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 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM 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. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is the longer of the two lenses at 121mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 51mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM also has a larger diameter of 78mm 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 573g (70%) lighter than the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM which has a weight of 810g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Sony Alpha Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM 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 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 and the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A99 II, Sony A68 and Sony A77 II.
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM is also available in Canon EF , Pentax KAF, Sigma SA and Nikon F (DX) 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 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM has a focal range of 18-35mm and 1.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 27-52.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.