Tamron’s Upcoming 12-20mm f/2.8 Lens

credits: Tamron

Tamron will announce a new 12-20mm f/2.8 ultra-wide zoom lens very soon, but the lens has already leaked in full ahead of the official launch. Designed for Sony E and Nikon Z full-frame mirrorless cameras, the new Di III lens combines a wide 12-20mm focal range with a constant f/2.8 aperture. It offers a 121°58′ to 94°30′ angle of view while remaining relatively compact, measuring 119.3mm long for Sony E and 121.3mm for Nikon Z. Weight comes in at 570g for Sony and 585g for Nikon.

Inside, the lens uses a 17-element, 12-group optical design that includes one XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) element, three GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) elements, and several additional special glass elements to help reduce corner softness, chromatic aberration, and sagittal coma flare. According to the leaked specifications, it is designed to deliver strong sharpness across the frame, particularly for nightscapes and astrophotography. Autofocus is driven by Tamron's VXD linear motor, while a 12-blade circular diaphragm is paired with an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/16. The lens focuses as close as 0.18m at 12mm and 0.28m at 20mm, offering a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.8 and 1:9.1, respectively.

The lens also includes an integrated petal-shaped lens hood, a rear filter holder instead of a front filter thread, and support for Tamron Lens Utility for additional customisation. It will also ship with a locking front lens cap, rear cap, and a protective lens wrap. Pricing has not leaked yet, but with the full specifications now out in the open, the official announcement is likely just around the corner.