CineD Interview with Tamron Manager: Why f/2.8 on Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Matters (vs Fuji’s f/4)

CineD had a talk with Tamron managers at the CP+in Japan.

The talk gravitates around the new Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD for Fujifilm X mount, which will come in Spring 2023.

The manager says:

• it’s a small and compact lens, because to go with a Fujifilm camera, it has to be small and compact. That’s what customers are looking for
• same optics of the Sony version
• they wanted a wider range than 14mm, but at the same time keep the size compact, so they decided to start at 11mm. If you start at 9 or 10mm or go up at 24mm, the lens would become a bit bigger
• the hard part of planing new products is to find the balance. It’s always a big discussion
• Tamron lens utility App (an App that can control lenses via USB-C connector). The Tamron 11-20mmF2.8 does not have that USB-C connection. That’s because the original lens was made for Sony and at the time there was no lens utility App
• in future new lenses will have the system for the Lens Utility App
• Tamron is planing to target also videographers with future lenses
• final price for the Tamron 11-20mmF2.8 has not yet been set
• Fujifilm does have the XF10-24mmF4. Tamron saw the opportunity to offer a similar f/2.8 version of that lens
• in APS-C you have better chance to have better exposure with an f/2.8 lens rather than an f/4 lens
• minimum focus is 15cm (from the sensor). So nice for macro

Great interview. Just one comment from my side.

I rarely use f/4 on my XF10-24mmF4. I use it mainly for landscape and there I stop down anyway. And if I use it in low light, it’s on a tripod anyway (like in this shot in Prague). But that’s my use. I am well aware that for many others f/2.8 might be a big deal on a wide angle zoom.

Reviews of the Tamron 11-20mmF2.8 for Sony

• Amazon here – 4.6 stars rating
• BHphoto here – 5 stars rating
• Adorama here – 5 stars rating

Coming Spring 2023