Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD vs Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS

Both are Sony E mount zooms for wide-angle and landscape — here's how the specs differ and which to pick. Every spec is from the manufacturer's own catalog.

Last verified 2026-09-01 · Sony E mount · prices change — check the retailer

Spec	Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD	Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS
Focal length	17-28mm	16-35mm
Max aperture	f/2.8	f/4
Type	zoom	zoom
Coverage	full-frame	full-frame
Mount	Sony E	Sony E

Which should you buy?

the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD opens wider (f/2.8) — brighter in low light and more background blur
the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD covers 17-28mm and the Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS covers 16-35mm — pick the range that matches what you shoot
the Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS is first-party (Sony) for guaranteed full autofocus and in-camera corrections; the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is third-party — usually the value pick

Where to buy

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXDSee price on Amazon Amazon has no new-stock listing for this one right now — this button runs an Amazon search for it rather than opening a product page.

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Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Lens for Sony E

Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSSSee price on Amazon

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FAQ

What's the difference between the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD and the Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS?
The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is 17-28mm f/2.8 zoom, full-frame; the Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS is 16-35mm f/4 zoom, full-frame. Both fit the Sony E mount.

Which is better in low light, the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD or the Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS?
The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD — its f/2.8 maximum aperture lets in more light and gives more background blur than the f/4 of the other.

Do the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD and Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS fit the same camera?
Yes — both are Sony E mount lenses, so they fit Sony a7/a9/a1 (full-frame) and a6000-series (APS-C).

Citing these specs? Go ahead — manufacturer data, last verified 2026-09-01. Copy a ready-made reference:

More Sony E comparisons: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS vs Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 PRO · Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art vs Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM · Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 vs Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM · Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 vs Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS · all Sony E lenses · all comparisons

Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSSAffiliate linkSee price on Amazon