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 Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 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 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF is the longer of the two lenses at 122mm. The Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD with a length of 117mm, is 5mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF also has a larger diameter of 89mm compared to the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD's 88mm 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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD weighs 825g, which means it is 110g (11%) lighter than the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF which has a weight of 935g.
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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD has a filter size of 82mm whereas the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 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 82mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD and the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF 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 24-70mm f2.8 VC USD is also available in Canon EF and Sony Alpha 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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
36 - 105mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 ED-IF has a focal range of 28-70mm and 2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 42 - 105mm.