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17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

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 price

Released Jun 2019

vs

Tamron

90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO

Sony E Mount

90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO — 90mm f/2.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the tamron lineup.

$649

Launch price

Released Feb 2022

90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO is 2.7 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

LandscapeSports & Action

Wins

1categories

90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO

Macro & Close-upSports & Action

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD wins 4 categories·90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO wins 1 categories
  • B90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO has higher Max magnification (1 × vs 0.19 ×)
  • A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Min focus distance (19 cm vs 28 cm)
  • A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Length (99 mm vs 120 mm)
  • A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Weight (420 g vs 500 g)
  • A17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD has lower Diameter (73 mm vs 81 mm)

Key specs at a glance

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Focal Length17-28 mm90 mm
Max Aperturef/2.8f/2.8
MountSony ESony E
CoverageFull-FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight420 g500 g
Min Focus19 cm28 cm
Filter Size67 mm77 mm

Size and weight, to scale

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD shown to scale

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

73 × 99 mm

420 g (0.93 lb / 14.82 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO

81 × 120 mm

500 g (1.10 lb / 17.64 oz)

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is 21mm shorter and 8mm narrower than 90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO.

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is 80 g lighter than 90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO.

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

Use case17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Portrait
4.5Fair
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.0Fair
2.0Limited
Landscape
7.0Good
1.0Limited
Travel
5.0Fair
4.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
1.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
2.5Limited
7.5Good

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

  • Weather sealing

    Only 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD supports it

  • Min focus distance

    19 cm vs 28 cm — lower is better

  • Length

    99 mm vs 120 mm — lower is better

  • Weight

    420 g vs 500 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    73 mm vs 81 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the 90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO

  • Max magnification

    1 × vs 0.19 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

Max aperture (Wide)

Both f/2.8

Max aperture (Tele)

Both f/2.8

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

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

90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO

Pros

  • Solid optical performance for the price tier
  • Native Sony E mount compatibility

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD and 90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO at major authorized retailers.

Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD

Tamron 90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Focal length (Min)
17 mm
90 mm
Focal length (Max)
28 mm
90 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/2.8
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/2.8
f/2.8
Elements
13
14
Groups
11
11
Special elements
Aspherical
Aspherical
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Min focus distance
19 cm−9 cm less
28 cm
Max magnification
0.19 ×
1 ×5.3× more
Autofocus motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Weight
420 g−80 g less
500 g
Length
99 mm−21 mm less
120 mm
Diameter
73 mm−8 mm less
81 mm
Filter thread size
67 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
9
9
17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
90mm F2.8 Di III MACRO
Lens mount
Sony E
Sony E
Format coverage
Full-Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.