Review - Tamron 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

[wockawocka]

I've had two copies of this lens and on the 5Dsr have found very inconsistent exposures all aiming at the under exposure side of things. I've the 85Lii and the 1.8 USM and when compared they don't exhibit this 'quirk'

The VC is very good and the rendering is quite nice but I don't rate this as being better than the Canon offerings. Close, but for half the price the 85 USM is better (if you don't mind a bit of fringing in the OOF highlights).

It's just a faster and more accurate focusing lens.

 

[StudentOfLight]

I've had two copies of this lens and on the 5Dsr have found very inconsistent exposures all aiming at the under exposure side of things. I've the 85Lii and the 1.8 USM and when compared they don't exhibit this 'quirk'

The VC is very good and the rendering is quite nice but I don't rate this as being better than the Canon offerings. Close, but for half the price the 85 USM is better (if you don't mind a bit of fringing in the OOF highlights).

It's just a faster and more accurate focusing lens.

So if you ignore all the ways that the Tamron 85 is better than the Canon 85mm f/1.8 then you're better off with the Canon 85mm f/1.8 ???

 

[NorbR]

As usual, a great review Dustin, thank you!

Ah, the 85mm prime conundrum ... still keeps me up at night sometimes :-[

I've been frustrated for a long time by the huge gap between Canon's offerings at that focal length. The 85/1.8 is a great value, and the 85L II is legendary, but there is such a gap between these two lenses, in price, image quality, build quality, everything ... that there has to be room for someone to jump in there and offer something in between.

I have long hoped that Canon would do it and release an 85mm f/nooneknows (c) IS (I think I'm the ahsanford of the 85mm focal length, I'm not holding my breath for the 50mm, but I would preorder the 85mm member of that family in a heartbeat). But it looks like Tamron went for it instead.

I've recently sold my 85/1.8, so I'm following the offerings at 85mm even more closely than before. I'll wait for a few months, hoping that Canon comes through ... and truth be told, I'll also wait for Tamron to stop playing games with their prices in Switzerland (the 85mm is currently around $1000, only with Tamron do we get these weird high prices). Eventually though, if nothing changes, I'll probably give this Tamron a try, considering all the positive things I read about it.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

As usual, a great review Dustin, thank you!

Ah, the 85mm prime conundrum ... still keeps me up at night sometimes :-[

I've been frustrated for a long time by the huge gap between Canon's offerings at that focal length. The 85/1.8 is a great value, and the 85L II is legendary, but there is such a gap between these two lenses, in price, image quality, build quality, everything ... that there has to be room for someone to jump in there and offer something in between.

I have long hoped that Canon would do it and release an 85mm f/nooneknows (c) IS (I think I'm the ahsanford of the 85mm focal length, I'm not holding my breath for the 50mm, but I would preorder the 85mm member of that family in a heartbeat). But it looks like Tamron went for it instead.

I've recently sold my 85/1.8, so I'm following the offerings at 85mm even more closely than before. I'll wait for a few months, hoping that Canon comes through ... and truth be told, I'll also wait for Tamron to stop playing games with their prices in Switzerland (the 85mm is currently around $1000, only with Tamron do we get these weird high prices). Eventually though, if nothing changes, I'll probably give this Tamron a try, considering all the positive things I read about it.

I know what you mean. Prices have been higher here in Canada, too, but now Canon has raised prices and everything is expensive!

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I've had two copies of this lens and on the 5Dsr have found very inconsistent exposures all aiming at the under exposure side of things. I've the 85Lii and the 1.8 USM and when compared they don't exhibit this 'quirk'

The VC is very good and the rendering is quite nice but I don't rate this as being better than the Canon offerings. Close, but for half the price the 85 USM is better (if you don't mind a bit of fringing in the OOF highlights).

It's just a faster and more accurate focusing lens.

Interesting. I've used the lens on four different bodies without any exposure issue like that. A 5DsR is not one of those bodies, though. This is why having something like the Tap In/Sigma USB is so key for third party lenses - it gives the platform for releasing updates to deal with quirks (assuming yours is not just a localized issue).

I owned the Canon 85mm f/1.8 for four or five years and I don't agree that it is almost as much lens or even better focusing. I've had better focus accuracy with the Tamron. It has far more resolution, much less chromatic aberrations, more contrast, better bokeh, a vastly better build (metal, weather sealed), and focuses just as fast. It's resolution on the outer portion of the image frame tops the Zeiss Otus (though the Otus wins in the middle). Yes, it is more expensive than the Canon, but it is a whole different class of lens.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here is what I perceive as the challenge for we Canon shooters in the current market. All of us would prefer to buy first party lenses, for the most part. They tend to have less quirks and Canon doesn't intentionally cripple them. But...

Canon is often very slow to bring the lenses we want to market. Unlike the third parties, Canon often prioritizes the consumer grade lenses because that's what sells. For every 35L II there will be a handful of consumer grade lenses like the 18-135, 24-105 STM, etc...

And, when lenses like the 35LII come, they are incredibly expensive.

So the third parties are building the lenses that we want, at the prices that we want, but we know that when we buy them there may be a few quirks to deal with (new body compatibility issues, focus inconsistency, etc...).

You can wait for the new Canon 85, but I've not even heard it rumored. I'm still holding out hope for a fantastic new Canon 50mmm f/1.4. But in the meantime I'm getting great pictures with the Tamron 45 and 85 VC lenses and can deal with a minor quirk or two. If (when) the Canon lenses come, and if they are better, I'll sell the Tamron(s) and buy them.

 

[drmikeinpdx]

Sold!

Great review Dustin. You answered all my questions!

I just ordered a copy from B&H. Can't wait to try it out!

 

[Luds34]

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.

Oh really? And how does the VC affect focus speed? Could you please elaborate a little bit?

I'm very happy with the Canon 85mm f/1.8, however it would be nice to have a lens with a little more natural punch in it's IQ but I'd be loath to lose the very fast and accurate focus.

 

[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.

Oh really? And how does the VC affect focus speed? Could you please elaborate a little bit?

I'm very happy with the Canon 85mm f/1.8, however it would be nice to have a lens with a little more natural punch in it's IQ but I'd be loath to lose the very fast and accurate focus.

As I describe in the review, the lens tends to arrive at focus but hesitate for a split second before locking. Turning the VC seems to eliminate that, so it makes me think that it is intentional to allow the VC to fully engage and "settle" so that the image quality is not affected. Turning the VC off speeds up focus be eliminating the hesitation. The actual focus speed is very fast and quiet on the lens.

 

[JohnUSA]

Third party lenses can't take advantage of Canon's double-cross type focusing points. Have you seen any negatives focusing in dim light?

In a nutshell... the Tamron has faster and better focus accuracy than the Canon f1.8... correct?

Also many thanks for all your reviews... I'm pretty sure I'm gonna pull the trigger on the Tamron.

Best,

John

 

[Mikehit]

As I describe in the review, the lens tends to arrive at focus but hesitate for a split second before locking. Turning the VC seems to eliminate that, so it makes me think that it is intentional to allow the VC to fully engage and "settle" so that the image quality is not affected. Turning the VC off speeds up focus be eliminating the hesitation. The actual focus speed is very fast and quiet on the lens.

I have read some wildlife photographers (especially BIF) who do not engage IS for this reason. They say that if they are going for a grab shot it takes half a second or so for the IS lens element to settle down and although focus is achieved the movement of the IS element causes it to look blurred. So they prefer to work without IS if at all possible.
I can't say I have noticed but I suspect my own skills are nowhere near good enough to recognise it even if it is true.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Third party lenses can't take advantage of Canon's double-cross type focusing points. Have you seen any negatives focusing in dim light?

In a nutshell... the Tamron has faster and better focus accuracy than the Canon f1.8... correct?

Also many thanks for all your reviews... I'm pretty sure I'm gonna pull the trigger on the Tamron.

Best,

John

"Faster and better" - I can't definitively say that...as I sold my copy of the Canon 85 over a year ago...and never directly compared the two lenses. Comparing a single copy of any two lenses wouldn't necessarily be representative of all copies of those lenses on all camera bodies. I sold the Canon, however, because I didn't feel that it focused as accurately as the rest of my kit. So far I have no focus issues with the Tamron. It seems very accurate, though I have taken the time to calibrate it properly to my bodies. Focus speed is good and fast, but the Canon 85 focuses quickly, too. I think it is safe to say that there doesn't seem to be a focus penalty for moving to the Tamron, and massive build and image quality advantages.

 

[grainier]

It's just a faster and more accurate focusing lens.[/b]

So if you ignore all the ways that the Tamron 85 is better than the Canon 85mm f/1.8 then you're better off with the Canon 85mm f/1.8 ???

If AF speed and precision is the reason why the lens is in your bag (and it is for me) then yes, absolutely.

 

[wockawocka]

Following on from what I said earlier, I'm not taking away from the Tamron. It's a very good lens and certainly a pointer to where the Canon offerings should be.

Shooting stabilized 85mm is an experience to behold when you've never had it before.

But that aside, I shoot headshots and weddings so I know my 85's like the back of my hand and the Tamron does fall short of the Canon 85's, at least on my 5DSr's and it did under expose on the 5D3. The first Tamron was really bad, the second copy was a bit better but certain scenes really went all over the place.

Does that make it a useless lens? Nope. Just I value focus speed and accuracy over IQ which means when I do couple portraits I use the L series and when I run and gun at a wedding I use the 1.8 USM - I was hoping to replace both with the Tamron but it just can't keep up. It's not like I just gave up on it either, I bought two after all and micro adjusted the lenses.

 

[Refurb7]

Everyone shoots differently, so I can't say the lens will meet anyone else's requirements. But I haven't noticed any problems with this Tamron lens. AF speed and accuracy are just fine with the 5d3 & 6d for my purposes (weddings, portraits, etc.). Same for exposure — works just fine. It works just like my Canon lenses. The 85mm accounts for 5 - 10% of my shooting, but it does that very well.

 

[JohnDizzo15]

I was on the brink of pulling the trigger on one of these to run on my Sony body as I have grown tired of waiting for Sigma. The Tamron also seems to be a lot of bang for the buck. From what I have seen, it also draws very nicely. My only issue is one that has already been mentioned before which is the lack of a dock or other means of updating firmware/etc.

Sigma has already exhibited great foresight by releasing things like the dock and now the MC-11 adapter for native behavior on Sony E mount bodies which makes their line of lenses infinitely more future proof and widely usable. If Tamron did the same, I'm certain the 85 SP would already be in the bag.

 

[Good24]

I've been frustrated for a long time by the huge gap between Canon's offerings at that focal length. The 85/1.8 is a great value, and the 85L II is legendary, but there is such a gap between these two lenses, in price, image quality, build quality, everything ... that there has to be room for someone to jump in there and offer something in between.

I have long hoped that Canon would do it and release an 85mm f/nooneknows (c) IS (I think I'm the ahsanford of the 85mm focal length, I'm not holding my breath for the 50mm, but I would preorder the 85mm member of that family in a heartbeat).

+ 1 ... although I leave it to you to photoshop the 35mm IS into an 85 with a bright green arrow.

 

[Good24]

Here is what I perceive as the challenge for we Canon shooters in the current market. All of us would prefer to buy first party lenses, for the most part. They tend to have less quirks and Canon doesn't intentionally cripple them. But...

Canon is often very slow to bring the lenses we want to market. Unlike the third parties, Canon often prioritizes the consumer grade lenses because that's what sells. For every 35L II there will be a handful of consumer grade lenses like the 18-135, 24-105 STM, etc...

And, when lenses like the 35LII come, they are incredibly expensive.

So the third parties are building the lenses that we want, at the prices that we want, but we know that when we buy them there may be a few quirks to deal with (new body compatibility issues, focus inconsistency, etc...).

You can wait for the new Canon 85, but I've not even heard it rumored. I'm still holding out hope for a fantastic new Canon 50mmm f/1.4. But in the meantime I'm getting great pictures with the Tamron 45 and 85 VC lenses and can deal with a minor quirk or two. If (when) the Canon lenses come, and if they are better, I'll sell the Tamron(s) and buy them.

I appreciate this analysis. As much as I'd like to see a new Canon 85 with IS - it's a myth, and Tamron is reality. Maybe I'll take the plunge after all. Or maybe I'll do what Canon really want me to do and buy the 85 L!

 

[Luds34]

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.

Oh really? And how does the VC affect focus speed? Could you please elaborate a little bit?

I'm very happy with the Canon 85mm f/1.8, however it would be nice to have a lens with a little more natural punch in it's IQ but I'd be loath to lose the very fast and accurate focus.

As I describe in the review, the lens tends to arrive at focus but hesitate for a split second before locking. Turning the VC seems to eliminate that, so it makes me think that it is intentional to allow the VC to fully engage and "settle" so that the image quality is not affected. Turning the VC off speeds up focus be eliminating the hesitation. The actual focus speed is very fast and quiet on the lens.

My apologies, I haven't read your review (yet) as I've been a bit busy. Thanks for humoring me and reiterating what was probably very clearly stated in your review.

As a novice user of the Tamron 150-600 I have noticed similar experiences. The VC system is very good and does allow a number of stops of compensation. However the small delay to kick in can be a minor pain, depending on the shooting conditions. I also don't have the "panning" firmware so trying to track a moving subject has caused missed shots with the VC fighting the moving lens. Not to completely highjack a thread here, but has anyone taken the time to send their lens in for the firmware upgrade? And is it worth it?

 

[JohnUSA]

Just placed my order for this lens! Will see how it performs on my 5D3 and 6D.

Excited!