Compare lenses

Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR vs Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)

The Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR and the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it and more reach (to 120mm equivalent). Pick the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) if you want a fit on more cameras (51 against 17 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR and the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR	Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)
Maker	Nikon	Tamron
Focal length	16-80mm (zoom)	17-50mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	24-120mm on APS-C	26-75mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/2.8-4	f/2.8
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Nikon F	Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K
Stabilised	yesstabilised	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	5.0×more range	2.9×
Cameras it fits	17 in this guide	51 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR: 16-80mm on APS-C, like 24-120mm.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF): 17-50mm on APS-C, like 26-75mm.

Aperture

Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR: f/2.8 wide open.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF): 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

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

17 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Nikon AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR fits 17 and the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) 51.