Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f2.8 XR LD Aspherical (ID) Dill

Overall, this is a very good standard zoom lens that will happily stay on your camera day in and day out. It does suffer in some circumstances but generally the image qualityis more than acceptable and the price is right.

• Build Quality 8/10
• Performance 8/10
• Quality of results 9/10
• Value for money 9/10
• Total 85%

Verdict: A very competent lens and a considerable jump up from the general standard of kit lens that it would replace.

• Handling 22/25
• Features 22/25
• Performance 21/25
• Value for money 22/25
• Final score 87/100

Verdict: As can be judged from this report, the 17-50mm f/2.8 Tamron has an outstanding state-of-the-art design. It handles well and is capable of matching the highest resolution digital camera sensors now current and probably for some years to come.
The maximum aperture is wide enough for many pro and amateur applications and does not sacrifice image quality when used. Given high contrast, it bucks the trend that we have noted recently towards designing digital camera lenses with medium high contrast, which assists minimising the burn-out, over-modulation of bright highlights in the subject. This Tamron can prove more sensitive to this factor, but in physics, including optics, there is always the swings and roundabouts factor. Taking its high-resolution aspect into accounts, it is clearly a lens aligned to appeal to the best cameras and skilled digitographers. After long experience of optics, one tends to react to the first impressions on viewing the preliminary results. These can range from 'OK' to 'Wow!' On this occasion, my reason was much nearer the latter and, at a penny under £300, it can be fully recommended - particularly to those who understand and can handle a thoroughbred.

• Specification 28/30
• Build 18/20
• Handling 18/20
• Performance 28/30
• 92% Rating

26 October 2006