Tamron announces the launch of the 17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD (Model A068), a wide-angle zoom lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. This groundbreaking lens zooms from 17mm ultra wide-angle to 50mm standard, the world’s first with such a dynamic zoom range for full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Tamron’s new 17-50mm F4 for Sony mirrorless cameras is a wide-angle zoom with a constant F4 aperture covering ultra-wide-angle to standard focal lengths, an ideal zoom range for still photography and video recording. This lens achieves excellent optical performance across the entire zoom range, with crispness from edge to edge. The lens also incorporates a VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism with superior quietness and agile performance and achieves high-speed and high-precision autofocus. Additionally, the physical length of the lens does not change while zooming. It’s the perfect lens for taking still photos and is also ideal for video shooting, in part since it’s easy to balance even when fitted to a gimbal stabilizer or other equipment. The excellent close-range shooting performance provides an MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 0.19m (7.5in) at the wide end and 0.3m (11.8in) at the tele end. This lets users get closer to the subject to capture one-of-a-kind photos in a broad range of situations. The ideal “walk around” lens, the new 17-50mm F4 zoom offers great portability and convenience and makes it possible to shoot a variety of content, both still images and video, from sweeping landscapes to snapshots, all without switching lenses.

The optical construction of the 17-50mm F4 consists of 15 elements in 13 groups. The precise arrangement of special lens elements, including three LD, one GM and two hybrid aspherical lens elements, effectively suppresses chromatic and other aberrations.

The 17-50mm F4 weighs just 460g (16.2oz) and is a compact 114.4mm (4.5in) long, a size that’s well-balanced even when attached to a Sony mirrorless camera body. The lens has a fixed barrel length and internal zoom mechanism, making it easy to keep the shot in focus when shooting stills or video, and easy to balance with a video rig or gimbal stabiliser. The highly portable 17-50mm F4 features moisture-resistant construction and fluorine coating on the front and rear lens surfaces for durability in natural environments.

Here are some sample pictures: