Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 4.1 x 4.1 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EXR0SI
• Item model number: AF016C-700
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (120 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #65 in	Camera & Photo > Lenses > SLR Camera Lenses
  #87 in	Camera & Photo > Lenses > Digital Camera Lenses
  #97 in	Camera & Photo > Accessories > Film Camera Accessories

• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 4, 2006

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Tamron AF 17-50mm aspherical lens expands on the popularity of the AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di zoom, with a 17mm focal length that offers a wider angle of view than an ordinary standard zoom lens. Designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with smaller-size imagers (24 x 16mm or smaller), the 17-50mm standard zoom is extremely lightweight and compact for its speed. And with a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the range, it delivers fast shutter speeds and a natural soft-focus effect that makes your photography even more sophisticated than usual.

Superior image quality
Constructed with cutting-edge Tamron elements--three elements of XR (extra-refractive index) glass, two hybrid aspherical lens elements, and one element of LD glass--this elegant piece of technology inherits Tamron's tradition of premium image quality and compact size. By incorporating Tamron's SP (super performance) and Di-II (designed exclusively for digital cameras) specifications, along with special internal surface coatings to eliminate ghosting and flare, you're guaranteed to get the superior performance you need from your digital camera.

Broadening your horizons
Tamron's SP AF17-50mm offers a wider angle than the standard 18mm zoom lenses ordinarily used with digital cameras. With a wider-angle focal length of 17mm (26mm equivalent), this lens is unbeatable for indoor photography, and for capturing full-length people shots or an entire building. The lens is also top-level in its class for minimum focus distance at 27cm (10.6 inches) across the entire zoom range, making it easier than ever to enjoy the creative combination of wide-angle and macro photography.

• Focal length: 17-50mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Angle of view (diagonal): 78 degrees (at 45 feet) to 31 degrees (11 feet)
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
• Minimum focus distance: 10.6 inches
• Maximum mag ratio: 1:4.5
• Filter size: 67mm
• Diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: f/32
• Standard accessory: Flower-shaped hood
• Compatible mount: Canon AF, Konica Minolta AF-D, and Nikon AF-D
• Dimensions: 2.9 inches in diameter and 3.3 inches long
• Weight:15.2 ounces

Product Description

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. Additionally, 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 128 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best wide angle zoom lens., July 19, 2006

By	Linan Chen (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I tested canon 28-105 3.5-4.5, sigma 24-70 2.8, canon 50mm 1.8, canon 18-55 3.5-5.6. I would say this Tamron 17-50 2.8 is my dream lens. I bought canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 for the focal range but was very sad about its softness and returned it. Then I went to sigma. That's a huge, heavy lens and very solid. Based on reviews, it should be very sharp. however, it was not true in my case. No matter how hard I tried, I never got sharp image. I guess I was not lucky enough to have a good copy and returned it in one week. Finally I bought Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. It surprised me from the very first picture. The sharpness is as good as canon 50mm 1.8 prime, the benchmark. Contrast is very good and color too. 7 blade aperture makes very nice blur background. I care so much about sharpness so the lens is my taste. The focusing is very accurate and fast enough, even though not as fast as sigma. Now I never touch canon 18-55 kit lens, the difference is huge. It's true this lens has no IS. But for 17-50mm range, IS is not as useful as for tele lens. The price is excellent considering the top optical quanlity. Now I am feeling I am a pro. :)))

The reasons I choose this lens are:

1. widest angle in the class(most important thing for 1.6X cropping factor sensor camera
2. Very sharp and top quanlity glass
3. light weighted and small and easy to carry
4. 7-blade aperture makes nice background(if you own canon 50mm 1.8 II, you will see its 5-blade aperture makes harsh background)
5. big constant 2.8 aperture through the whole range
6. excellent price

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talk about bang for your buck!, October 8, 2006

By	Leetsauce (San Jose, California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the kind of lens that makes me wish Canon would understand their market better. Instead of putting out a 17-55mm zoom that everyone can afford, they put out a EF-S non pro lens at a pro price, which has serious quality control issues. Tamron, however, responded.

This lens is quite sharp. It could definately be used for professional purposes. Sharp at 2.8 and much sharper above. After using this lens, the 17-40mm L, as well as the new EF-S 17-55mm, I can honestly say that Tamron beat out Canon in their own game in terms of quality for the money. Great optics, great range, affordable, and a SIX YEAR warranty, as opposed to Canon's weak 1 year warranty. Buy me.

65 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I really wanted to like this lens..., November 16, 2006

By	P. Roberts - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking forward to getting this lens to replace the kit lens for my Rebel XTi. The reviews I read suggested this was a very sharp lens-- as an extra benefit it also has F2.8 throughout.

First, I want to say there was nothing I disliked about the lens. It was comfortable, appeared well made, and the extra weight as compared with the kit lens did not bother me at all. On the other hand, the pictures overall were essentially identical to the kit lens.

At 18mm, the sharpness of the two lens was identical at f5.6 and f9 at the center and slightly better at the edges with the Tanmron lens. At 50mm though, sharpness was slightly better with the kit lens both in the center and at the edges at all appertures where the two lens could be compared. I was surprised and repeated the tests with a tripod and center focusing mode with the same results. Color rendition was equal with both lens. When I switched to manual focus the Tamron lens sharpness did improve. Presumably, the problem therefore lies with the lens "front-focusing" rather than a problem with the optics themselves. If I just wanted to always manually focus, the lens would be fine.

I have now spoken with a number of people who have or have had this lens, and about 60% of people love this lens but almost 40% tell me of very similar problems. Some tell me they have returned the lens and gotten a new lens which was fantastically better while others tell me the second lens had the same problem. This lens has become very popular-- I wonder whether with this popularity and pressure to keep up with demand Tamron's quality control has declined.

In summary, this lens probably has the potential to be a great lens, but you have to get lucky or be persistant in returning the lens until you get a good one which properly focuses. I didn't have the patience and just returned mine and put the kit lens back on. I will say that Amazon accepted the return without any problem.