The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX and the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD 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. Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX is the longer of the two lenses at 89mm. The Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD with a length of 82mm, is 7mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX also has a larger diameter of 84mm compared to the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD's 74mm 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 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD weighs 430g, 23% (130g) lighter than the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX's weight of 560g.
Filter Threads
The Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD 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 11-16mm f2.8 DX:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD:
Lens Mounts
The Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX has the Canon EF lens mount whereas the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD has the Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF Mount and Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount.
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX is also available in the Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR II LD is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (DX) and Sony Alpha mounts.
Focal Range
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 DX has a focal range of 11-16mm and
1.5X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
17.6-25.6mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the 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.
