The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II and the Tamron 24-70mm 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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II with a length of 71mm, is 46mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD also has a larger diameter of 88mm compared to the Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II's 67mm 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 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II weighs 220g, which means it is 605g (73%) lighter than the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD which has a weight of 825g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD has a 82mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II:
And these are the 82mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II and the Tamron 24-70mm 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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II has a focal range of 28-80mm and
2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
44.8 - 128mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD has a focal range of 24-70mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 38.4 - 112mm.