Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
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
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
This manual lens is a fantastic budget option for Fuji X and Canon M mount users, praised for its solid metal build and sharpness at a very low price. Reviewers love the fun shooting experience and bokeh, though some note the optics are not top-tier and require practice. It's widely recommended as a great starter lens for hobbyists.
Pros
- Solid metal build quality
- Very affordable price
- Sharp images wide open
- Fun shooting experience
- Good bokeh
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Optics not top-tier
- Requires practice to use
- Not compatible with many Canon DSLRs
Scores
Specifications
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | zoom | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 17 mm | 35 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 70 mm | 35 mm |
| Elements | 16 | 8 |
| Groups | 12 | 5 |
| Aspherical Elements | 3★ | — |
| ED Elements | 2★ | — |
| Coating | Fluorine Coating | Multi-Layer Nano Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | — |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓★ | — |
| Weight | 0.54 kg | 0.22 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 67 mm | 49 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | RXD | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 190 mm★ | 400 mm |
| Max Magnification | 1:4.8★ | — |
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
Meike 35mm f/1.4 35mm
- Strong build (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average bokeh (31st percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 97 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 8 of 21 specs.