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 Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF 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. Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 111mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 41mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6's 72mm 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 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 weighs 237g, which means it is 518g (68%) lighter than the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF which has a weight of 755g.
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF 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 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF:
Lens Mounts
The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has the Nikon F (FX) lens mount whereas the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Nikon D6, Nikon D780 and Nikon D3500 for the Nikon F (FX) Mount and Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount.
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in the Canon EF , 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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
42 - 120mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8G ED-IF has a focal range of 17-55mm and 3.2X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.5-82.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
