Review - Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD

[FramerMCB]

Based on how Sigma, Tamron, and even Tokina, are "upping their game" on both lens design , optical performance, and now, at least for Sigma (first) and Tamron, the inclusion of docks to enable lens tweaking/calibration/updating/customization I would say there are many great options.

Currently waiting for Fedex to deliver my Canon 100mm macro today.

Update: it's just arrived. Ah, the joys of opening a new toy.

What's your point ?

Over in the lens forum I posted a few days ago that I used to have the Tamron 90mm (non-VC) but sold it to get the Canon. I'd asked for opinions and everyone said get the Canon. Reading Dustin's review, he suggests if he were to buy a macro today, he may well be tempted to get the Tamron over the Canon.

So even though the Tamron might be better in some respects, I still got the Canon.

 

[drmikeinpdx]

Another great review, Dustin! I can't wait for you to review the upcoming Tamron 85.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Another great review, Dustin! I can't wait for you to review the upcoming Tamron 85.

I'm actually really excited by it, too. I'm loving the 45 VC - such beautiful rendering. Here's a couple I took with it (45 VC) last week. I should have my hands on the 85 in about a week.

 

[pierlux]

... I wonder if the VC is just as loud as the 100L IS.

Dustin is the SP 90 as noisy as the 100L? Every 100L that I have owned has had very discernible IS noises.

I'd say that the new accelerometer actually makes the VC a bit louder than the previous generation. That may be the same issue with the 100L, which was the first lens to pilot something similar for Canon. It's not loud in the way the 70-200L f/4 IS is, but there is a noticeable noise level that just isn't there with the Tamron 45 VC, for example (which is near silent in operation).

Most probably IS noise is something that's susceptible to wide copy-to-copy variations. My 100 L has soft IS noise compared to the other IS lenses I have. My old 70-200 f/2.8 L IS I was the loudest, when I replaced it with the II I was surprised how softer its noise was.

Dustin, I believe the accelerometers are solid-state components which do not move at all. The actuators (and relative parts which actually are being moved) produce noise, so probably it's not a matter of the new accelerometer. Unless the new one is so much more responsive than the previous to induce faster/wider acceleration of the lens' moving unit, in which case it may be indirectly responsible for the noise. Note that I'm just guessing with the latter one, don't trust me blindly.

Thanks for another fine hands-on review, looking forward to the next. I'd like to read your opinion about the Venus Optics offerings, I'm intrigued by the Laowa 15mm f/4 macro/shift. Not exactly inexpensive for a manual lens, but likely the price will soon go down significantly.

 

[FramerMCB]

... I wonder if the VC is just as loud as the 100L IS.

Thanks for another fine hands-on review, looking forward to the next. I'd like to read your opinion about the Venus Optics offerings, I'm intrigued by the Laowa 15mm f/4 macro/shift. Not exactly inexpensive for a manual lens, but likely the price will soon go down significantly.

Concerning Venus optics - there are a few reviews posted for the Venus 15mm f/4 Macro at B&H. 6 user reviews for the Canon version and 5 user reviews for the Nikon version. Both user groups reviews average to 4 out of 5 stars...here's the link to the B&H Venus lenses:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=venus+lenses&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

 

[bereninga]

The Tamron 45mm has some nice bokeh. Thanks for the review, Dustin!

 

[pierlux]

Concerning Venus optics - there are a few reviews posted for the Venus 15mm f/4 Macro at B&H. 6 user reviews for the Canon version and 5 user reviews for the Nikon version. Both user groups reviews average to 4 out of 5 stars...here's the link to the B&H Venus lenses:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=venus+lenses&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

Thanks for the link! Other reviews I remember I've read are from PetaPixel, planet5D, ephotozine, and some Italian sites. Nevertheless, I'd rather trust Dustin's opinion as far as hands-on reviews are concerned, and Brian Carnathan's one (TDP) because of the excellent measurements and comparison tools he provides. I'm going OT here, but Venus Optics make some really interesting stuff, the only downside of it being price, I really expected more affordable offerings from a new Chinese manufacturer willing to seduce potential buyers.

 

[drmikeinpdx]

Those are great shots with the 45 Dustin! I am also impressed with the lack of flare when the sun is in the picture.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Those are great shots with the 45 Dustin! I am also impressed with the lack of flare when the sun is in the picture.

Absolutely. I've pointed it at the sun a lot and never been disappointed. My initial reaction to the 45mm focal length was "meh", but after having used the lens a lot over the past five months I've started to regard it more like a Goldilocks focal length; it seems "just right" for a lot of things, and I find the great minimum focus distance performance very artistically liberating.

 

[d]

Hi Dustin,

Nice review as always. Quick question about the lens hood - does it have locking mechanism similar to that on the Canon 100mm macro lens, or does it just click into place? How firmly does it lock in?

Minor details, I know, but seeing as no one seems to be able to seperate the performance of these two lenses, it may as well come down to the "little things". I personally hate lens hoods that don't attach firmly into place.

Cheers,
d.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Hi Dustin,

Nice review as always. Quick question about the lens hood - does it have locking mechanism similar to that on the Canon 100mm macro lens, or does it just click into place? How firmly does it lock in?

Minor details, I know, but seeing as no one seems to be able to seperate the performance of these two lenses, it may as well come down to the "little things". I personally hate lens hoods that don't attach firmly into place.

Cheers,
d.

It does not having a locking mechanism, but the engineering on the new SP series is very good. It locks into place very definitely and is not going to go anywhere until you move it. The tolerances seem very tight. I prefer this to the new Canon hoods with the button to depress before loosening the hood, personally.

 

[d]

Ah, ok - good to know. Thanks for clarifying that for me

Cheers,
d.

 

[Cory]

I wonder if the upcoming 85 might be the perfect complement to my 10-18 and 35 2.0 IS since that'll be a complete travel set with 67mm threads (other than the wish-listed 100-400).

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I wonder if the upcoming 85 might be the perfect complement to my 10-18 and 35 2.0 IS since that'll be a complete travel set with 67mm threads (other than the wish-listed 100-400).

Filter sharing is a pretty big deal when you are traveling.

 

[Cory]

I wonder if the upcoming 85 might be the perfect complement to my 10-18 and 35 2.0 IS since that'll be a complete travel set with 67mm threads (other than the wish-listed 100-400).

Filter sharing is a pretty big deal when you are traveling.

Thanks for all your work, too. Whatever I order I'll do so through the link on your site. They're all different, but I'm weighing the soon-to-be new Tamron 85, Canon 100L and 70-200 4.0 (maybe the non-IS since I'm often on a tripod or can speed up the shutter in most cases. Might be leaning towards the Tamron.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I wonder if the upcoming 85 might be the perfect complement to my 10-18 and 35 2.0 IS since that'll be a complete travel set with 67mm threads (other than the wish-listed 100-400).

Filter sharing is a pretty big deal when you are traveling.

Thanks for all your work, too. Whatever I order I'll do so through the link on your site. They're all different, but I'm weighing the soon-to-be new Tamron 85, Canon 100L and 70-200 4.0 (maybe the non-IS since I'm often on a tripod or can speed up the shutter in most cases. Might be leaning towards the Tamron.

Thanks for that. I have high hopes for the Tamron, but you might want to wait until I've had a chance to review to ensure there are no nasty surprises!