Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 Non-VC Review

Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 Non-VC Review

Category: Camera Lens for Canon
Price: P13,500
Bought at: Henry’s Camera (Hidalgo Branch)

Perfect Renders just welcomed to its camera equipment family the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Non-VC lens for Canon! After using the Canon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 kit lens for so long on both of my cameras, I felt the urgent need to upgrade mainly due to our videos being either too dark or too grainy with high ISO when indoors.

I bought mine at Henry’s Camera at Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila for P13,500 PHP along with an Enovation 67mm UV lens filter for 500 PHP. I wasn’t planning on buying the UV lens filter at first, but I underestimated the marketing skills of the saleslady- after suggesting me to buy the filter, she pointed to my old lens and said “Look, it’s full of fingerprints. You don’t want that on your new lens.” and then bam! Checkmate.

There are two versions of this lens– the Non-VC, which I got, and the VC version. The latter costs 17,500 PHP and comes with the VC feature which stands for ‘Vibration Compensation.’ This means the lens reduces the blur caused by camera shake on your photos but it also comes with the price of softer-looking photos. Upon reading countless reviews online, the verdict was to go with the Non-VC.

Why not buy the Canon 17-55mm F2.8? Well, for starters, it friggin’ costs 38,500 PHP! That’s almost thrice the price I paid for. And in terms of comparison, it’s already canon that the Canon (hehe) only beats the Tamron with faster and quieter auto-focusing as well as better build quality. Sharpness and image quality are at par. If I have such cash at hand, I’d rather buy the Tamron and use the rest with other equipment.

There’s also the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8, but 24,700 PHP is still pretty expensive for me.

Specifications:

Model A16
Lens Construction (Groups/Elements) 13/16
Angle of View 78°45′-31°11′ (APS-C size equivalent)
Diaphragm Blade Number 7
Minimum Aperture F/32
Minimum Focus Distance 10.6in.(0.27m)
Macro Magnification Ratio 1:4.5 (at f=50mm MFD 0.27m)
Filter Diameter ø67
Weight 430g (15.2oz)
Diameter x Length ø2.9 x 3.3in.
(ø74.0 x 81.7mm)
Accessory Flower-shaped lens hood
Mount Canon, Nikon with Built-In Motor, Pentax, Sony A mount

Comparison:

1.) C 18mm vs T 17mm (F3.5 1/4 ISO 400)

We see here the 1mm difference between the two, with the Tamron having a bit wider coverage.

2.) C 18mm F3.5 vs T 17mm F2.8 (1/10 ISO 400)

The Canon’s widest aperture vs the Tamron. The latter’s F2.8 adds more leeway in darker environments.

3.) C 35mm vs T 35mm (F4.5 0″3 ISO 400)

Same setting in everything. Somehow the Tamron views the black subject more vividly.

4.) C 18mm vs T 17mm (F16 2″5 ISO 400)

Both at F16, the Tamron has somewhat sharper quality on both subjects. Zoom in to see.

5.) C 55mm vs T 50mm (F5.6 1″6 ISO 100)

Canon’s better zoom with the 55mm vs. Tamron’s 50mm.

6.) C 55mm F5.6 vs T 50mm F2.8 (1/4 ISO 100)

This is where Tamron beats the crap out of the Canon lens- at 55mm, Canon’s aperture can only be widest at F5.6 while the Tamron can maintain it’s F2.8 even at 50mm, thus bringing in more light.

So overall, is it a good buy? Definitely! I can’t wait to try this out on my upcoming projects.

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