The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD 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 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD is the longer of the two lenses at 82mm. The Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 with a length of 70mm, is 12mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD also has a larger diameter of 74mm 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, 44% (193g) lighter than the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD's weight of 430g.
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 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD has a filter size of 67mm 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 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD and the Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 has the same Sony Alpha lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Sony Alpha lenses are Sony A68, Sony A77 II and Sony A58.
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD is also available in the Canon EF , Nikon F (DX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
Tamron AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Pentax KAF mounts.
Focal Range
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD has a focal range of 17-50mm and
2.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
25.5-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
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 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 42 - 120mm.
