Tamron has announced a new fast-aperture ultra-wide zoom for full-frame mirrorless cameras. You can pick up the 12-20mm F2.8 in a Sony E-mount or Nikon Z Mount.
Compact build
For such a wide, fast lens, the Tamron 12-20mm F2.8 (Model A084) is remarkably compact. It’s around 4.8 inches (121 mm) long and weighs just over 20 ounces, 570 g in the Sony mount and 585 g in the Nikon. The lens also ushers in a fresh look for Tamron. Along with a simpler name that drops the usual suffixes, it gets chunkier control rings and redesigned branding on the body.
Optical design
Inside, the optical formula runs to 17 elements in 12 groups. These include one XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) and three GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) elements, plus three LD (Low Dispersion) and one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) element. Tamron says these suppress various aberrations, cutting down peripheral blur and color fringing. The result, the company says, is a lens that stays sharp from the center all the way to the extreme corners.
Fast, constant aperture
A fast F2.8 maximum aperture anchors this lens. Importantly for video, it stays constant as you zoom, so your exposure won’t shift. The 12-blade iris renders smooth, circular bokeh in the out-of-focus parts of your image. Stop down and those same blades produce 12-pointed starbursts from point light sources. Sony users get an aperture control ring with a lock, while Nikon shooters get a control ring for exposure. Either way, you can de-click the ring for smooth exposure changes while filming.
High-speed autofocus
Autofocus runs on a VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor mechanism, and it’s fast and precise. You can also shoot as close as 7.1 inches (18 cm) at 12 mm and 11.1 inches (28 cm) at 20 mm. That lets you get super close to your subject for dramatic wide-angle shots. Physical switches handle auto/manual focus and focus lock.
Other features
A built-in, flower-shaped hood minimizes flare and ghosting, shielding the lens from stray light for better contrast. Its curved front element rules out screw-in filters, but there’s a rear holder where you can cut a filter sheet to size for extra creative control. An internal zoom mechanism rounds out the design. That’s handy for gimbal shooters, since it keeps the center of gravity from shifting. Leak-resistant seals run throughout the barrel to protect the lens in less-than-ideal conditions.
What we think
This is a standout ultra-wide zoom. A 12 mm focal length is dramatically wider than 14mm or 16mm. Pairing that reach with a fast, constant aperture in a body this compact is an impressive technical feat. It’s excellent for astrophotography, and just as suited to interiors and architecture. Those short close-focus distances also open up shots with unusual perspective and depth. If you shoot Sony or Nikon full-frame cameras and want a wide-angle zoom, the Tamron 12-20mm F2.8 should be high on your list.
Pricing and availability
Sony’s E-mount version retails for $1,699, with the Nikon Z version at $1,799. Sony shooters can pick it up from July 30, while Nikon users wait another month, until August 27.
