Compare lenses

Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR vs Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

The Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR and the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD 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 a lighter lens (330 g against 525 g). Pick the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD if you want more reach (to 105mm equivalent) and 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 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecNikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VRTamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
MakerNikonTamron
Focal length16-50mm (zoom)17-70mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent24-75mm on APS-C26-105mm on APS-C
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/2.8
Made forAPS-CAPS-C
MountsNikon ZSony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF
Stabilisedyesyes
Autofocusyesyes
Zoom range3.1×4.1×more range
Weight330 glighter525 g
Cameras it fits16 in this guide106 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080024-75mm equiv.Nikon
Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR: 16-50mm on APS-C, like 24-75mm.
142435508513520040080026-105mm equiv.Tamron
Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: 17-70mm on APS-C, like 26-105mm.

Aperture

f/2.8
Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR: f/2.8 wide open.
f/2.8
Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: 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

Nikon at 16mm · 74°Tamron at 17mm · 70°Nikon at 50mm · 27°Tamron at 70mm · 19°
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 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD 106.

Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR

and 6 more

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

and 96 more

On their own pages