Cameras Ranked

14–30 Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S vs 16–30 Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2

Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S vs Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2: our pick for most people is the Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2. Pick the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S if you want a wider view at the short end (focal length: 14-30 mm vs 16-30 mm). Pick the Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 if you shoot in low light or want a blurrier background, or you want cheaper filters (widest aperture: f/4 vs f/2.8; filter thread: 82 mm vs 67 mm). Too close to call (weight: 485 g vs 450 g).

To one scale. Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: length 85 mm, diameter 89 mm, filter thread 82 mm; Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2: length 103.9 mm, diameter 74.8 mm, filter thread 67 mm.85 mmNikon 14–30485 g103.9 mmTamron 16–30450 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.
To one scale. Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: length 85 mm, diameter 89 mm, filter thread 82 mm; Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2: length 103.9 mm, diameter 74.8 mm, filter thread 67 mm.85 mmNikon 14–30485 g103.9 mmTamron 16–30450 g
Both to one scale, from each maker's length and diameter, the filter thread in yellow. The rings are drawn, not measured.

The pick, in points

Lead for a pick: 1

Nikon 14–30

2points

Wins on focal length (widest).

Tamron 16–30

3.5points

Wins on widest aperture and filter thread.

Each real difference scores its importance for the side that wins it; a lead under 1 is “it depends”. How the weights work

The Tamron 16–30 on its ownThe Nikon 14–30 on its ownAll Nikon Z lenses

Where they differ

5 of 17 specs

Each bar is the gap as a share of the smaller value, on one scale from 0 to 100%; an arrow end is a gap past 100%. The dashed tick marks where a gap starts to count.

  1. Widest aperture

    Importance 3

    Nikon 14–30f/41Tamron 16–30f/2.8

    1.2 apart (42.9%), to the Tamron 16–30

    3points

  2. Focal length (widest)

    Importance 2

    Nikon 14–3014 mm1Tamron 16–3016 mm

    2 mm apart (14.3%), to the Nikon 14–30

    2points

  3. Filter thread

    Importance 0.5

    Nikon 14–3082 mm2Tamron 16–3067 mm3

    15 mm apart (22.4%), to the Tamron 16–30

    0.5points

  4. Weight

    Importance 2

    Nikon 14–30485 g2Tamron 16–30450 g3

    35 g apart (7.8%), under the 12% bar

    0points

  5. Closest focus, wide end

    Importance 1

    Nikon 14–300.28 m2Tamron 16–300.19 m3

    0.09 m apart (47.4%), not counted: compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest)

    0points

Also different, no weight reads them5

  1. Length

    Nikon 14–3085 mm2Tamron 16–30103.9 mm3for Nikon Z mount

    18.9 mm apart (22.2%)

    Not weighted

  2. Diameter

    Nikon 14–3089 mm2Tamron 16–3074.8 mm3

    14.2 mm apart (19%)

    Not weighted

  3. Maximum magnification, wide end

    Nikon 14–300.16x2Tamron 16–300.185x3

    0.025 apart (15.6%)

    Not weighted

  4. Elements

    Nikon 14–30142Tamron 16–30163

    2 apart (14.3%)

    Not weighted

  5. Aperture blades

    Nikon 14–3072Tamron 16–3093

    2 apart (28.6%)

    Not weighted

Side by side, to scale

Focal length on one log scale

Focal length on one log scale: Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: 14 to 30 mm; Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2: 16 to 30 mm.Nikon 14–30Tamron 16–30−2 mm10162435
The focal lengths each maker states.

Specifications

SpecificationsNikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 STamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2
Focal length14-30 mm116-30 mm
Widest aperturef/41f/2.8
Closest focus0.28 m20.19 m at 16 mm, 0.3 m at 30 mm3
Maximum magnification0.16x20.185x at 16 mm, 0.142857x at 30 mm3
Weight485 g2450 g3
Length85 mm2103.9 mm (for Nikon Z mount)3
Diameter89 mm274.8 mm3
Filter thread82 mm267 mm3
On sale fromNot statedAug 22, 20253
Elements142163
Aperture blades7293
HoodHB-862Flower-shaped hood3

Same on both

  • Stabilization No
  • Mount Nikon Z2
  • Covers Full frame
  • Type Zoom
  • Groups 122

Full specifications, side by side†

Show all 0 rows
Rows only one maker lists: 25

Also on the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S spec page2

Focal length range14-30 mm
Maximum aperturef/4
Minimum aperturef/22
Lens element configuration14 elements in 12 groups (4 ED glass, 4 aspherical lens elements, Nano Crystal Coat, fluorine-coated front lens element)
Angle of view114° - 72° (FX format)
Angle of view90° - 50° (DX format)
Minimum focus distance0.28 m/0.92 ft
Maximum reproduction ratio0.16x
Diaphragm blade count7 (rounded diaphragm opening)
Filter attachment size82 mm (P = 0.75 mm)
Lens weightApproximately 485 g/1 lb 1.2 oz

Also on the Tamron 16-30mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 spec page3

Diagonal angle of view107°2′- 71°35′ (for full-frame mirrorless format)
Smallest aperture settingF16
Product release dateAugust 22, 2025 (NIKON Z Mount)
Optical element and group count16 elements in 12 groups
Minimum object distance wide0.19m / 7.5in (WIDE)
Minimum object distance tele0.3m / 11.8in (TELE)
Maximum magnification ratio wide1:5.4 (WIDE)
Maximum magnification ratio tele1:7 (TELE)
Filter thread sizeΦ67mm
Maximum diameterΦ74.8mm
Lens length103.9mm (4.1in) (for Nikon Z mount)
Compatible camera mountNIKON Z Mount
Lens weight450g (15.9oz) (for Nikon Z mount)
Aperture blade count9 (circular diaphragm)

How the pick works

  1. Widest aperture3

    Lower wins once they are 0.3 apart.

  2. Weight2

    Lower wins from a 12% gap.

  3. Focal length (longest)2

    Higher wins from a 15% gap.

  4. Focal length (widest)2

    Lower wins once they are 2 mm apart.

  5. Optical stabilization1

    Having it wins.

  6. Closest focus, wide end1

    Lower wins from a 15% gap. Compared only between lenses of the same focal length (widest).

  7. Filter thread0.5

    Lower wins once they are 5 mm apart.

  8. Lead for a pick1

Our pick or our take adds up the importance of each real difference, with these importances and thresholds: a gap smaller than its row's threshold is too close to call and counts as the same. They are our editorial choice, not a measurement, the same on every page, and they never read prices, sales or who sells it.

Paid placements0

How we rank, in full

Sources

  1. Wikidata, checked Oct 9, 2026 (CC0 1.0)
  2. Nikon product specifications, checked Oct 6, 2026
  3. Tamron product specifications, checked Oct 6, 2026

Worked out by code, not stated by a source

  • Read from the lens name: each maker marks the sensor size a lens covers (Sony FE/E, Canon RF/RF-S, Nikon DX, Tamron Di III/Di III-A, Sigma DG/DC); every Fujifilm X lens is APS-C and every Micro Four Thirds lens is Four Thirds.
  • Read from the lens name: Sony marks optically stabilized lenses OSS, Canon IS, Nikon VR, Fujifilm OIS, Panasonic O.I.S., Tamron VC and Sigma OS; a lens from these makers without the mark has no optical stabilization.
  • Prime or zoom, read from the focal length in the lens name.
  • Focal length and widest aperture as the lens's own name states them.

Each value is checked automatically against the source it links, on the date shown. How we build these pages

† The makers' own tables, row by row, with labels in our plain words (translated where the maker's page isn't in English); each row's numbers are checked against the page it links.

What we don't know yet

  • On sale from for the Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm F4 S: our sources don't state it yet.

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