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Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD vs Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF
Short answer
The Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD (11–20mm) and Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF (9mm) are both ultra-wide lenses for the Fujifilm X mount. Only the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF has weather sealing.
Evenly matched on paper
Side by side
| Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD | Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Tamron | Viltrox |
| Focal length | 11–20mm | 9mm |
| 35mm equivalent | 17–30mm | 14mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Fujifilm X |
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Weather resistant | — | Yes |
| Lens construction | — | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Minimum focus | — | 0.13 m |
| Weight | — | 175 g |
| Filter thread | — | ⌀58 mm |
| Launch price | — | $199 |
Where each one is ahead
Reasons to choose the Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD
- Longer reach 30 mm vs 14 mm
Reasons to choose the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF
- Wider view 14 mm vs 17 mm
Framing and reach
| Lens | Frames like | Horizontal view | Frame width at 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD | 17–30 mm | 93.8°–60.9° | 21.4–11.8 m |
| Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF | 14 mm | 105.1° | 26.1 m |
The Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD gets 2.14× closer to the subject than the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF: whatever it points at fills 2.14× more of the frame edge to edge, or 4.6× more of its area. With the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF you would have to walk about 53% of the distance towards the subject to get the same picture — or crop it later, which leaves roughly 22% of the original pixels.
Angles and widths are calculated from focal length and sensor width, horizontally, on the native sensor of each mount.
What each one suits
| Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD | Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF | |
|---|---|---|
| Birds and wildlife | Poor | Poor |
| Sports | Poor | Poor |
| Portrait | Poor | Poor |
| Travel | Good | Average |
| Street | Good | Fair |
| Weddings | Good | Average |
| Walk around | Good | Average |
| Vlogging | Very good | Very good |
| Landscape | Good | Excellent |
| Macro | Poor | Poor |
Scored from the published specifications — focal length, aperture, stabilisation, weather sealing and weight. Sharpness, bokeh and rendering are not in a spec sheet and are not scored here.
Cameras that take both
Both lenses fit every interchangeable-lens X Series body — 34 in our list. Fixed-lens models such as the X100 series cannot take them.
Which one to choose
Choose the Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD if
- your subject is far away. It magnifies 2.14× more, and walking closer is not always an option.
Choose the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF if
- you want more in the frame. It starts at 14 mm equivalent, against 17 mm on the other lens — interiors, landscapes and groups at close range.
Everything above comes from published specifications. How sharp each lens is, how quickly it focuses and what its pictures look like are not in any spec sheet, so this comparison does not try to judge them.
Common questions
Will both lenses fit my camera?
Both use the Fujifilm X mount, so they fit any X Series camera with interchangeable lenses. They do not fit fixed-lens models such as the X100 series or GFX bodies.
compare.faqTitle
Which is better, the Tamron 11-20mm F2.8 Di III-A RXD or the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF?
On paper they come out even across 12 compared specs. What is left is handling and today’s price, which this page does not measure.
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Built from the specifications Fujifilm publishes.