Compare lenses

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM vs Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM and the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM if you want more reach (to 35mm equivalent). Pick the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it and a fit on more cameras (39 against 22 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM and the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecCanon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USMTamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
MakerCanonTamron
Focal length16-35mm (zoom)15-30mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent16-35mm15-30mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsCanon EFCanon EF, Nikon F
Stabilisednoyesstabilised
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range2.2×2.0×
Cameras it fits22 in this guide39 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080016-35mm equiv.Canon
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM: 16-35mm.
142435508513520040080015-30mm equiv.Tamron
Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD: 15-30mm.

Aperture

f/2.8
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM: f/2.8 wide open.
f/2.8
Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD: f/2.8 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

Tamron at 15mm · 100°Canon at 16mm · 97°Tamron at 30mm · 62°Canon at 35mm · 54°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM fits 22 and the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD 39.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

and 12 more

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

and 29 more

On their own pages