Tamron SP AF90mm /2.8 Di Macro 1:1

Overview

SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1

Product Overview

Di: Digitally Integrated Design, is a designation Tamron puts on lenses featuring optical systems designed to meet the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras.

Tamron introduces a new version of the famous 90mm macro lens for film and digital photography. Tamron's 90mm macro lens, often referred to as "the portrait macro" and loved by photographers all over the world, is now reborn as a Di lens that is perfect for use with both film and digital cameras.

Optical/Mechanical Feature Key

Lens Specifications

Generic Lens Specifications

Lens Type: Prime
Lens Special Features: Macro
IS / VR / OS: None
Min Focal length (mm): 90
Max Focal Length (mm): 90
Number of Elements: 10
Element Groups: 9
Max Aperture: 2.8
Diaphragm Blades: 9
Closest Focus Distance (m): 0.29
Maximum Magnification: 1.1
Filter Type: Screw In
Filter Diameter (mm): 55
Diameter at widest (mm): 71
Lens Length (mm): 97
Weight (g): 405

Details

SP AF90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Model	272E
Lens Construction (Groups/Elements)	9/10
Angle of view	27°
Type of Zooming	---
Diaphragm Blade Number	9
Minimum Aperture	---
Minimum Focus Distance	11.4in.(0.29m)
Macro Magnification Ratio	1:1
Filter Diameter	ø55
Weight	405g (14.3oz)
Diameter x Length	ø2.8 x 3.8in. (ø71.5 x 97mm)
Accessory	Lens hood, Case
Mount	Canon AF, Sony/Maxxum AF-D, Nikon AF-D, Pentax/Samsung AF

Price Tracking

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Editor review : Tamron 90mm f2.8 SP AF Di Macro


Overall rating (weighted)		2.5
Sharpness		3.0
Build Quality		2.0
AF Speed		3.0
Value for Money		2.0

Handling,
Manuel focusing is remarkably smooth there's a nice, easy to use toggle to limit the focusing range. The basic design very simular to the Simga 105mm Macro with simular features and style of the manuel focus selector. The overall build feels a little flimsy and plasticy, and including a focusing clamp may have been a good idea s the lens can slip out of focus without laking in to account wear and tear.

Image quality
On first impressions there is little to choose between this macro and other macros of the same price, but the image quality area things become different. The Tamron pulls ahead simular priced macros, producing sharp results throughout our test and is only slightly soft at its widest aperture.

Value,
If this lens was priced slightly less then it would have scored higher in out review. Granted the sharpness and image quality are excellent throughout the aperture range, but the build quality and over all feel of this lens is disappointing and as it is priced above it competition then we feel it is little less value for mony then the Sigma.

Why should you care what I think?

My relationship with this item: I have borrowed a friends
Where did you buy this item?: N/A
Price paid: 369
When did you buy this item?: N/A

Conclusions at a glance

Would you recommend this Item: Undecided
Pros: Sharp
Cons: build, price

User Lens Reviews

Average user rating from: 4 user(s)


Overall rating (weighted)		4.6
Sharpness		4.5
Build Quality		4.8
AF Speed		4.5
Value for Money		4.8

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Tamron AF 90mm Macro, Saturday, 27 September 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		4.0
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		4.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		4.0

VERY sharp focus and a reasonably fast focusing motor. I see no downside to this lens at all.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Excellent Lens for the Job, Monday, 28 April 2008


Overall rating (weighted)		5.0
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

This is my second Tamron DI series lens. I purchased this for my Canon 10D DSLR camera and I have had a lot of fun using it. I like to take photos of strange looking bugs and flowers and this lens is dead-on accurate both in image quality and ease of use. I do wish that the housing was made of a more substantial material (weight wise) but otherwise this is a great lens at a pretty reasonable price.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

A gem of a lens at a reasonable price, Saturday, 24 March 2007


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		5.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		4.0
Value for Money		5.0

I am professional photographer specializing in botanical and nature photography. The 90mm has proven to be excellent optically as well as ergonomically well designed. The light weight, for its size, coupled with the very intuitive af-mf push-pull design are great in the field. I work at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Miami. For images taken with the above lens, please visit [...].

This lens has a couple little advertised qualities which make it double as a superb portrait lens:
First, it is not bittingly sharp wide open at f2.8, just about perfect for softening skin flaws, Stopped down to f5.6 and beyond, this lens is simply too sharp and contrasty for the average face. Second, wide open and at f4, this lens produces very attractive out of focus backgrounds, perfect for outdoor portraiture, where backgrounds can easily be distracting and intrusive.
Regards

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Excellent choice for macro & closeups, Wednesday, 25 January 2006


Overall rating (weighted)		4.8
Sharpness		4.0
Build Quality		5.0
AF Speed		5.0
Value for Money		5.0

This is an excellent choice if you're interested in close-up and macrophotography -- it's sharp corner-to-corner, and you get life-size photos down to the size of a large bug. Usually you end up focusing macro shots manually, and the Tamron manual focus ring travels about 270 degrees, giving lots of smooth fine-tuning capability.

For portraits and medium telephoto shots, the autofocus capability works well but it's audible. You can set a limiting switch so that it won't hunt through the entire range, from 8" to infinity. It's easy to switch from autofocus to manual by feel -- you can do it without moving your eye from the viewfinder.

There are probably better choices if you want to do portraits first and macrophotography second -- Canon's 100mm and Sigma's 105mm macros, in particular, but the Tamron is an excellent choice for macro work.

The lens body is plastic, so it's lighter than OEM lenses from Canon & Nikon. The light weight makes one wonder about how rugged it is, but it feels well put together, and anyway you shouldn't be using a lens to drive nails.

Note that the 90mm designation applies only to full frame SLRs. On digital SLRs like the Canon 300D & 350D or the Nikon D50 & D70, the lens gives you an effecive focal length of about 130mm. So you get a Bit more Working distance for macro subjects, but you may have to stand back too far from the subject for portraiture.