Ultra wide-angle is generally considered to be any focal distance under 24mm. However, this varies depending on the format of the camera. The best Tamron ultra wide-angle lenses under $1000 offer the chance to capture extra detail and create fantastic landscape shots or even panoramic-style photos.
Having an ultra wide-angle lens in your kit offers good versatility. It can be used in a range of situations – not just for landscape shots. For example, you could use it for wide-angle portraits or street photography.
When looking at ultra wide-angle lenses from Tamron we advise looking for notable features like Vibration Compensation (image stabilization), and USD, RXD, or HLD autofocusing motors. These are important features and will help improve the lens’ usability.
1. Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Overall Winner)
Our top ultra wide-angle lens is the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. This lens is part of the high-quality Super Performance range and therefore has an improved build quality and features.
For under $1000 you gain an ultra-wide lens that produces sharp, clear, and detailed photos with good contrast. This is helped by built-in Vibration Compensation and Tamron’s Ultrasonic Silent Motor for fast and quiet autofocusing.
The nine rounded aperture blades combined with the f/2.8 aperture allow you to create excellent bokeh effects. This high-end lens features a Low Dispersion element which helps to reduce aberrations and other distortions.
In addition, for outdoor usage, the outer glass element has a fluorine coating to repel water and dust. This affordable ultra wide-angle lens is available for Canon, Nikon, and Sony DSLRs.
2. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
Next, we have the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD. This lens is created specifically for Sony E mount cameras and APS-C sensor DSLRs like the Sony a7, a6000, and a5100.
This is a basic Tamron lens and is not part of the SP range. Regardless, it still has some decent features and a solid construction. For autofocusing, it has an RXD stepping motor which enables accurate, fast, and silent focusing.
Also, it has numerous lens element features. For example, it has a fluorine coating that is moisture resistant. It also has two Low Dispersion and one XLD element. These combine together to eliminate distortions like lens flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration.
The constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 makes this lens decent for low-light photography and gives greater control for detail shots. Finally, this budget lens is relatively lightweight at just 420g which makes it a decent travel lens.
3. Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC
If you want ultra wide-angle capabilities but versatility, why not consider the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC? This is one of the best Tamron ultra wide-angle lenses under $1000 due to its great focal range and features.
This lens is available for Sony E-mount DSLR cameras and is available in black or silver. Image quality remains consistent at both ends of the focal range.
Despite its large focal range and built-in Vibration Compensation, this lens is still quite lightweight and easy to carry. It weighs 459g and has a maximum length of 4.01 inches when fully extended.
As it is meant for APS-C sensor cameras, the effective ultra wide-angle focal distance is 27mm. This still provides great depth for your wide-angle photography.
4. Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD
Going one step further than our previous lens, we have the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD which has both ultra-wide and super-telephoto capabilities. It is a great multi-purpose lens under $1000.
The 18-400mm is made for for APS-C sensor cameras and is available for Canon and Nikon cameras. It benefits from a moisture-resistant coating to protect it from adverse weather, and a complex grouping of lens elements for superior image quality. It also has Vibration Compensation and an HDL autofocusing motor.
Images can suffer from a little softness at the extreme edges of photos, however, this is only noticeable when zoomed-in at maximum magnification. Regardless, the ultra wide-angle capabilities of this cheap lens are very acceptable for the price.
5. Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD (Budget Winner)
Our budget choice is the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di OSD. This is on our list due to its solid performance and good range of features making it the best value lens.
It offers great image quality thanks to the specialized glass and enhanced optical features, meaning that images are sharp and have excellent contrast at both ends of the focal range. There are minimal distortions and virtually no chromatic aberration or ghosting.
This affordable lens is lightweight at just 460g. It is easy to carry and even when fully extended, is still highly portable. Interestingly, this lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.28m which means you can get up quite close to your subjects.
Shoot in Epic Detail with Tamron Ultra Wide-Angle Lenses Under $1000
As you can see, you do not have to spend a fortune to purchase a high-quality wide-angle lens, and you do not have to stick with the official manufacturer. Third-party options from companies like Tamron can be very good lenses that offer the same level of quality, often for a cheaper price.
