The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 and the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD 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 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD is the longer of the two lenses at 95mm. The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 80mm, is 15mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD also has a larger diameter of 80mm compared to the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6's 69mm 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 190g, which means it is 380g (66%) lighter than the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD which has a weight of 570g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD has a 72mm 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF Mount.
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Focal Range
Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 has a focal range of 18-55mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28.8-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II VC LD has a focal range of 17-50mm and 2.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27.2-80mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.