Compare lenses

Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR vs Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A

The Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR and the Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it. Pick the Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A if you want a fit on more cameras (106 against 16 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR and the Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A

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 Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR	Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A
Maker	Nikon	Tamron
Focal length	16-50mm (zoom)	16-50mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	24-75mm on APS-C	24-75mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Nikon Z	Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, Canon RF
Stabilised	yesstabilised	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	3.1×	3.1×
Weight	330 g	not listed
Cameras it fits	16 in this guide	106 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR: 16-50mm on APS-C, like 24-75mm.

Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A: 16-50mm on APS-C, like 24-75mm.

Aperture

Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR: f/2.8 wide open.

Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A: 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

16 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR fits 16 and the Tamron 16-50mm f/2.8 A 106.