Which is lighter, the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD?

The Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD weighs 825 g, 149 g less than the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II (974 g).

Which focuses closer, the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD?

The Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II focuses down to 0.34 m, against 0.38 m for the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.

Do the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II and the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD have image stabilization?

Only the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has optical image stabilization.

Is the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD better for landscape photography?

For landscape photography, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.

Is the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD better for architecture?

For architecture, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II vs Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

Sony 24–70mm f/2.8 focuses 4 cm closer. Tamron 24–70mm f/2.8 is 149 g lighter.

The Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II is a 24–70mm f/2.8 zoom, and the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD is a 24–70mm f/2.8 zoom. On paper the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II comes out ahead, 3 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II

f/2.8 · 24–70mm · 974 g

Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

f/2.8 · 24–70mm · 825 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II better than the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD?

Focuses 4 cm closer (0.34 m vs 0.38 m)
Smaller filter thread (77 mm vs 82 mm)
Newer design (2015 vs 2012)

Why is the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD better than the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II?

149 g lighter (825 g vs 974 g)
Has optical image stabilization

Which should you buy?

By use

landscape For landscape photography, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.
architecture For architecture, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.
street For street photography, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.
travel For travel, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.

Specification

16 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II	Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
Focal length	24–70mm	24–70mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Lens type	Zoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	Full frame	Full frame
Weight	974 g (34.36 oz)	825 g (29.10 oz) ◆
Dimensions	83 x 111 mm	108.5 x 88.2 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.34 m (13.39 inches) ◆	0.38 m (14.96 inches)
Image stabilization	No	Yes ◆
Weather sealing	Yes	Yes
Aperture ring	No	No
Aperture blades	9	9
Optical construction	17 elements / 13 groups	17 elements / 12 groups
Filter size	77 mm ◆	82 mm
Lens mount	Sony A	Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A
Released	2015	2012

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Sony
B · Tamron

111 × 83 mm
108.5 × 88.2 mm

The Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II is 3 mm longer and 149 g heavier than the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

An evening view through the archway — Shah-i-Zinda, Samarkand by B℮n

Looking up at the Tuman-Aqa mosque by B℮n

Among the Mausoleums of Shah-i-Zinda — Samarkand by B℮n

Nikon D4 Tamron 2.8 24 70 VC G2 by guth.do

Video reviews

4 on YouTube

Video thumbnail for Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II review 1

Video thumbnail for Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II review 2

Video thumbnail for Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD review 1

Video thumbnail for Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD review 2

Questions

Which is lighter, the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD?: The Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD weighs 825 g, 149 g less than the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II (974 g).
Which focuses closer, the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD?: The Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II focuses down to 0.34 m, against 0.38 m for the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.
Do the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II and the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD have image stabilization?: Only the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has optical image stabilization.
Is the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD better for landscape photography?: For landscape photography, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.
Is the Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70 mm f/2.8 T* ZA SSM II or the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD better for architecture?: For architecture, the Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has the edge: it is 149 g lighter to carry.