Tamron to Release New First-Ever 17-50mm Lens for Sony E Cameras
News | By Stephan Jukic | August 25, 2023
Tamron is working to introduce a new standard zoom lens for Sony E-mount cameras that will be the world’s first for the Sony brand in its 17-50mm zoom range.
The upcoming lens is called the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD (Model A068) and is an ultra-wide to standard zoom model for different sensor types including APS-C and full frame.
Previously, Tamron had introduced a 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD IF lens but this edition went on the market all the way back in 2008 and only supported APS-C sensor formats.
The new optic from Tamron won’t be quite as fast but offers broader sensor format support and other new features.
Tamron is describing the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD (Model A068) as a wide-angle zoom with a constant f/4 aperture for a whole range of focal lengths from ultra-wide-angle to standard.
According to Tamron, this makes the upcoming lens well-suited for both still shooting and video work.
The company also claims that the lens can deliver “excellent” optical performance throughout its zoom range and keeps sharpness maximal from edge to edge.
The new lens, like many other Tamron models, uses the company’s Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive (VXD) technology for its linear motor focusing. According to the company, this creates fast and accurate AF abilities.
Selection of Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras
Another especially impressive aspect of the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD lens is that it maintains its size while zooming in and out. This keeps balance even throughout different shooting scenarios and focal lengths.
For the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD (Model A068), Tamron is claiming a minimum focusing distance of 7.5 inches at 17mm and a focus distance of 11.8 inches at the 50mm mark.
While this isn’t exactly macro photography territory, it could be damn useful for photo and video users who want some very decent close-up shots.
In Tamron’s own words for the upcoming lens,
“The ideal ‘walk around’ lens, the new 17-50mm f/4 zoom offers great portability and convenience and makes it possible to shoot a variety of content, both still images and video, from sweeping landscapes to snapshots, all without switching lenses,”
With the specs described above, the 17-50mm f/4 Di III VXD does indeed sound like a great all-around lens for flexible field use.
Tamron has also mentioned that the new optic will work with the brand’s own Lens Utility tool and will be at least reasonably moisture and dust-resistant. It will come with a 67mm front filter size that is common to Tamron’s mirrorless camera lenses.
We don’t have any pricing or specific release date details about this optic, but it’s supposed to arrive in the fall of 2023.
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Stephan Jukic is a technology and photography journalist and experimental photographer who spends his time living in both Canada and Mexico. He loves cross-cultural street photo exploration and creating fine art photo compositions.
