Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
OM System M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ
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
OM System M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ
The Olympus M.Zuiko 14-42mm II R is widely praised as one of the best kit zooms available, offering impressive sharpness, compact size, and fast autofocus for its price. Users appreciate its lightweight, collapsible design and versatile focal range, though many note the variable aperture (f/3.5-5.6) limits low-light performance and bokeh. Common criticisms include the plastic mount, lack of included lens hood, and a sometimes-fiddly lock mechanism. Overall, it's considered a fantastic starter lens and a great value when bundled with a camera body.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Sharp image quality for a kit lens
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Versatile focal range (28-84mm equivalent)
- Great value when bundled with camera
Cons
- Variable aperture limits low-light performance
- Plastic lens mount feels cheap
- No lens hood included
- Lock mechanism can be cumbersome
- Small aperture restricts bokeh
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | OM System M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 17 mm | 14 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 70 mm | 42 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 8 |
| Groups | 12 | 7 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3 | 3 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating | ZERO |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 5 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C★ | micro-four-thirds |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.54 kg | 0.09 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 37 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | RXD | MSC |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 200 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:4.8 | 1:4.35 |
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
OM System M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ
- Strong build (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong macro (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong versatility (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong social proof (74th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (4th percentile)4th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
Pricing
OM System M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 7 of 21 specs.
