Tamron Di AFA037N700 17-35mm
The 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD combines a bright f/2.8 aperture at 17mm with a lightweight 460g body, weather sealing, and a fluorine-coated front element. Its OSD motor delivers silent autofocus ideal for video, and compatibility with the Tap-in Console allows for easy firmware adjustments. This lens serves Nikon F-mount travel and portrait photographers who prioritize portability and weather resistance over critical landscape sharpness.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Sharp corners, light body, and a price that makes the big brands look silly. Skip it only if you absolutely need vibration reduction.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Corner sharpness that beats lenses costing 3x more 88th
- Lightweight at 458g, easy to carry all day 87th
- Weather sealing and fluorine coating for outdoor shooting 79th
- Takes standard 77mm filters 74th
Cons
- No vibration reduction, which hurts on high-megapixel bodies
- Plastic build feels cheap in hand
- No distance scale for manual focus shooters
- Firmware issues reported with some adapters
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 12 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The sharpness is the story. Our database puts this lens at the 83rd percentile for bokeh and 85th for aperture, which is strong for a budget wide-angle zoom. But the real surprise is how well it holds up in the corners. Wide-angle lenses usually fall apart at the edges, and this one just doesn't. The OSD autofocus is quiet and accurate, though it's not going to win any speed contests. Flare control is also better than expected, which matters a lot when you're shooting into the sun at 17mm.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Wide-angle |
| Focal Length Min | 17 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
| Coating | protective fluorine compound |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | 2.8-4 |
| Constant | No |
Build
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | OSD |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 280 |
vs Competition
Against the Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8, the Tamron is the value play. The Nikon is sharper in the center and has better build quality, but it costs significantly more and only works on Z-mount. The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN is a solid alternative if you're on APS-C and want constant f/2.8, but it's not full-frame. For full-frame Nikon shooters who don't want to sell a kidney, the Tamron is the clear pick.
| Spec | Tamron Di AFA037N700 17-35mm | Nikon NIKKOR 20059 | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 | Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 17-35mm | 18-55mm | 12-35mm | 17-40mm | 18-135mm | 28-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Nikon F | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds | Fujifilm X | Sony E | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | false | true | true | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 458 | 205 | 306 | 535 | 326 | 495 |
| AF Type | OSD | pulse stepping motor | Autofocus | HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) | Linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | wide-angle | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamron Di AFA037N700 17-35mm | 53.7 | 86.7 | 63.6 | 72.4 | 39.5 | 88.4 | 48.5 | 73.6 | 61.7 | 79.3 |
| Nikon NIKKOR 20059 Compare | 84.6 | 81.5 | 83.5 | 95.4 | 54.5 | 82.9 | 66.1 | 82.8 | 81 | 92.3 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 Compare | 53.7 | 86.7 | 83.6 | 49 | 86 | 88.4 | 92.5 | 80.4 | 86.2 | 96.4 |
| Sigma Art 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Compare | 53.7 | 97 | 67.1 | 72.4 | 96.6 | 95.4 | 98.4 | 75.7 | 94.2 | 34.3 |
| Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 97.7 | 81.5 | 70.8 | 37.4 | 77.8 | 82.9 | 48.5 | 95.8 | 90.8 | 79.3 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 84.6 | 86.7 | 70.3 | 41.6 | 83.8 | 88.4 | 87.9 | 76.9 | 52.8 | 98.4 |
Price
Value & Pricing
This is a no-brainer if you're on a Nikon F-mount budget. You're getting f/2.8 at the wide end, weather sealing, and sharpness that punches way above its price class. The lack of VR is the main trade-off, but for scenery and astro shooters who use a tripod anyway, that's a non-issue.
Amazon 1 offer From $600
Price History
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Overview
The Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD is one of those lenses that makes you question why you'd spend twice as much on the big brand version. It's sharp, light, and cheap enough that you won't feel guilty tossing it in your bag for a weekend trip. The headline here is corner sharpness. Multiple owners say it embarrasses the old Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 that cost nearly two grand. That's not a small claim, and the data backs it up.
Common Questions
Q: Does this lens work on full-frame Nikon DSLRs?
Yes, it's designed for full-frame Nikon F-mount bodies. It'll also work on APS-C Nikons with a 1.5x crop, giving you roughly a 25-52mm equivalent.
Q: Is the lack of vibration reduction a dealbreaker?
For handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds, yes. If you're on a 45MP body and shooting at 1/30s, you'll see blur. But for scenery and astro work on a tripod, VR is irrelevant.
Q: Can I use screw-on filters with this lens?
Yep, it takes standard 77mm filters. That's a big plus for scenery shooters who want to use ND or polarizing filters without a bulky holder system.
Who Should Skip This
If you shoot handheld in low light or on a high-megapixel body without a tripod, the missing VR will drive you nuts. Go grab a used Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR instead. And if you're on mirrorless Z-mount, this lens isn't for you without an adapter, so just get the native Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8.
Verdict
Buy it. If you shoot landscapes, astro, or just want a wide-angle zoom that won't disappoint, the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD is the best value in its class. The plastic build and missing VR are real compromises, but the image quality more than makes up for them.
