Tamron 11-20mm for Fujifilm Review

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I'll start by saying this is an exciting new lens from Tamron to serve Fujifilm shooters!

Although Fujifilm X Series cameras offer a decent range of wide-angle lenses, there still needs to be a gap in their selection. Thankfully, Tamron has announced the new Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens to fill this gap. Would it be an excellent alternative to Fujifilm's own lenses? Is it worth taking into account? Let's discuss this.

Shop Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD for FUJIFILM X-Mount

Overview

The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 for Fujfilm is an excellent option for photography enthusiasts because of its unique wide-angle focal length range. It allows for capturing expansive interiors, architectural marvels, and beautiful landscapes with exceptional detail and clarity.

The lens is designed to provide excellent optical performance and can produce sharp images from edge to edge, even when used at its widest aperture. It is also compact and lightweight, making it an ideal travel companion for photographers who want to capture stunning moments effortlessly.

The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 for Fujfilm lens has excellent construction quality and offers a smooth and precise manual focus. Its autofocus is quick and accurate, making it perfect for fast shooting. The lens has minimal distortion and chromatic aberration, resulting in images that accurately reproduce colors and are true to life.

This baby is an excellent choice for both professional and amateur photographers. It offers exceptional image quality and versatility that can take your photography to the next level.

Now, let's get down to a more objective review:

Some Other Options from Fuji (if You're a Brand Purest)

Options are available if you use Fujifilm cameras and require a wide-angle lens. One such option is the XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS, which is decent and can currently be purchased reasonably.

The upgraded version (WR) has improved features such as weather resistance and a clearly marked aperture ring which is better than the endless scroll in the first generation. If the aperture is not bright enough or needs a wider range, consider getting the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR. However, this option is almost twice the price of the previous suggestion.

A young lady in a desert

Build Quality

As it's a Tamron lens, the body is plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap. The lens feels solid, and the rings are smooth. A rubber gasket around the mount for weather resistance is also essential for landscape photography.

The barrel of the lens extends when zoomed. At 20mm focal length, the length is 86 millimeters, but at the widest 11mm, it becomes longer by a few centimeters. For example, the lens weighs 335 grams and fits perfectly on the X-T5.

One thing that takes a little getting used to is the absence of an aperture ring on the camera, which you may be used to if you're a Fujifilm user. But, the front wheel can substitute its function perfectly, and this missing component is okay.

Woman crossing the street in New York city

How it Functions

The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 for Fujfilm utilizes the older RXD instead of the newer VXD, which means it uses a stepping motor instead of an ultrasonic drive. That being said, the autofocus is still solid and quiet, smooth, and relatively fast. Although there were a few instances where I missed a shot because the focusing group didn't get to the desired position quickly enough, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

The lens with f/2.8 aperture allows you to take better photos in low-light conditions. The out-of-focus areas look good, and you can achieve great background separation by getting closer. You may notice a cat-eye effect in the out-of-focus lights. The lens has a seven-bladed aperture, which is a cost-saving measure that makes the bokeh a little less smooth when stopped down. To avoid this, it's recommended to use the lens wide open or avoid rendering out-of-focus lights in the background when stopping down.

Close up photo of Neon Sign in New York City

The Optics

The lens has an impressive focusing distance. Zooming to 11 millimeters allows you to nearly touch the subject with the hood yet still maintain focus. This produced interesting results, but chromatic aberrations became noticeable at such close range. Some parts of the image looked like an old-style 3D movie (which is cool, in a way). However, this issue mostly disappeared when focusing on a subject farther away from the lens.

The sharp, clear glass even performs well with high-resolution, high-megapixel sensors.

The Best Parts

The Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 for Fujfilm matches X Series bodies well due to its compact size and low weight. It also has weather sealing and a decent price, making it a strong contender. Additionally, the autofocus is fast, silent, and relatively reliable.

If you plan to use this lens on a 24- or 26-megapixel camera, the price and performance make it worth considering. On higher-end cameras like the X-H2 or X-T5, the XF, noticeable chromatic aberrations occur due to their high-resolution sensors. But if you're looking for a black-and-white documentary or street photography lens with a fast f/2.8 aperture, this lens would work great. Overall, it's an excellent lens for these specific uses.