Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical Zoom Lens for Pentax K Mount

2017-06-29T11:49:04

I had been using the Minolta 50mm f/1.7 on my Sony A77ii as my carry around lens. But, the with the fixed width lens I was loosing the ability to take wide angle shots without having to change my lens. Hence, I started my search for a replacement before an upcoming trip to Hawaii for under ($) I came across this lens, and was pleasantly surprised that it had great reviews and came in under my budget. Having used it a little while now, I can say its the best (wide to mid-range) zoom lens you can find for ($). It opens wide with a f/2.8 through the zoom range and takes excellent pictures. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the zoom ring needs more than usual pressure to move; but that seems to be a trait common with a couple of other Tamron lenses I have used. It is not terribly bad at all. Overall, I am very satisfied with this lens. It is a great carry-around lens if you are a beginner to intermediate, amateur photographer. It could also be a very good lens to practice/experiment shooting with wider aperture.

NAVAL B.

2017-03-01T15:30:42

This lens does take clear pictures and is a true F/2.8. I did return it because of the loud and slow autofocus. I would not buy this lens again and it may be worth it to save a little longer for a better lens.

MIHAI M.

2013-12-25T19:00:00

This 17-50mm lens was bought used from Adorama and I am very happy with it. It's the first lens I've bought beyond the kit Sony SAL 18200mm lens and I immediately saw the difference in the quality of the images varying from landscapes to grandkids playing at Christmas. It is heavier than the 18200 lens, but it's a great trade-off to get better quality images.

RICK Z.

2013-12-04T19:00:00

I have owned this lens for some time and I think it's a solid choice with a couple of drawbacks. If you get a good deal on it, it just may be the best bang for your buck lens on a crop sensor camera. It's designed for use only on Crop-sensor bodies by the way. The optics are nice, and I believe it compares favorably to Canon L glass, especially for the price. However, the AF motor is quite noisy. If you're shooting a wedding in a church or something, it's definitely too loud. For the casual user, maybe it's not a big deal. From my understating, the version with stabilization is somewhat flawed as you have to wait a moment for the stabilization to engage, and if you don't it can actually make your shots more blurry. And at f2.8 in this focal length, IS is usually not a deal breaker. I have not used mine too much lately only because I primarily shoot full frame these days, but I think that this is an overall nice piece of glass and I can get use out of it for video as well because of the relatively fast f2.8 aperture.

PhotoOfTheBride

2012-08-12T21:00:00

I was not satisfied with the kit lens that came with my camera and had been searching for a better lens that would stay on my camera most of the time. I have purchased two Tamron lenses in the past, the 18-200 and 70-300 and was pleased with their performance, so I naturally turned to Tamron for an all-around kit lens. The 17-50 is sharp, the range is sufficient, and the weight is comfortable when mounted on my Alpha 550. The price was reasonable and I have been very pleased with the photos produced by this lens. It performs well in low light and focuses quickly. The only issue I have with this lens is that the focus ring is slightly stiff, but I know that it will loosen over time. You can't go wrong with this lens, especially with the rebate currently offered.

SANDRA P.

2012-04-25T21:00:00

Needed a "normal" focal length lens better than kit lens, and this Tamron is better. I chose it after much inquiry and searching, and hoped it would be as good as my Tamron 28-75mm, and it is. Tested extensively, and it di well. Lightroom 4 is an excellent software processing complement, especially becasue of its Lens Correction feature that brings out the best in each lens.

ROBERT M.

2010-10-14T21:00:00

We use this lens in low lite events and night photography.Tamron,you made a great lens.

ZZ S.

2010-05-22T21:00:00

Such an upgrade to any manufacturer's "kit" lens - the 17mm covers most wide angle situations you can run into, while @ 50mm provides a fast f/2.8 aperture normal lens for capturing portraits. Studio and "strobist" users will appreciate the constant aperture at all focal lengths. Only caveat so far is some slight hunting of the AF in low light (comparing this to the super-fast 40mm f/2.8) but it's more a matter of learning the quirks of this lens.

DANIEL M.

2008-07-22T21:00:00

This lens is very sharp, even at 2.8. It was heavier (better built) than I expected, and the construction is wonderful.

charlemeign

2008-07-02T21:00:00

I have never been let down with this lens. It consistently puts out sharp pictures and is very well made. I own another Tamron as well and again, I haven't been let down. The 6 year warranty is great as well. It isn't something you find with other lens companies. At f 2.8 throughout the entire zoom range you'll get quality photos with a lot of detail. Moreover, the price is rediculously reasonable for such good quality!

P H.

2007-02-05T19:00:00

Excellent walk around lens. Very sharp at all apertures, good results wide open. Well built with a solid feel. Nice zoom range...would have been perfect out to 70mm, but still a nice range. I would recommend this lens to anyone for the alpha mount! Money well spent!

A200 E.