Tamron officially announced its first Canon RF zoom, the Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD (Model B060). That’s a mouthful.
It’s for APS-C cameras, but you can still use it on a full-frame camera as it will just switch to crop mode on a full-frame RF camera.
I always thought that Tamron’s color scheme looked great – so I’m pretty happy to see the start of hopefully a lot more Tamron lenses on the RF mount.
Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD
- APS-C | f/2.8 to f/16
- 16.5-30mm (35mm Equivalent)
- Fast Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom
- Rapid eXtra Silent Stepping Drive Motor
- 1x XLD, 2x GM Asph., and 2x LD Elements
- BBAR-G2 Lens Coating
- Weather-Sealed Construction
- Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm
Preorder Options
Tamron’s Press Release
TAMRON Announces the Launch of Its First CANON RF mount Lens
The compact, lightweight, fast-aperture F2.8 ultra wide-angle zoom 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD (Model B060)
Commack, NY, November 26, 2024 – Tamron announces the launch of TAMRON’s first CANON RF mount lens, 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A1 RXD (Model B060), an ultra wide-angle zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras at $659 USD / $899 CAD on December 12, 2024.
The 11-20mm F2.8 is a fast-aperture zoom lens covering a focal length range from ultra wide-angle 11mm to 20mm2, with a maximum aperture of F2.8 across its full range of focal lengths. With a surprisingly compact and lightweight design for a fast ultra wide-angle zoom lens, the lens feels well balanced when attached to a compact APS-C mirrorless camera body, making it ideal for daily use.
Despite its small, lightweight design, the lens delivers high-level imaging power with its uncompromising optical design. Wide macro shooting is possible at 11mm with an MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 0.15m (5.9in) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4, and its stunning close-range shooting performance enables creative use of perspective at the wide end.
The lens also incorporates an AF drive system with an RXD (Rapid-eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit that is remarkably quiet. The lens accurately captures not only still images but also video. It is highly practical, with Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating, and other features designed for outdoor shooting, letting users easily enjoy the high image quality of this ultra wide-angle fast -aperture F2.8 lens under a range of conditions.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
1. Fast-aperture ultra wide-angle zoom lens
The 11-20mm F2.8 (full-frame equivalent of 17.6-32mm) allows for the capture of landscapes and architecture with the dynamic perspective unique to ultra wide-angle lenses. It is also well-suited for indoor group portraits and real estate photography by leveraging its wide-angle focal lengths. At the telephoto end, it supports everyday snapshots with its natural field of view close to one’s view, all while delivering soft and beautiful bokeh with its F2.8 aperture.
2. Compact and lightweight
Designed with APS-C mirrorless cameras in mind, the 11-20mm F2.8 provides a compact and lightweight form, measuring just 3.3” (84.2mm) in length and weighing 12 oz. (340g), allowing you to shoot without worrying about weight. When used with a compatible APS-C mirrorless camera body, you’ll enjoy handheld shooting of still images and find it comfortable to shoot video even when using a compact tripod or gimbal.
3. AF/MF Switch and TAMRON Lens Utility Compatibility
The CANON RF mount includes an AF/MF switch. Additionally, the lens features a Connector Port for users to easily update the lens to the latest firmware via TAMRON Lens Utility™ software.
4. Outstanding optical performance
The optical construction uses 12 elements in 10 groups including two GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) lens elements to maintain high resolution across the entire image area. It also incorporates one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) and two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements to effectively suppress aberrations, ensuring clear image quality. Additionally, the BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) Coating minimizes ghosting and flare, faithfully rendering details even in backlit conditions.
5. MOD of 5.9” (0.15m) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4
With an MOD of 5.9” (0.15m) at 11mm and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4, the 11-20mm F2.8 surpasses traditional ultra wide-angle zoom lenses in its close-up capabilities. This allows for wide-angle macro photography and creative shallow depth of field effects, enhancing subject prominence against blurred backgrounds.
6. High performance autofocus system for both still and video use
Equipped with TAMRON’s proprietary RXD motor unit, the autofocus system delivers high-speed and high-precision focusing. It accurately captures moving subjects and is suitable for both still photography and video. Its quiet RXD stepping motor is ideal for capturing moments where noise may be a concern, or silence is required.
7. High convenience and protective features
- 67mm filter size, same as most other TAMRON lenses for mirrorless cameras
- Enhanced overall lens design for user-friendly operation
- Moisture-Resistant Construction
- Fluorine Coating
This product is developed, manufactured, and sold under license from Canon Inc.
1: Di III-A: For APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
2: The full-frame equivalent of 17.6-32mm.
Specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Max Format size | APS-C / DX |
| Focal length | 11–20 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Sony E |
| Aperture | |
|---|---|
| Maximum aperture | F2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | F16 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 7 |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Elements | 12 |
| Groups | 10 |
| Special elements / coatings | 2 aspherical + 1 XLD + 2 LD elements, BBAR-G2 coating |
| Focus | |
|---|---|
| Minimum focus | 0.15 m (5.91″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.25× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Full time manual | No |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Focus distance limiter | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 335 g (0.74 lb) |
| Diameter | 73 mm (2.87″) |
| Length | 86 mm (3.39″) |
| Sealing | Yes |
| Colour | Black |
| Filter thread | 67 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Tripod collar | No |
|
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I don't think 1:4 reproduction merits the term 'macro' though.
Will be interesting how this one compares to the 10-18 from sigma.
2 mm additional on the long end, bigger, heavier (more, better glass?).
No time to google, but has someone a comparison on other mounts?
Edit:
In the meantime, I found this comparison
Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens Image Quality
I don\'t think Canon needs to waste much time or money into designing lenses for its APS-C bodies.
With my 11-22 efm i can shoot rapidly and confidently get sharp results because the effective IS. I wonder about these newer ultra wides and if it's as early to get the same results.
I also wonder if these will be as sharp as that little marvel. I guess we will see. One day Cannon will have a RFS body that I will actually want and it's good to know there's at least one of the lenses that I need available and likely one of the sigmas that hopefully have more accurate auto focus.
M62 body style would immediately make me interested in rfs. Until then it's nice to see the lenses are coming but nope. A mini SLR styled body is not what I want unless they remake the M50 style which is still nice and sleek to this day if it's more angular design. I don't know why they went with the ugly RFS body styles. The regression in design is sad, they can do so much more they just don't want to.
Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens Image Quality
- it looks like the Tamron is slightly better at the wide end, esp. in the corners
- while the Sigma has slight advantages at 18 mm
So, for a travel zoom, I would take the smaller Sigma over the Tamron.
If I was for the max. IQ maybe I would tend towards the Tamron.
Or the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 from the DSLR days (although I think that ship has long since sailed).
Another thought is that perhaps this is another restriction from Canon: No full frame, no optical IS. We outsiders may never know.
(yeeeees, I know, probably Canon will never allow that kind of fullframe stuff; but a man is entitled to have dreams)
Is Meike gearing up to offer autofocus lenses for the RF mount?
It made no sense to me that there were multiple crop sensor bodies released but no wide lenses at the time... it was the second lens that I got with my original R7 for landscape.
What still doesn't make a lot of sense is why Canon hasn't released a couple more repackaged EF-M lenses eg 32mm prime.