Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
What Buyers Say
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens is widely praised for its sharpness, versatile zoom range, constant aperture, and effective stabilization, making it an excellent all-around lens for APS-C cameras. Users appreciate its solid build quality and value for money, though many note it is noticeably heavier and larger than typical kit lenses, which can feel unbalanced on smaller camera bodies. A few reviewers mention minor issues like chromatic aberration at the longer end and noise from the aperture blades at certain settings, but overall sentiment is very positive.
Pros
- sharp image quality across zoom range
- constant f/2.8 aperture
- effective image stabilization
- fast and quiet autofocus
- versatile 17-70mm focal range
Cons
- heavy and large for APS-C body
- chromatic aberration at 50-70mm
- aperture blade noise above f/5.6
- short zoom throw initially stiff
- no aperture ring on Fuji version
Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, fast autofocus, and robust build quality. Users highlight its versatility for wildlife, sports, and even close-up photography, with many noting it outperforms competitors like the Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm lenses in image quality. However, some criticize the price increase and occasional sharpness inconsistencies, while a few users report autofocus limitations with extenders on certain camera bodies.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Versatile zoom range (100-400mm)
- Excellent image stabilization
- Robust build quality
Cons
- Price increase over time
- Heavy weight
- Autofocus limitations with 2x extender
- Some copies lack sharpness
- Not ideal for Sony mirrorless
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 17 mm | 100 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 70 mm | 400 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 21 |
| Groups | 12 | 16 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 4★ |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating | Air Sphere Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/100 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 4.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Canon EF |
| Format | APS-C | full-frame★ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.54 kg★ | 1.64 kg |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | RXD | USM★ |
| Stabilization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stabilization Stops | — | 4 stops★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 980 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:4.8★ | 0.31x |
Pros & Cons
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
- Strong optical (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong versatility (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (86th percentile)86th %ile
Canon L-series EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- Strong optical (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong af (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong stabilization (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong versatility (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Below average aperture (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average bokeh (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average build (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average macro (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD offers 6.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.
