The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF 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 Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF with a length of 106mm, is 39mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD also has a larger diameter of 98mm compared to the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF's 83mm 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. Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF weighs 745g, which means it is 355g (32%) 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 Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Ultra-Wideangle Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF and the Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD has the same Nikon F (FX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Nikon F (FX) lenses are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500.
Tamron 15-30mm f2.8 VC USD is also available in Canon EF and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D ED-IF has a focal range of 17-35mm and
2.1X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.5 - 52.5mm.
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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 22.5 - 45mm.