Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II vs Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 547 g | 540 g |
| Min focal | 16 mm | 28 mm |
| Max focal | 35 mm | 75 mm |
Between the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II comes out ahead in several specs, while the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 wins on weight / min focal. Overall, the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II scores 62.8 and the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 scores 69 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 edges ahead on the Mars Score (62.8 vs 69), but the 6.2-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
The FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight, min focal, max focal. The single most decisive one: Weight — 7.00 g less. 540 vs 547.
Both ship with comparable weather sealed, optical stabilization, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II or Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2?
Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 leads the current Mars Score by 6.2 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare min focal, max focal, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II if…
Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 if…
Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 has the measurable edge on weight g, focal min mm, focal max mm.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 wins
- ▲Weight — 7.00 g less. 540 vs 547.
- ▲Min focal: 28 (vs 16).
- ▲Max focal: 75 (vs 35).
Spec comparison
Optics
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Min focal | 16 mm | 28 mmlead |
| Max focal | 35 mm | 75 mmlead |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Min aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
Build
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 547 g | 540 glead |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Optical stabilizationⓘ | false | false |
Mount
| Spec | Sony - FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II | Tamron - 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Lens mount | Sony E | Sony E |