In January 2021 I released my review of this lens for Sony E-mount cameras.  At the time, no Tamron lenses were available on Fuji X-mount, and I spoke in my conclusion about how a lens like the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-a VC RXD actually gave Sony an advantage – it’s the kind of lens I call a “system seller”.  On paper it has pretty much everything:  a great focal range (25.5-105mm full frame equivalent), a large maximum aperture through the zoom range (F2.8), optical stabilization (Vibration Compensation, or VC), and a fast focus system (RXD).  But that advantage is no longer on Sony alone, as this was one of the first lenses to come to Fuji X-mount from Tamron once Fuji began opening up their platform to third party lenses.  That’s an amazing focal range to have a constant aperture of F2.8 over, covering from this at 17mm:

It also is a great value.  The current price at B&H Photo is $699 USD, which is a full $500 cheaper than the Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 LM WR (my review here) or $200 less than the Fujinon XF 18-120mm F4 PZD (my review coming soon).  The Tamron doesn’t perfectly align with either of those lenses, but they are the closest competitors I can point to on the platform.  Sigma has also made their 18-50mm F2.8 DC available on Fuji X-mount (my review here), but the main reasons to consider the Sigma would be price ($549 USD) and compact size as the Tamron 17-70mm VC has the advantage in focal range, weather sealing, and also includes an optical stabilizer.  I’ve been interested in revisiting some of these third party lenses on X-mount for two primary reasons:  1) to see how autofocus performs on a new platform and 2) to see how the lens’ optics survive the very pixel dense 40MP Fuji X-Trans sensor on some of their new cameras. 

I found the 17-70mm VC a little big for the Sony a6400 body that I reviewed it on previously, but my Fujifilm X-H2 (my review here) is more like a full frame camera is size and the lens is a perfect fit on the X-H2.

Tamron loves its initials in their lens names, so let’s sort out that alphabet soup.  Di III is their designation for a mirrorless lens design, and, in this case, the addition of -A at the (Di III-A) refers to their development for APS-C mirrorless.  VC is Vibration Compensation, which is Tamron’s name for their proprietary OIS (image stabilization) system.  It’s worth noting that neither of the Fuji alternatives (both of which cost more) come with built in stabilization.  RXD refers to the focus motor, which is similar to the linear motors employed on many of Fuji’s better lenses.  In short, this lens is pretty loaded with quality features under its skin even if there aren’t a lot of external features on the barrel.  

So does the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 VC RXD impress me as much on Fuji as it did on Sony?  You can watch my conclusions in my video review below, read my text review here, or just enjoy the photos.

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Thanks to Tamron USA for sending me an loaner of the lens.  As always, this is a completely independent review.  I have used both my personal Fujifilm X-H2 (my review here) and a loaner of the X-S20 (my review here) for this review.

Photos of the Tamron 17-70mm VC X-Mount

Photos Taken with the Tamron 17-70mm VC X-mount

Gear Used:

Purchase the Tamron 17-70mm F2.8 RXD @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany 

Purchase the Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 RXD @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada |  Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany 

Purchase the Fujifilm X-S20 @ B&H Photo | Adorama  | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany | Ebay 

Purchase the Fujifilm X-H2 @ B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon Germany 

Purchase the Fujifilm X-T5 @ B&H Photo | Amazon | Camera Canada | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Find it Used at KEH 

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