On the same day that Sigma unveiled six new lenses for Canon RF mount—including the underwater imaging friendly 10–18mm f/2.8 and 18–50mm f/2.8—Tamron has announced the development of its first Canon RF-mount lens: the 11–20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD. Like the new Sigma lenses, Tamron’s ultra wide-angle zoom lens is only designed to work on APS-C mirrorless cameras; it appears, for now at least, Canon will only be licensing access to its RF mount to support its APS-C cameras rather than its much more popular full-frame models.
The 11–20mm focal length range of the new lens is equivalent to 18–32mm in full frame, which is not quite as wide as the Canon RF-S 10–18mm f/4.5–6.3 or the newly announced Sigma 10–18mm f/2.8, which have a 16–29mm equivalent zoom range. The minimum focusing distance of the Tamron lens is 5.9in (15cm). According to the press release, the lens employs a stepping motor unit that is remarkably quiet, making it equally good for stills and video.
Tamron says the 11–20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens will be launched “within 2024,” but the launch price has not been given.
PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2024, Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shogo Sakuraba; Headquarters: Saitama City, Japan; “TAMRON”), a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the development of TAMRON’s first CANON RF mount lens, 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A1 RXD (Model B060), an ultra wide-angle zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras.
TAMRON’s lenses for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are highly regarded for their combination of superior optical performance and compact, lightweight designs. After receiving many requests from customers to offer lenses compatible with the CANON RF mount, TAMRON made the decision to develop a lens for the CANON RF mount under a license agreement.
Product Overview
The 11-20mm F2.8 is a fast-aperture zoom lens covering a focal length range from ultra wide-angle 11mm to 20mm2, with a maximum aperture of F2.8 across its full range of focal lengths. With a surprisingly compact and lightweight design for a fast, ultra wide-angle zoom lens, the lens feels well balanced when attached to a compact APS-C mirrorless camera body, making it ideal for regular use. Despite its small, lightweight design, it also delivers high-level imaging power with uncompromising optical design. Wide macro shooting is possible at 11mm with an MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 0.15m (5.9in) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4, and its stunning close-range shooting performance enables creative use of perspective at the wide end. The lens also incorporates an AF drive system with an RXD (Rapid-eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit that is remarkably quiet. The lens accurately captures not only still images but also video. It is also highly practical, with Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating, and other features designed for outdoor shooting, enabling users to easily enjoy the high image quality of this ultra wide-angle large-aperture F2.8 lens under a range of conditions.
Product Features
- Fast-aperture ultra wide-angle zoom lens
- Compact and light weight
- Outstanding optical performance
- MOD of 0.15m (5.9in) and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4
- High performance autofocus RXD stepping motor for both still and video use
1 Di III-A: For APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
2 The full-frame equivalent of 17.6-32mm.
Specifications, appearance, functionality, etc. are subject to change without prior notice. This product is developed, manufactured, and sold under license from Canon Inc.