A7 IVvs Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
VS
Tamron
Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (2019)
From £649
Best for Landscape, architecture & astrophotography
View Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD
Which should you buy?
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Landscape, Architecture & Astrophotography — Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (2019): The compact f/2.8 ultra-wide for Sony FE — lightweight, weather-sealed, and optically excellent at a fraction of Sony's own G-Master price.
Who should buy what
A7 IV (2021)
- You want a high-resolution full-frame all-rounder for portraits, weddings, or travel
- You're stepping up from APS-C or a DSLR and want the best all-round full-frame body under £3,000
- You shoot a mix of stills and video and need a single body that handles both seriously
- You want access to the widest lens ecosystem in the mirrorless market
Quick take: The tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 di iii rxd is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | A7 IV (2021) | Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,299 | £649 |
| Sensor | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | f/2.8 (constant max aperture) |
| Resolution | 33.0MP | — |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 19cm minimum focus distance |
| Autofocus | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) linear motor |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | None (relies on body IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | — |
| Battery Life | ~580 shots (CIPA) | — |
| Weight | 659g body only | 420g |
| Dimensions | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm | 75.0 × 99.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | — |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | — |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II | — |
| Connectivity | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | — |
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