for this lens- manage to look pleasant,like 1-2 thousand euro nikon lenses(which i've got)!

    Summary: Need a zoom in the 17-50 range?go get it. Don't confuse this gem with the poor VC version. This is not a great lens "for its cheap price",this is a great lens,this is THE lens to buy in that range.End of the story.

  16. phototaxi
    phototaxi 3 May 2011, 10:32
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 89.204.x.x
    Owner since: 6 years
    Price: 300€
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: AF loud and slow, random accuracy, wide open soft

    Pros: you can take pictures

    Summary: i sold the lens

  17. Chris
    Chris 12 November 2010, 06:29
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 75.136.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: $450
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Smearing at the extreme edges, soft wide open(no big surprise there), AF hunts in low light

    Pros: Light, Sharp at f4, low flare, low CA

    Summary: An enjoyable lens, practically glued to my camera for the last year. For a zoom at this price it is an excellent value. The AF is sloppy compared to the EF85 1.8 USM, but is better then the EF50 1.8. Bokeh is a bit harsh, out of focus circles have a hard edge to them.

  18. Cezary
    Cezary 11 October 2010, 06:39
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 174.3.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: $400
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Excellent image quality. Very sharp from f4.0. It makes your prime lenses redundant! Very light lens.

    Pros: No image stabilizer

    Summary: This is one of the best lenses for the cropped sensor cameras. Great resolution and rendition of colors. This is the best value lens for your cropped sensor camera

  19. rainer
    rainer 6 October 2010, 21:03
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 80.174.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 220€
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: a bit soft at 2.8, at Canon a bit dull colours, focus dizzy

    Pros: sharp, prize, nice allrounder

    Summary: Iam using this good lens with my Pentax K 20. I bought it used for 220€, so a big deal. Before I used the same lens with Canon, but I sold it, because it produced dull colours (Canon only produce nice colours with L-glass or the 10-22+15-85). Very sharp, good corners, few CA´s and few vignetting.

  20. scottso
    scottso 29 June 2010, 04:18
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 74.109.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: used $310
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: none

    Pros: sharp ,f2.8,good color rendition, good value, reasonably quick accurate focusing and a little buzzy ( so what ),accesable manual focus ring,

    Summary: you can spend 3x as much on a canon and get similar performance. IS model of tammy may be an option for $200. upgrade over kit,good focal length to go with 55/250 canon and a super wide. on crop body good portrait length

  21. kamal
    kamal 22 June 2010, 09:09
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 85.9.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 450$
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: very slow focus

    Pros: yery sherp

    Summary: yery good walkaround lens for APS-C

  22. Jeremiah
    Jeremiah 16 August 2009, 12:58
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 94.197.x.x
    Owner since: 3 months
    Price: $365
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: slightly underwhelming build quality, a bit noisy, af/mf switch small and inconveniently placed, distortion @ wide end, and focus ring sometimes touches finger because it's so close to the zoom ring.

    Pros: wonderfully sharp for the price, small & lightweight for being a fast lens, no lens creep, and great contrast + saturation of images. f/2.8!

    Summary: (on a nikon d90) I LOVE this lens. i opted to forego the kit lens on the D90 for the increase in f-stop and am very happy with my choice. the cons listed are EXTREMELY minor and I got used to them within a few weeks; especially when i figured in the money i saved compared to a brand name lens. This is the perfect starter lens / walk-around lens for DX bodies and is the lens on my camera 80% of the time.

  23. bugsier
    bugsier 9 August 2009, 14:17
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 91.62.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 360€
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: Autofocus is rather loud, not fully recommended for wedding photographers. Not weather sealed (but cannot be expected at this price tag!). Slight vignetting, but not disturbing.

    Pros: Very sharp images, good for low-light shooting, good built quality, extermely cheap for what it offers

    Summary: Highly recommended Lens for Canon 1.6 crop camera owners. There simply ain't any better "standard lens" for the EF-S mount available... yet.

  24. MasterB
    MasterB 23 June 2009, 02:00
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 217.96.x.x
    Owner since: 3 months
    Price: 500 USD
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Some visible chromatic aberrations at wide angle. Autofocus is quite loud with its high-pitched buzz

    Pros: Very sharp from f/2.8, fast autofocus (seems slower than it really is because it's quite loud) Good build quality, nothing is loose, nothing wobbles.

    Summary: Excellent lens for APS-C, sharper than even Canon 17-55 f/2.8 Very nice design :) Oh, and it comes with a lens hood.

  25. ss_sgp
    ss_sgp 23 May 2009, 12:10
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.100.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: $450
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: cons

    Pros: pros

    Summary: summary

  26. Heyjijdaar
    Heyjijdaar 15 May 2009, 04:30
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 193.202.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 370 euro
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Blokeh not that smooth

    Pros: Great in low light Scharp

    Summary: This is a good lens, good build quality (although could always be better = als heavier).

  27. jpfigueiredo
    jpfigueiredo 13 May 2009, 13:52
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 87.196.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 370€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Awful distortion at wide end. Slow, erratic focus (sometimes).

    Pros: Very sharp, even wide open. Perfect size/weight. Overall, excellent value for money.

    Summary: Perfect walkaround lens for APS-C sensors.