Images and words by Brandon King from Churlish Media
It’s been a little while since you’ve seen me, but I’m still around, still working with Rockbrook Camera, and still getting my hands on new gear whenever I can.
This time, I got to spend a little time with the new Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 A, and I’ll just say it right away: I really like this lens.
I didn’t have it long enough to call this a full review, but I did get to use it over the weekend for both photos and video, and my first impressions were very, very good.
Small, Light and Easy to Carry
The first thing that stood out to me was how light this lens is. For a constant F2.8 zoom, it’s really compact. If I were putting together a small kit for quick portrait work, video, travel or just everyday use, this is the kind of lens I could easily throw in a bag and not think twice about.
The 16-50mm range is also really useful. You get enough width at 16mm for environmental work, groups, video and tighter spaces, while 50mm gives you enough reach for portraits and detail shots. It’s just a really practical focal range.
I Put It to Work in Low Light
I took the lens with me to photograph and film a concert at the Holland Center here in Omaha. The room was dark, which made the constant F2.8 aperture a big deal. I paired the lens with my Sony A9 III, and I was really happy with what I got out of it. The photos looked great, and the video footage came out exactly the way I hoped it would.
The Image Quality Impressed Me
I recommend APS-C zooms pretty often, especially for people using cameras like the Sony FX30.
For a long time, I’ve had another 16-50mm-style APS-C zoom that I tend to recommend first. After using this Tamron, though, I may have a new answer.
To my eye, the Tamron gave me really nice image quality and sharpness, and I liked the overall look of what I was getting from it. It also feels extremely light and compact, which matters if you’re carrying gear all day or trying to build a smaller setup.
Yes, I Used It on Full-Frame Cameras
One thing that may seem strange is that I was using an APS-C lens on cameras like the Sony FX2 and A9 III, which are full-frame bodies. The nice thing about newer Sony cameras is that they can automatically switch into APS-C crop mode when you attach an APS-C lens.
So even though this lens is designed for APS-C, I was still able to use it comfortably on my full-frame Sony bodies. That gives it a little more flexibility for someone like me who moves between different camera setups.
And It’s Not Just for Sony
Another thing I really like about this lens is that Tamron isn’t limiting it to one system. The 16-50mm F2.8 A1 is coming for Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z and Fujifilm X mounts. That’s a pretty big deal, because this kind of compact F2.8 zoom makes sense for a lot of APS-C shooters, regardless of which system they’re using.
Availability is expected to begin with Sony E and Canon RF on October 29, followed by Nikon Z on November 19 and Fujifilm X on December 17.
My First Impression?
I love it.
Again, I haven’t spent enough time with it yet to call this a full review, and I definitely want to use it more. But based on my first weekend with it, I’m impressed. It’s light. It’s small. It’s easy to carry. The focal range is useful. The F2.8 aperture makes it much more versatile in lower light. And I really liked the image quality I got from it.
If you’re looking for a compact everyday zoom for an APS-C mirrorless camera, this is absolutely one I’d put on your list. And yes, I’ll be spending more time with it.
Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 A - Sony E Mount
Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 A - Canon RF Mount
Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 A - Fujifilm X Mount
Tamron 16-50mm F2.8 A - Nikon Z Mount
