The Tamron 11-20mm . lens features a super-fast f/2.8 constant aperture in an extremely compact and lightweight package. With a full-frame equivalent focal length from 16.5mm to 30mm, it is an ideal lens for travel, landscapes, real estate, vlogs, etc. Designed exclusively for Fujifilm and Sony APS-C cameras- C, the 11-20mm lens is sure to become a popular choice for compact mirrorless cameras.
Quality build and handling
body of 11-20mm Made mainly of plastic. Either way, it’s not cheap, but it lacks the heavy feel of many Fujifilm lenses and some of the newer Viltrox lenses, which have metal rims. This is done to save weight, and at 335 grams, the lens is easy to carry even during a long day of shooting (more on that later). The zoom ring is smooth and large enough to be easily found when looking through the viewfinder. The lens features a metal mount as well as weather resistance throughout. Zoom is external and must be scaled to reach 11mm, so at its rest size the lens is set to 20mm. However, the 11-20mm lens does not have a physical aperture ring, which can be a hindrance for some Fujifilm camera users. For wide-angle zoom with a constant f/2.8 aperture, the Tamron 11-20mm is extremely light and compact, making it perfect for a camera as small as the X-T5.
auto focus
I was impressed with the fast, silent, and accurate autofocus of the 11-20mm. On the Fujifilm X-T5, AF speed and accuracy were on par with other high-end lenses, and when using face/eye detection, the lens locked onto my subject with ease. Autofocus is completely silent, making it a great choice for vloggers and videographers. Autofocus worked well for both stills and video in my tests.
Image quality
At 11mm and f/2.8, the lens is very sharp in the center, although the corners are noticeably softer. Stopped down to f/5.6, and the corners are much sharper. Stop down to f/11 and the whole frame is pretty sharp. At 20mm and f/2.8, the corners are soft, but not nearly as soft as at 11mm. Pinch down, the lens focuses extremely well across the entire frame. Expanding, there’s also quite a bit of vignetting, which is common with such a wide-angle lens. Most importantly, the center of the 11-20mm at any focal length is extremely sharp. Sharpness aside, the lens offers excellent contrast and color rendering. When shooting family portraits as well as portraits at my studio, I’m really impressed with the vibrant colors and rich details. Thanks to the fast maximum aperture, I was also able to use the lens indoors without problems and produced very satisfying results. The minimum focus distance is excellent, and for a super wide-angle lens, it even has nice bokeh. The excellent image quality is one of the best aspects of the Tamron 11-20mm, and more impressive because it is an ultra-wide-angle lens.
Vlogger’s Dream
As I mentioned, the 11-20mm lens is mostly made of plastic, which might be a minus for some. But the huge benefit to the design is that the lens is incredibly light, making it a great choice for vloggers. Attached to a lightweight camera like the X-T5, the 11-20mm lens is easy to hold on a selfie stick to shoot long videos without fatigue. In addition, the ability to zoom in and out provides a lot more flexibility to get the perfect shot than using a fixed focal length lens, while also benefiting from a constant f/2.8 aperture. fast. Add to all this the fast and silent focusing, the Tamron 11-20mm has a lot to offer videographers, content creators and photographers of all walks of life.
Conclusion
There’s a lot about this lens that really impressed me. Autofocus won’t let you down whether it’s video or still photography in terms of speed and accuracy. Compact size and weight make it ideal for many applications, and the fast f/2.8 aperture will please anyone who needs to shoot in low light without the need for a flash. For portraiture, I appreciate the ability to zoom out to 20mm and produce images with minimal distortion, so it’s also a great choice as a holiday or travel zoom lens for who want to shoot architecture as well as landscape portraits. Vibrant colors, good contrast, and excellent sharpness also make the 11-20mm a great choice for Fujifilm and Sony photographers. After shooting with this capable lens for several weeks, my main critique has to do with the lens itself but rather its price. At $829, this lens may be out of reach for some photographers, though when compared to comparable Fujifilm lenses, such as the 8-16mm f/2.8, which retails for a price. $1499, it’s still a value. General Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 is another great third-party option for Fujifilm and Sony shooters.
What I like
- Fast AF
- Great picture quality
- Small and light
- weather tight
What I don’t like
- External zoom mechanism
- Price
Buy Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 This.
