For many years, I have been a huge fan of ultra-wide-angle zooms. Lenses that go from ultra-wide to wide focal lengths, to me, are some of the most versatile lenses around. These days, when I go on photowalks through my city, an ultra-wide-angle zoom is the only lens I take with me.

An ultra-wide-angle might not be the first choice of lens for many photowalkers out there. I get that. Ultra-wide-angle zooms aren’t always the easiest lenses to use. You have to really think about your compositions so you can fill the frame, and in the past, these lenses haven’t always been the smallest or the lightest.

However, the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD bucks that last trend. It’s easily one of the smallest and lightest ultra-wide-angle lenses for Sony E mount shooters. So, if you want to spice up your photowalks with a type of lens that will make you look at your city differently, read on.

Why an ultra-wide-angle zoom is perfect for photowalks

A lens like the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD might not sound very versatile. However, once you get comfortable with them, these types of zoom lenses become perfect for so many genres of photography.

With an ultra-wide focal length of 17mm, you can walk around your town or city and capture some stunning architectural images. With a lens like this one from Tamron, you can easily showcase the city skyline. You can get up close and personal with objects to create very cool perspectives that only ultra-wide and wide-angle lenses can give. Once you get used to wide-angles, you’ll find that your creativity will soar.

At the 28mm mark, you’ll find that you can easily perform street photography. Documentary-style photography, food photography and environmental portraiture are also a piece of cake. Capturing the essence of your city and the people who live in it becomes incredibly easy.

Of course, it helps that the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is nice and light. It weighs just 0.92lbs (420g). It’s razor-sharp, it focuses quickly, and it features some pretty robust weather sealing. It also has a nice, bright constant aperture of f/2.8 as well. Impressive for a lens that costs less than $900. No matter that sort of situation you find yourself in, this lens will be up to the challenge.

You can improve your skillset

Another great reason to add an ultra-wide angle zoom like the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD to your collection is to improve your skills as a photographer. It’s really quite amazing just how much better we can become when we broaden our lens horizons. As I mentioned above, ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses can be a little tricky to use at first. Still, with a little practice, you’ll be creating gorgeous images.

Ultra-wide-angle to wide zooms force you to see the world differently. On a full-frame camera, at 17mm, you’ll have so much of the scene in front of you in your viewfinder that it can be a little overwhelming. Yes, these lenses are fantastic for landscapes, cityscapes and even astrophotography for this very reason. Still, the challenging part is putting the wide perspective to use with other types of photography.

The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD will force you to think outside the box. Learning how to be creative in new ways will push you and your skills forward. The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8’s close focusing distance of 7.5 inches at 17mm allows you to get super close to objects. You can easily fill your frame and create unique looks that would have been lost on lenses with longer focal lengths.

After a short while using an ultra-wide-angle zoom, you’ll develop an eye for scenes that can take on dramatic new looks. If you want to be challenged and if you want to create unique images on your photowalks with a lens that’s small and lightweight, consider adding a wide-angle zoom to your arsenal. You might find that it becomes your favorite lens for fuss-free photowalks.

Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD

The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is a versatile zoom for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras. Covering ultra-wide to wide focal lengths, this lens is suitable for landscape, astrophotography, and architectural shooting. However, if you’re up for a challenge, it can be used for street photography, documentary photography, environmental portraits, and more. Its weather-sealing and its bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture complement this focal range well.

ultra-wide-angle zoom

This post is sponsored by Tamron. While this is a sponsored post, all of the thoughts and views expressed in this article are those of the author. We tell you this as we always want to be upfront and honest with you, our loyal readers.