Tamron Brings 17-70mm f/2.8 To RF And Z Mount

credits: Tamron

Tamron has finally brought its 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD to Canon RF and Nikon Z, expanding availability of the APS-C zoom to all four major mirrorless systems. The lens first launched for Sony E-mount in 2020 before arriving for Fujifilm X-mount in 2022, and has since become one of Tamron’s most popular APS-C standard zooms. With the addition of RF and Z versions, Canon and Nikon users now have access to a fast standard zoom option that has been missing from both lineups.

On Nikon cameras, the lens provides a 35mm-equivalent field of view of 25.5-105mm, while Canon users get an equivalent range of 27.2-112mm. That gives it more reach at the telephoto end than lenses such as the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 or Nikon’s own Z DX 16-50mm. The optical design remains unchanged from the existing Sony and Fujifilm versions, featuring 16 elements in 12 groups, including two GM elements, one aspherical element, and two LD elements. Minimum focusing distance is 19cm at the wide end and 39cm at the telephoto end, while Tamron’s VC image stabilisation and RXD autofocus motor are also carried over.

There are a few small differences between the two new versions. The Canon RF model includes dedicated AF/MF and VC ON/OFF switches, which are absent from the Nikon version. Both lenses feature a USB-C port for firmware updates, a 67mm filter thread, weather sealing, and a fluorine coating on the front element. Weight comes in at 530g for the RF version and 540g for the Z version, with only minor differences in overall size (roughly 75 × 120 mm for both). Tamron also says focus breathing has been minimised, although the company notes autofocus performance may be less responsive while zooming during video recording. The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD for Canon RF and Nikon Z will be available from July 2, 2026, priced at $749.