Tamron SP Di II 60mm F/2 Macro Lens Review

February 2010, Carl Garrard

Tamron's newest macro lens is the new Tamron SP Di 60mm f/2 Macro lens. SP is the designation for Tamron's special performance lens (their professional grade lens). It comes equipped with an internal focus motor, internal focusing design (the lens does not change shape during focusing), and a bright max f/2 aperture rating. Specifically Tamron calls this lens a Di II lens which means that is is optimized optically for digital cameras, and for sensos with an APS-C sized sensor only. However, in my findings during testing this lens on the A900 full frame sensor, some might consider this Tamron to be fully functional for full frame use as well. More on that further in the review. Announced on September 28th, 2009 the Tamron currently sells for about $570.00 in the U.S. Considering this lens could be capable of being a great portrait lens (90mm on APS-C is a great focal length for portrait work), it could be a bargain to some photographers looking for a lens that can do more than its specified task. Lets see how the Tamron performs in testing on our new AMW lens chart, and what my opinion of the overall value of this lens can mean to you.

In Use Impressions (Tested on the Alpha 700 and Alpha 900 DSLRS)

It's been a while since my last lens review. I've been quite busy on multiple projects at a time, but alas the clouds had cleared enough for me to pick a new lens to review, and the Tamron 60mm f/2 Macro was my first choice. A big thanks to Tamron for providing this lens to us here at AMW for testing/review purposes. The specifications of this lens, including the price seemed a decent value to me, the only initial concern however was that the lens wasn't for use on full frame DSLRS. You might think differently about that though after reading this review.

Tamron SP Di II 60mm F/2 Macro Lens (Full Manufacturer Specifications)

• Model- G005
• Lens Construction (Groups/Elements)- 10/14
• Angle of View- 26° 35’ (APS-C size equivalent)
• Diaphragm Blade Number- 7
• Minimum Focus Distance- (Sensor to subject) 9.1in. (0.23m)
• Macro Magnification Ratio - 1:1
• Filter Diameter- 55mm
• Weight - 400g (14.1oz.) *
• Diameter x Length- 2.9 x 3.15in.(73 x 80mm)
• Accessories Included- Lens Hood
• Mount:  Sony - Available, Canon - Available, Nikon - Available 

Build Quality and Looks

• Equipped with a manual focus switch on the side of the lens only, the little Tamron is simple in appearance and refined (a newer look for Tamron lenses, but a welcome one). It looks "modern" and well engineered- quite snazzy in fact. I can see the owners of this lens proudly wielding it around and showing it off.

• The red lens lens attachment mark is large and easily distinguishable (more of a straight line than a dot), and a focusing scale is included under a window on top of the lens as well.  A larger than usual gold band surrounds the Tamron which is made of metal (a nice accent) and gives the full name of the lens as well as the 55mm filter size information (it is not stated on the front element housing).

• Refined rubber knobs surround the large focus ring and aren't as deeply grooved as previous Tamron lens designs and are rounded out and smoother, which should help ward off dust and debris from lodging itself permanently (easier to keep clean in other words), and it adds to the newer modern minimalistic look of the lens. 

• Built well with dense high quality composites but without being cheap whatsoever, the Tamron has a dense but lightweight heft to it. The lens hood is thicker than other makes which should make some other manufactures pout in shame. On the rear of the lens, it has a polished anodized aluminum lens mount.

• Tamron's 60mm f/2 macro lens is equipped with an internal micro motor and is a pretty quick focusing lens (and quiet), which could be the reason Tamron chose not to include a focus limiter switch in this model. Pity to some of us, because including such would have given even more versatility to the lens design. If a focus limiter were included cutting the full range of focus  in half - this theoretically could make for even quicker acquisition of focus- great for street shooting, or action portraiture. Likewise, it does not have a focus limiter switch.

• To give you some idea of comparison- as long as the Tamron doesn't have to focus from infinity and back, it compares well to the focusing performance of the 50mm f/1.4 standard Sony lens in terms of speed of acquisition for follow up focusing or tracking. Quite a shock, for the good side. But because the Tamron will occasionally hunt through the range, the Sony is a better choice for speed freaks. The lens does not have a built in screw drive that makes it possible to override the internal focus motor.

Handling 

• The focus ring is large and operates relatively smooth with about one millimeter of free play. Note that for very fine manual focusing, it seems a little stiff (twitchy would be the best word), but not any stiffer than the Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro- in fact a bit smoother. The internal clutch is pretty loose so unless you are looking at the distance scale screen it is a bit tricky to determine if you've reached min/max focus distance. It thankfully does not focus past infinity so night shooting/low light shooting (if needed) finding your infinity focus point will be a breeze.

• The lens hood is thick plastic, and rather large (almost the same size as the Tamron 70-300mm LD Macro's lens hood) and snaps into place just right. Since the Tamron is an internal zoom and focus design wherein the front element does not move into the lens housing (nor does it rotate), you may need the lens hood after all (most macro lenses have an element deep within the lens housing that itself acts as a lens hood). For all intents and purposes the Tamron 60mm f/2 macro operates and looks more like a 60mm standard lens than it does a macro lens, but it focuses quite close (slightly better than it's specification sheet)!
• Overall the Tamron is a pretty small lightweight lens and on both the A700 and A900 bodies felt that way as well. Balance is offset a bit to the rear on these bodies, but on a smaller and lighter body such as the A500, I found there to be a more even balance. Terms of length, it looks about twice as long as the standard 50mm f/1.4 Sony prime on the body without the hood, with it on it's neither long or short- falling in the middle in that category.

Full Frame Surprise?

• Since the Tamron 60mm f/2 isn't a Sony design, there isn't any hard wiring telling the A900 to automatically switch to APS-C crop mode (unlike some Sony lenses that do this and will not allow you to take the camera out of that mode-tsk!!!GRR!). This means you can use this lens on a full frame sensor without the body automatically switching to this mode.

• For full frame, I  can see why Tamron calls for the 60mm f/2 macro to be an APS-C lens only, but technically you can use it on full frame as the image projection covers the entire sensor. There is 'severe' corner softness at f/2 through about f/4  and about 3 full stops of vignetting which starts in the corners and gradually tapers off towards f/5 slowly. However, the lens shapes up 'decent enough' on a full frame sensor by f/5.6. Since the rear optical image projection covers a full frame sensor, it also gives a distortion free (vignetting free) view through the A900's optical viewfinder. 

• This was surprising to me, as I expected not only vignetting in the viewfinder but completely black corners in image testing- this however is not the case. So although Tamron doesn't say the 60mm f/2 is a full frame lens, I can see some buyers using it on full frame anyways, those of course not expecting stellar corner performance or can manage the vignetting.

• Center sharpness is excellent (about 65% of the middle of the frame through the entire f-stop range. Corner softness can come in handy for portraiture, and since this lens has a very shallow depth of field on a full frame lens at f/2, this may be an actual benefit to some. For those wanting tack sharp corners, be wary if you are going to use it for full frame use.

• Since Tamron designates this lens as APS-C only, i've only tested on our new AMW lens focus chart with the A700. In my opinion, this lens performed good enough to be considered plenty useful (but not optimized) for full frame duty, however I don't want to tell the world it is a full frame lens either. 

• Would I use it on my full frame A900? Absolutley I would!

• However, I'd not be able to make any recommendations to anyone as every persons optical expectations differ in this regard. I thought however it was worth mentioning in this review and those who have both an APS-C body and FF body should at least try it out for themselves if planning to purchase this lens.