The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX and the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD 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 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD is the longer of the two lenses at 100mm. The Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX with a length of 78mm, is 22mm shorter. On the other hand, the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD's 75mm 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 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD weighs 540g, 11% (70g) lighter than the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX's weight of 610g.
Filter Threads
The Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD:
Lens Mounts
Both the Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX and the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3.
Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX is also available in Nikon F (DX) mount.
Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD is also available in Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tokina 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX has a focal range of 17-135mm and
7.9X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27.2-216mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Tamron 16-300mm f3.5-6.3 II VC PZD has a focal range of 16-300mm and 18.8X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 25.6-480mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.