The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD and the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX 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. Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX is the longer of the two lenses at 97mm. The Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD with a length of 84mm, is 13mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD's 74mm 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 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD weighs 430g, which means it is 180g (29%) lighter than the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX which has a weight of 610g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD has a filter size of 62mm whereas the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 62mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD and the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX has the same Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (DX) lenses are Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600.
Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD is also available in Canon EF , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX is also available in Canon EF mount.
Focal Range
Tamron AF 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 II LD has a focal range of 18-250mm and
13.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27-375mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX has a focal range of 16-50mm and 3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 24-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.