Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Tamron AF 17 50mm F 2 8 XR Di II LD SP ZL Aspherical IF Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers and inherit all of the benefits of our Di products. These lenses are not designed for 35mm film cameras and digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm. The SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 is a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras, expanding the product concept of the popular SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 zoom lens. In addition, portrait shots are made beautiful with the natural out-of-focus effect characteristic provided by the fast F/2.8 aperture. A broader photographic expression through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture offers enhanced photographic pleasure. The lens boasts one of the best close-up shooting performances in the class of fast standard zoom lenses designed exclusively for digital cameras and featuring an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, to ensure stress-free photographic shots at all focal lengths and distances. Diameter x Length – 2.9 x 3.2 inch (74.0 x 81.7mm) Accessory Flower shaped lens hood

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Lens great!, But no lens hood
Product page says that an accessory lens hood was included with purchase. Shipment came in a timely manner but I found no lens hood in the box. I’m too lazy to return so I said f**&k it.

4 Stars My first wide lens
Just got my 17-50 Tamron lens. I cannot beleive how much you can fit on a picture with this lens. I used to own a 28-138 lens and when I took a picture of a tree- I could only get about 1/3 of the tree. With this lens I can get the whole tree and more! Comes with a lens hood which stays on my lens. It does not come with a lens case. The only con of this lens is that the AF motor is a little louder than most. It sounds like a dentist drill.I would definatel recommend this lens over the canon models. Canons costs about $600 more. I have been buying third party lenses lately and have gotten equal results compared to Canon models.

This lens also has an f stop of f/2.8 throughout which makes this a fast lens.

5 Stars BEWARE AMAZON PACKING
I gave the lens a 5 as it meets or exceeds expectation, but I had to add to the numerous complaints on this and other lenses at Amazon about the completely inadequate packaging of lenses.

In looking at lens reviews I saw many complaints about the way these delicate pieces of glass and electronics are packaged by Amazon. I was absolutely amazed when I opened my package to find NO PROTECTIVE PACKING WHATSOEVER IN THE BOX. The lens was left to bounce around inside the amazon box during the shipping. Having paid $20 for shipping, I would expect at least some bubble wrap between the manufacturers box and the outer container. This will be the last piece of camera equipment I buy from Amazon.

There is no excuse for a vendor of this magnitude to be selling fragile electronics and yet not package it correctly. This is not a book. I have entered a packaging complaint and will also be letting Tamron know about this flaw in their supply chain.

5 Stars Very Sharp at 17mm. Vivid, saturated colors
After much wrangling over the 17-55 EF-S and the 17-40 EF L, I pulled the trigger on this lens. Somehow I didn’t like the saturated colors of the 17-40 and I couldn’t justify 1K on an EF-S but otherwise seemingly , much respected 17-55mm.

Out of the box, I got vivid, but cool colors on my 40D when taken in bright sunlight. I fixed it by using higher Kelvin values.

At 17mm, the lens is extremely sharp. When I get the pictures down to my PC monitor, I am like ‘whoa’! The colors are very vivid, bright and saturated (using a slight step up in saturation levels in the 40D).

In low light, I have not missed IS. The 2.8 aperture coupled with the 40D’s noise-free to very low noise ISO capabilities, has let me capture blur-free shots (for eg. in the Smithsonian).

The lens gets progressively softer and at 50mm, is very soft. If you are using it as a walk-around, vacation lens, it is satisfactory but definitely nowhere close to ,say, the 50mm f/4.

The build quality seems adequate- solid but not too heavy. The zoom and focus feel right.

The AF does hunt a bit in low light to semi-darkness kind of situation. But again, this can be partially resolved by specifying the focal points in the 40D. But in all fairness, if the light is very low, I’d rather let it hunt to let me know it is unable to focus, than focus on something I didn’t want. Again, the 40D has a limiter on how much the AF hunts.

I strongly recommend this as an above-average general purpose lens. Upgrade to specific primes as the need arises.

5 Stars BEST bang for buck lens EVER
Simply put the image clarity you get with this lens is amazing. When you factor in that this glass is 50% of the cost of what you need to spend for a similar canon lens (which is NOT an L lens). The Canon 17-55mm sells for over $1k. The L glass 16-35mm sells for $1500. This glass compares to the L glass I own – I own the 24-70mm L and the 70-200mm f2.8 IS L (which is the BEST glass I have ever seen).

The brightness – the ability to shoot in low light and this is a tiny lens compared to my L glass and light. Not light as in cheap – but light as in not heavy like the 24-70mm L. it shoots very sharp – not as sharp as my 70-200 – NOTHING is as good as that. The range is very useful – great for shooting people – works super indoors. I bought and returned a 50mm f1.4 canon prime because I felt this lens performed better than the 50mm prime with the zoom set to 50mm.

IF you wish to buy a first upgraded lens for your camera and you can not afford a 70-200mm f2.8 IS L then buy this lens.

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