The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 and the Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses. Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 107mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 37mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6's 72mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 237g, which means it is 433g (64%) lighter than the Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM which has a weight of 670g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 and the Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM 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
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.
Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM has a focal range of 24-105mm and 4.4X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 38.4 - 168mm.