Tamron unveils wide and fast 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD

Tamron has unveiled the world’s first f/2.8 wideangle zoom for APS-C mirrorless cameras. The new 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD is effectively an APS-C version of the firm’s excellent 17-28mm F/2.8 for full-frame, and designed to be the perfect companion to its recent 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD standard zoom. Featuring moisture-resistant construction, along with a fluorine coating on the front element to repel water and oil, it looks like it should be a great choice for landscape photography, as well as architecture and interiors.

A series of seals around the barrel provides resistance against moisture ingress

Optically the lens is constructed from 12 elements in 10 groups, including one extra-low dispersion (XLD) lens element and two low-dispersion (LD) lens elements, as well as two glass moulded aspherical lenses. BBAR-G2 coating has been deployed to minimise flare and ghosting. The firm is promising outstanding optical performance with high levels of detail into the corners of the image.

Autofocus is provided by Tamron’s RXD stepper motor, and the lens is fully compatible with Sony’s focusing technologies such as Eye AF and Direct Manual Focus. The minimum focus distance ranges from 15cm at 10mm to 24cm at 20mm, enabling striking wideangle close-ups. The 11-20mm f/2.8 measures 73mm in diameter, 86.2mm in length and 335g, and employs 67mm filters. However unlike Sony’s closest equivalent, the E 10-18mm F4 OSS, it has no optical stabilisation. The Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD is due to go on sale at the end of June for £819.