The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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 AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is the longer of the two lenses at 70mm. The Canon 28mm f1.8 USM with a length of 56mm, is 14mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6's 72mm 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. Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 237g, 23% (73g) lighter than the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM's weight of 310g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 have the same Filter thread size of 58mm.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 28mm f1.8 USM and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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 AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 28mm f1.8 USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 28mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
44.8mm.
On the other hand, the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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.