The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 and the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM 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 12-20mm f2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 119mm. The Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM with a length of 113mm, is 6mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 also has a larger diameter of 90mm compared to the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM'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. Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 weighs 570g, which means it is 45g (7%) lighter than the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM which has a weight of 615g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 12-20mm f2.8:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 has the Sony E lens mount whereas the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 is also available in the Nikon Z mount.
Focal Range
Tamron 12-20mm f2.8 has a focal range of 12-20mm and
1.7X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
18 - 30mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS USM has a focal range of 16-35mm and 2.2X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 25.6 - 56mm.
