Shopping for the latest and greatest camera lens is never an easy task. Whether we like it or not, we always have a set of criteria to follow, be it budget, brand, or personal preference. In today’s rundown, we are focusing on the best Tamron wide-angle lenses under $1000.
But why be so specific with our lens choices in the first place? We all have our favorite brands and lately, Tamron has been serving up some very tasty wide-angle lenses under the price bracket. This covers our budget range, while still ensuring that we still get good quality without having to cough up a king’s ransom.
With our preferences set, let’s see what kind of good lenses Tamron can tempt us, ideally with some change left over for a few lens cleaning wipes.
1. Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD (Overall Winner)
If you’re lucky enough to be on the Canon platform, you can snag the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD for just under $1000. For Nikon, Sony, and Minolta users you will have to pay a little more, but the results will be worth it.
This lens features everything you need in a wide-angle zoom, starting with a constant f/2.8 aperture and a very usable image stabilization system. Internally, the lens consists of 18 elements arranged in 13 groups including eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical and Low Dispersion elements.
BBAR and eBAND coatings are applied to reduce ghosting and lens flares while also increasing image clarity. There’s also a fluorine coating on the front element to repel dust and water.
An Ultrasonic Silent Drive motor covers autofocusing with full-time manual override, which is quite enough for video work. All the workings are contained in a hefty 1.1kg lens barrel.
This lens is sharp throughout the range and gives plenty of definition and clarity, even at the widest focal length. Wide-angle lenses are usually used stopped down to get the most clarity throughout the depth of field, which is where this lens excels. The f/2.8 aperture width is there as well if you need the extra low-light capabilities.
For a lens under $1000, this is a fantastic wide-angle zoom that can even be used handheld in very low light conditions.
2. Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
The main caveat of the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is that it’s only available for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. If you’re lucky enough to be on the Sony platform, then the lens can also be used on APS-C models, providing a 25.5-42mm equivalent focal length.
This wide-angle zoom has a bunch of fancy elements in the form of eXtra Low Dispersion and Low Dispersion versions. Tamron’s BBAR coatings have been applied to all elements to improve color definition and contrast.
A Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive (RXD) does exactly what it says on the tin, being extremely quiet while providing a close focusing distance of just 19 cm. The lens has also been given full moisture resistance, with a fluorine coating on the front element.
This lens provides great center-to-corner sharpness with a little stopping down needed for the most tack sharp results. This means that the 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD will be a great solution for landscape shots and even portraits at a push.
3. Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD
A 35mm prime lens may not be the widest focal length out there, but it is one of the most versatile with a relatively wide-angle viewpoint. The benefits here are a lovely wide f/1.4 aperture and tack sharp prime lens quality.
The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD features four low dispersion and three glass-molded aspherical elements along with BBAR-G2 coatings and an Ultrasonic Silent Drive autofocus motor. The inclusion of a fully moisture resistant lens barrel and a fluorine coating on the front element means that this lens can be taken out in most weather conditions.
This lens can be easily used for anything from landscapes to night sky shots. As the aperture is so wide, it’s also a great solution for portraits and low-light environmental images. Basically, if you need more of an all-round solution that can also produce sharp, wide-angle images, the SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD is a great choice.
4. Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 DI OSD
Slotting into a more conservative price range, the Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 DI OSD provides great optics, but with a variable aperture. The aperture still goes very wide, starting with f/2.8 at the widest focal length, then moving to f/4 at the longest.
A Silent Drive AF motor is remarkably efficient, without any of the sluggish issues you would find on older third-party lenses. The lens has been treated to a Broad-Band Anti-Reflection coating on all elements, along with a fluorine coating on the front element to repel dust and moisture.
This lens doesn’t have any type of image stabilization, but that’s not always needed for wide-angle shots. It doesn’t have the build quality of its more expensive counterparts, but what the lens does provide is wonderful renditions of color a good degree of sharpness in its workable zone. The lens generally needs stopping down to f/4 for the sharpest overall results, but considering its price point, this is a wonderful lens for the money.
5. Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD (Budget Winner)
The Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD is a firm favorite for those who want the best value-for-money optics in a zoom lens package. This lens goes the widest on our list, with an equally good workable zone of 15-36mm on crop sensor models.
The lens comes with a molded glass aspherical, hybrid aspherical element, and the Broad-Band Anti-Reflection coating. It also features a four-stops-of-compensation stabilization system from a High/Low torque modulated autofocus motor. The lens has been sealed against moisture with a fluorine coating on the front element for added protection.
This wide lens may not have the light-gathering abilities of the f/2.8 versions, but it is respectably sharp and accurate through both the focal and aperture range. In essence, this is a quality lens for the money.
Focusing on the Best Tamron Wide-Angle Lenses Under $1000
As you can see from our shortlist of Tamron wide-angle lenses under $1000, there’s a good helping of quality, affordable wide-angle lens solutions for under $1000. You may have to go a little out of budget for our high-end on everything but the Canon platform, but the results will be worth the cash for the best value entry.
