The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM and the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD is the longer of the two lenses at 145mm. The Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM with a length of 103mm, is 42mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD also has a larger diameter of 98mm compared to the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM's 84mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM weighs 600g, which means it is 500g (45%) lighter than the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD which has a weight of 1100g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM and the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 16-35mm f2.8L USM has a focal range of 16-35mm and
2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.6 - 56mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD has a focal range of 15-30mm and 2.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 24 - 48mm.