Tamron 90mm Di 2.8 Macro AutoFocus Lens
Review by: C. Garrard
Lens graciously provided by Matt Davids at www.AlphaLensRental.com, thank you Matt!
*Tested on the Sony Alpha A100 and A700
Preamble:
One of the priorities of AlphaMountWorld.com is to bring you real world reviews of products of great quality and value to add to your Alpha system. Also, so that you don't have to shop all over the net or read thousands of reviews to make a final decision. We aim to find the best products for overall value and performance, then review them for you. Of late, we have had our eye on a few macro lenses we feel bring an excellent addition to your kit. While there are many macro lenses available to the Alpha Mount, we have narrowed our favorites to just a handful based on image quality, price, and build. One of these lenses is the Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro.
The Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro was first introduced February 12th, 2004 at PMA in Las Vegas. It is certainly no newcomer, so why do a review of this lens now? For two reasons, we think it still offers excellent value for what you get, and it is full frame compatible. On your APS-C bodies (A100-A700) it will have an equivalent focal length of 135mm in field of view, giving you excellent relief (or good magnification focus distance) from your subjects. Also, for those who will purchase the Flagship body later this year, it is a cross compatible lens that won't vignette like APS-C specific lenses on your FF body. So this is a lens that will work well on all of the bodies you have in your kit.
Typically, macro lenses are offered from about 50mm to 200mm in focal length and this puts the Tamron right about smack dab in the middle. The advantage of this lens is that it still is incredibly light and compact but retains a nice medium telephoto advantage.
So, how well did it hold up to our several tests and what is our verdict on this lens? And mostly, how much fun is it to use? Read on..
Good Tamron 90mm Review
Carl, thanks for posting the review of the Tamron 90mm Macro up here, I've seen pictures in various places over the net taken with this lens and it has always got my attention your review was well what I was feeling this lens might be; great value for money, better than average bokeh, and as sharp as anything equivalent !! the added bonus is the way this lens really nails colour. Your review and sample shots have put this lens on my "must have" list.
Many thanks
Tony Clarke.
Thank you Tony
Glad this helped! Thanks for joining up and for your feedback. It really helps.
Carl
Excellent Review and a question...
Carl - great review, hit all the points you would expect to see covered in great detail yet easy to understand. You have a very affable writing style...
My question - in your opinion is this lens better suited for a "macro" only application; or could it be used for general photography, portraits, low-light non flash situations?
I have an event coming up which I might require some much faster glass than I have now...
Thanks,
Hapster
Hapster
Thank you very much, and I'm so glad you didn't say "laffable" instead ;)
For the lens, as long as you had a nice flash set up for studio work it would do a good job too. As long as subjects aren't too close you wont get any lens shadows from firing the flash. I have a 50mm too, and for what I do I find it a bit more versatile for the focal length yet I could see the Tamron affording you some relief from your subject for portraits, and that might be a good thing.
I will say that renting the lens might be a good idea too. Try it out for size. If that isn't an option I'd take you camera to a shop to try out a few lenses at the counter, see how they feel to you and your needs.
Carl
Nice review, but sony or tamron?
Carl, Nice review! But in the end, apart from money, which would you choose, Sony 100mm or the Tamron 90mm. Is there a "big" difference? Is the Tamron usable for portrait and some non-macro indoor shooting? Is the AF faster/better on the Sony or Tammy?
Cheers! Robert! Love the site btw. I would like to see a A200 review in the near future, because the "slow" AF on my A100 is getting in the way and maybe the A200 might be an alternative to the "expensive" A700.
Robert thank you
I will know more about the Sony 100mm as soon as I have a copy, that is coming. Based on reviews out there of both, the Sony wins overall. We'll see though.
The A200 review you wish for will be granted, sooner than later I hope. Hang in there, it is one of our top priorities right now as is the A350, both of which we will have as soon as possible.
Carl
Very Informative review
Nice review Carl. The samples look great. Could you also add some other objects as test subjects. I am thinking of cans, bottles, coins, etc.
Royston
Royston, thats a good idea
I might do that.
Carl
90 + 45 = 135 with my older
90 + 45 = 135 with my older Tammie on a 7D. Have they changed the specs?
Doh!
What is my deal!
Now get busy!
The Tammy was the macro I wanted for the 5D, but due to circumstance (and a bargain on Ebay), ended up with the Sigma 105mm.
Would be interesting to see comparitive reviews with the main players, ie, Tamron 90, Sony 100 and Sigma 105; Sony 70-300G, Tamron 70-300mm and Sigma 70-300mm APO.
1) Would show where the money goes!
2) Enable us to see clearly which would suit our needs.
Another great review Carl!
CJ
Bought one, now for a re-read
Carl,
Based largely on your review I bought a Tamron 90 and have used it now for about a month. I would agree with everything you said in your review. Great lens, great images using it.
Thanks,
Dick
Compare ISO
Carl,
I'm very interested in this lens, because it is so good and cheap compared to de sony. The sony is probably somewhat sharper, but I don'nt think my 10mp can resolve that. Anyway I've read that with the tamron getting to 1:1 focus the aperture jumps to 5,6 in stead of 2,8. Is that so or is the DOF so think at 1:1 that you have to go to 5,6 and up? Does the sony do this also?
Cheers, Robert ... would like to see a test with the sony version.
The Tamron is 2.8 thru the range
And for my money, it is a toss up between the Sony 100mm and this one.
And both are 2.8 at 1:1, never heard or seen contrary :)
I think you can get the Tamron for a really good deal too. The Sony/KM 100mm macro is legendary however. And if you end up with a 12mp or higher body, its something to consider.
Again a toss up. Tamron for the money is always hard to beat, and wins most of the time in my experience.
Carl