Tamron 20mm f/2.8 Di III OSD review

The widest of three new Tamron primes for Sony E-mount cameras, it goes large on performance and image quality

5 Star Rating
Tamron 20mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M 1:2
(Image: © Future)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Tamron recently announced three new wide-angle primes for Sony full-frame E-mount cameras, with 20mm, 24mm and 35mm focal lengths. All share a common aperture rating of f/2.8 and a filter size of 67mm. The primes have a tough act to follow, as we’ve recently been hugely impressed with the Tamron 17-28mm and 28-75mm constant-aperture f/2.8 zooms. Keeping in step, this 20mm lens is very lightweight in build and price tag, but goes large on performance with sumptuous image quality.

Pros

  • +

    Exceptional sharpness across the whole frame

  • +

    Compact and lightweight weather-sealed build

  • +

    Short minimum focus distance

Cons

  • -

    Autofocus speed is a little pedestrian

  • -

    Heavy barrel distortion if uncorrected

  • -

    No optical stabilization, but that’s not unusual

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The widest-angle prime that Sony makes for its full-frame E-mount cameras is the chunky and very pricey 24mm f/1.4 G Master lens. For little more than a quarter of the price, this new Tamron gives a considerably wider viewing angle, shoehorned into a much smaller and more lightweight package, partly thanks to the more modest f/2.8 aperture rating. Despite being small and light, however, build quality is very good throughout. The Tamron comes with a bayonet-fit petal shaped hood and enables the easy attachment of filters, via a 67mm attachment thread.

• Read more: Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD review

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.