Head-to-head · Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary vs Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary and Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD score essentially the same (4.6 vs 4.6). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #5 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

4.6

$989as of Jun 7

The Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary delivers surprisingly few compromises for a Contemporary-line lens, leading with high sharpness across the frame in a light, internally-zooming 450g body. It starts a true 16mm wide, takes 72mm filters, and undercuts the Sony GM by more than half. The main caveats are mount-only weather sealing and heavy uncorrected vignetting and distortion at the wide end.

Strengths

— Superb center sharpness with very impressive borders and corners across the range
— Light and compact at 450g with an internal zoom that does not change length
— Starts at a true 16mm, a millimeter wider than the Tamron rival

Watch-outs

— Weather sealing is limited to a gasket at the lens mount only
— Strong vignetting at f/2.8 (3+ EV) at the wide end before correction
— Around 4.5% barrel distortion at 16mm that needs correcting

$989 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Wide-Angle Lenses for Sony E-Mount

Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

4.6

$899as of Jun 7

The Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is the value champion of fast Sony wide zooms. It combines near-G-Master center sharpness with a genuinely pocketable 420g body and a constant f/2.8 aperture, all for under $900. The compromises are a narrower zoom range and slightly soft close-focus corners, but as a light, weather-sealed travel wide-angle it is hard to fault.

Strengths

— Center sharpness rivals and at times matches the Sony G Master, especially on distant subjects
— Exceptionally compact and light at 420g and about 10cm long
— Constant f/2.8 aperture at less than half the price of the Sony GM II

Watch-outs

— Restrictive 1.6x zoom range that stops at 28mm rather than 35mm
— Full-frame corners can be a bit soft at close 1-2m focus distances
— Very short working distance at the wide end limits close-up framing

$899 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary

It is the value rival to the Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD, starting a millimeter wider at 16mm and taking 72mm filters versus Tamron's 67mm, while weighing a touch more at 450g. Like the Tamron it undercuts the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II by well over $1,000 but gives up that lens's reach to 35mm and full weather sealing. It offers zoom flexibility the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and FE 20mm F1.8 G primes lack.

Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

It is the lightest and one of the cheapest fast zooms here, undercutting the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II by roughly $1,400 while matching much of its center sharpness. Against the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary it is similar in concept but starts at 17mm rather than 16mm and uses a 67mm rather than 72mm filter. Unlike the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and FE 20mm F1.8 G primes, it offers a zoom range, albeit a short one.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary	Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Focal Length	16-28mm	17-28mm
Max Aperture	f/2.8 (constant)	f/2.8 (constant)
Mount	Sony E (full-frame)	Sony E (full-frame)
Weight	450g	420g
Filter Thread	72mm	67mm
Stabilization	None (relies on in-body IS)	None (relies on in-body IS)
Optical Construction	16 elements in 11 groups	—
Aperture Blades	9	9
Length	—	99mm

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