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 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR 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 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR is the longer of the two lenses at 94mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 24mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR also has a larger diameter of 77mm 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 338g (58%) lighter than the Nikon 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR which has a weight of 575g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Nikon F (FX) Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Nikon 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR 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 Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 and the Nikon 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR 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 AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in 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 24-120mm f3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR has a focal range of 24-120mm and 5.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 36 - 180mm.