Tamron
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Sony E Mount
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD — 17–28mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the tamron lineup.
$899
Launch priceReleased Jun 2019
Tamron
50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Sony E Mount
50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD — 50–400mm f/4.5-6.3 for Sony E, a popular choice in the tamron lineup.
$1,299
Launch priceReleased Sep 2022
50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is 3.3 years newer.
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Wins
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Wins
50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- B50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
- A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Weight (420 g vs 1155 g)
- A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/2.8 vs f/6.3)
- A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Length (99 mm vs 212 mm)
- A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Min focus distance (19 cm vs 38 cm)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
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17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
⌀73 × 99 mm
420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
⌀81 × 212 mm
1155 g (2.55 lb / 40.74 oz)
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is 113mm shorter and 8mm narrower than 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD.
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is 735 g lighter than 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD.
Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose the 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
- ✓
Weight
420 g vs 1155 g — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8 vs f/6.3 — lower is better
- ✓
Length
99 mm vs 212 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Min focus distance
19 cm vs 38 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8 vs f/4.5 — lower is better
- ✓
Diameter
73 mm vs 81 mm — lower is better
Reasons to choose the 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
- ✓
Optical stabilization
Only 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD supports it
- ✓
Control ring
Only 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD supports it
- ✓
Custom function button
Only 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD supports it
- ✓
Max magnification
0.25 × vs 0.19 × — higher is better
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Weather sealing
Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Pros
- ✓Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
- ✓Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
- ✓Native Sony E mount compatibility
Cons
- –Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value
50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
Pros
- ✓Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
- ✓Built-in optical image stabilization
- ✓Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
Cons
- –Relatively heavy for extended handheld use
- –Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD and 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD at major authorized retailers.
Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
Tamron 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.