The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD is the longer of the two lenses at 117mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 47mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD also has a larger diameter of 88mm 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, 71% (588g) lighter than the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD's weight of 825g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD is also available in Nikon F (FX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Sony Alpha and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD has a focal range of 24-70mm 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
38.4 - 112mm.
On the other hand, the 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.