Review - Tamron 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

[Canon Rumors]

Discuss our review of the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD here.

 

[jebrady03]

Absolutely love Dustin's reviews and this one was no exception! Well done, Dustin! You've managed to make me take one eye off the 85/1.2L II...

 

[Click]

Absolutely love Dustin's reviews and this one was no exception!

+1

Thank you for this great review. Well done, Dustin.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Thanks for the nice feedback, everyone. There have been a few scattered reports of issues with the lens (some say the VC really messes with the image quality), but it can be hard to separate fact from user error. I couldn't really recreate that issue...and you can always turn the VC off.

I liked the lens well enough that I arranged to purchase the copy I reviewed.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Nice lens!

Is it the best 85mm lens for a FF DSLR?

"Best" is a pretty challenging term when the Otus/Milvus 85mm lenses exist. I would say that is represents the current best combination of optical superiority with overall functionality, though. It works well and takes stunningly good pictures...while still being moderately sized and priced. That's pretty fantastic. One chart tester has reported that the corner performance actually slightly exceeds the center performance wide open - I've never heard of such a thing before. Having such an even resolution is really, really nice in real world shooting, though.

 

[Etienne]

Nice lens and review!

Any idea how well the AF works with Canon's DPAF sensors in video mode?

 

[infared]

Dustin...love your usual dark-edge product shots...the ones here with the water splashes are just great..especially the teaser shot in CR forum. GReat stuff. Looks like a very good offering. Although, I love my 20mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4 and my 50mm f.1.4 Art lenses I will be passing on this one from Sigma ...I have a great copy of the Canon 85mm f/1.2L II...and although it is like a grenade and focuses slowly...I find it so magical at times that I can't give it up!!!!! :-X

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Nice lens and review!

Any idea how well the AF works with Canon's DPAF sensors in video mode?

It works fine in terms of focus speed and overall functionality, but not as quiet or smooth as STM. Not as loud as some USM lenses, but Tamron's USD is more like USM than STM, obviously.

I'll be trying the lens on a Steadicam with the VC engaged to see if that allows for very smooth video. I have high hopes as the VC works very well for stability on the lens.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Hey Dustin. Like always, a very nice review! I purchased this lens over a week ago and I have the same experience as you do with this lens. I find that with VC turned off, the autofocus seems to be as fast as the Canon 85 1.8 however, with it turned on, it sometimes hesitate to focus, but is still fast. I love this lens though! I'd say it is the best bang-for-buck 85mm out there with Weather Sealing, Fast Focus, 6 Year Warranty, VC, Very Sharp, No Purple Fringing, Great Build Quality, etc! A fantastic upgrade from the Canon 85mm 1.8.

By the way, has Tamron confirmed a release-date for the TAP-In Console?

I was told two weeks ago that Tamron USA expected them by mid-May, so I'm expecting word this week. Interesting that you've noted the same thing about the AF (so not copy specific). I actually wonder if it is a purposeful thing to allow VC to fully engage before capture.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

A couple of days ago my wife and daughter were taking a "selfie" (usie?) before going out. I had been out shooting and grabbed a quick shot of them taking their shot. I added a little flare in post for style, but I wanted to share the image and above all the crop to show the detail at f/1.8 on the shot.

 

[Refurb7]

Hey Dustin. Like always, a very nice review! I purchased this lens over a week ago and I have the same experience as you do with this lens. I find that with VC turned off, the autofocus seems to be as fast as the Canon 85 1.8 however, with it turned on, it sometimes hesitate to focus, but is still fast. I love this lens though! I'd say it is the best bang-for-buck 85mm out there with Weather Sealing, Fast Focus, 6 Year Warranty, VC, Very Sharp, No Purple Fringing, Great Build Quality, etc! A fantastic upgrade from the Canon 85mm 1.8.

By the way, has Tamron confirmed a release-date for the TAP-In Console?

I agree, it is the current best bang-for-buck 85mm. I'm very happy with it overall. My 2nd best bang-for-buck 85mm is the Canon 85/1.8, but the Tamron has VC which makes it even more useful for me. I haven't noticed any problem with the VC; it just works as far as I can tell. The Tamron is a bit large for an 85/1.8 but that's the only "bad" thing about it.

The very best 85mm is probably the Zeiss Otus, but at a price so much higher, and without autofocus.

 

[grainier]

So, as far as AF speed is concerned Canon 85/1.8 is still in a class of its own?

 

[Etienne]

Nice lens and review!

Any idea how well the AF works with Canon's DPAF sensors in video mode?

It works fine in terms of focus speed and overall functionality, but not as quiet or smooth as STM. Not as loud as some USM lenses, but Tamron's USD is more like USM than STM, obviously.

I'll be trying the lens on a Steadicam with the VC engaged to see if that allows for very smooth video. I have high hopes as the VC works very well for stability on the lens.

Thanks Dustin! I am particularly interested in how it performs for focus racking, and whether it achieves the new focus point smoothly and without hunting on the newest cameras like the 80D and the C300. I am really hoping for a C100 mkIII soon with a full sensor DPAF and touchscreen, and a 5DIV with same. Good reliable focus racking via touchscreen would be such a blessing.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

So, as far as AF speed is concerned Canon 85/1.8 is still in a class of its own?

I wouldn't say so. With the VC turned off the Tamron is every bit as fast.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Dustin...love your usual dark-edge product shots...the ones here with the water splashes are just great..especially the teaser shot in CR forum. GReat stuff. Looks like a very good offering. Although, I love my 20mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4 and my 50mm f.1.4 Art lenses I will be passing on this one from Sigma ...I have a great copy of the Canon 85mm f/1.2L II...and although it is like a grenade and focuses slowly...I find it so magical at times that I can't give it up!!!!! :-X

I decided when reviewing the 90 VC macro that the inclusion of the water would be a nice touch to highlight the moisture resistance of the lenses. I've actually started to do more product work for a few companies (I'm not implying that I've done it for Tamron - I just shoot these for my reviews).

I don't blame you on holding onto your 85L II - IQ is much more than sharpness, and the 85L II has beautiful rendering.

 

[Maximilian]

Very interesting, very entertaining!

Thank you, Dustin.

So, as far as AF speed is concerned Canon 85/1.8 is still in a class of its own?

I wouldn't say so. With the VC turned off the Tamron is every bit as fast.

And this ist one of the most improtant informations to me.

I hope that an 85 Art will come soon and then Canon will be forced to move.
And then we'll have the joy of comparing those three 85ers
Lucky me I can sit back and watch the show and put the EF 85 on whenever I need it.
I have time. But the offerings become more and more tempting

 

[douglaurent]

The Tamron 85/1.8 is really great and even works great with the video autofocus of the 1DX2. If they do a 135/2 VC and 24/1.8 VC that would be awesome.

BUT there are major incompatibilities between the 1DX2 and other Tamron lenses like the 15-30/2.8 VC or the lightweight superzoom 28-300, who don't work at all! TAMRON AND CANON PLEASE WAKE UP ASAP AND FIX THIS!!!! These bugs are especially annoying when it's happening with the most expensive DSLR and lenses that have no alternative on the market.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

The Tamron 85/1.8 is really great and even works great with the video autofocus of the 1DX2. If they do a 135/2 VC and 24/1.8 VC that would be awesome.

BUT there are major incompatibilities between the 1DX2 and other Tamron lenses like the 15-30/2.8 VC or the lightweight superzoom 28-300, who don't work at all! TAMRON AND CANON PLEASE WAKE UP ASAP AND FIX THIS!!!! These bugs are especially annoying when it's happening with the most expensive DSLR and lenses that have no alternative on the market.

I'm sure that Tamron will have a firmware update for the lenses, but this is one area where having the Tap In console compatibility will be nice for future lenses. It would allow them to roll out firmware updates more quickly and easily.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

The Tamron 85/1.8 is really great and even works great with the video autofocus of the 1DX2. If they do a 135/2 VC and 24/1.8 VC that would be awesome.

BUT there are major incompatibilities between the 1DX2 and other Tamron lenses like the 15-30/2.8 VC or the lightweight superzoom 28-300, who don't work at all! TAMRON AND CANON PLEASE WAKE UP ASAP AND FIX THIS!!!! These bugs are especially annoying when it's happening with the most expensive DSLR and lenses that have no alternative on the market.

I'm sure that Tamron will have a firmware update for the lenses, but this is one area where having the Tap In console compatibility will be nice for future lenses. It would allow them to roll out firmware updates more quickly and easily.

I know Tamron's latest prime lenses will be compatible with the TAP-In Console however, they really should find a way to allow the 15-30 VC, 24-70 VC, and the latest 70-200 VC to utilize it. Let's check and see if they ever will.

I doubt it. Just like older Sigma' don't work with the dock. I think they've got to account for that in the design - though I could be wrong. I'd love to see those three lenses included, of course, since I own them all.

 

[Good24]

Great review, thank you! I am vaguely in the market for an 85mm prime. My only hesitation with this lens is the 700 gram weight. I assume Canon will release an 85mm f/nobodyknows (as ahsanford would say) with IS at some point. The 35mm f/2 IS is only 335 grams. The 50L -- way more compact than the 85 L II -- is 545 grams. I could live with that, that's almost exactly what the Tamron 45mm VC is.