We’ve been testing the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD in the rain, and it survived quite a bit so far.
In the past few years, I’ve known Tamron’s lenses to have great weather sealing, but in the case of the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD I’m sure even Sony would be shocked at what I did with the lens. Here in NYC, we’ve been experiencing some incredibly heavy rainfall. Most folks would stray away from going out to shoot in rain like this; not us! We took the new Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD out into summer showers with the Sony a7r III.
What’s working for the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD is the fact that it is not only a weather-sealed lens but also internally zooming. Because it zooms internally, there are fewer places for moisture and dust to get inside and disrupt the way it works. The lens also has sealing around the mount: a very important feature as the seal keeps moisture out. This also prevents you from having to clean the contacts on the camera and the lens, which results in a higher success rate with autofocus performance.
This is Tamron’s second lens designed specifically for Sony FE cameras. It’s a wide-angle compliment to their 28-75mm f2.8 and holds itself to many of the same standards the other lens has. Best of all, we’ve experienced no real problems with autofocus performance the way its older sibling had. So, if you’re looking for a great alternative f2.8 zoom lens for wide angle shooting, the Tamron 17-28mm f2.8 Di III RXD could be the way to go. We’re still working on our review, so stay tuned.