Compare lenses

Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G vs Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD

The Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G 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 Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it; more reach (to 105mm equivalent); and a fit on more cameras (106 against 41 in this guide). On these specs the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G 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.
Spec	Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G	Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Maker	Sony	Tamron
Focal length	16-55mm (zoom)	17-70mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	24-82mm on APS-C	26-105mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Made for	APS-C	APS-C
Mounts	Sony E	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF
Stabilised	no	yesstabilised
Autofocus	yes	yes
Zoom range	3.4×	4.1×more range
Weight	494 glighter	525 g
Cameras it fits	41 in this guide	106 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G: 16-55mm on APS-C, like 24-82mm.

Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD: 17-70mm on APS-C, like 26-105mm.

Aperture

Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G: f/2.8 wide open.

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

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

Cameras they fit

41 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G fits 41 and the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD 106.