Tamron SP AF 90 F2.5 macro  reviews

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 3 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: kerrath   review date: December-14-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma 90 F2.8 (Plastic and metal versions)
Sigma 50 F2.8 Macro

price paid:

$90 USD (Used)

positive:

Brilliantly sharp lens. Extremely smooth bokeh.
Pretty fast.
Almost no CA.

negative:

Though it feels pretty solid, it's made of plastic and seems prone to accidental damage.

Prone to bluish hot-spot dead-center. Significantly helped with a hood. Baffling, considering how recessed the front element is.

Focus creep when angled below horizontal.

comment:

This is currently my favorite lens to use. The only reason it's not always on my camera is that it's not quite as versatile as my 50mm macro lens. The MFD and medium-tele quality make it a little awkward to use for things less than 5-10 feet away.

The focus creep may be unique to mine because I'm not seeing it mentioned in any other reviews. I also see that others report theirs as noisy; mine is not. Maybe related.

This is the only prime I've seen where all the lens elements do not move together. The rear element is statically positioned, which is atypical.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: SvenJTD   review date: April-03-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

112 USD (used)

positive:

Color, sharpness

negative:

A bit slow when focusing in low light.

comment:

Great for macro even that its only 1:2. Works great as 1:1 with teleconverter. Sharp for landscape photos.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Mia-Rose   review date: December-27-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

£149 (second hand)

positive:

Great image quality
Lovely colour quality
Sturdy build
1:2 macro

negative:

Not true 1:1 macro

comment:

I have found this lens brilliant for portraits and wildlife shots - the 1:2 macro is great for plant/insects etc for an amateur (although I am starting to consider a 1:1 lens). Compared to the Sigma 70-300mm the build is much more sturdy and the focus ring so much more smooth.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: GlassEye   review date: October-30-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

70 - 210 Beercan
50mm 1.8 SAM
15 - 50 kit lens

price paid:

$175 US

positive:

Very sharp
Fast
Focus limiter
Natural color
Great focal length

negative:

Not 'true' macro
Too sharp for portraits

comment:

I like this lens a lot for its sharpness and close focus abilities. It only goes to 1:2 'macro', but that's still quite close and super for close-ups, nature, etc.
It is also very useful as a mid-length tele. It is good for portraits and you can always tone down the sharpness later. ;-)
I gave it a 4 on build because the focus ring on my copy drags just a little. I find that it auto focuses quickly, but for close up, switch to manual of course.
It is easy to use and handles well on my A55.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: alexphoto   review date: May-14-11  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 24 f2.8
Minolta 50 f1.7
Minolta 50macro f3.5
Minolta 17-35 f2.8-4
Minolta 28-75 f2.8
Minolta 70-210 f4

price paid:

190 euros

positive:

- Color
- Price

negative:

- Low focus
- Flare

comment:

Very good Lense. Really interesting for the portraits in APS-C...

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 3 

distortion: 2 

flare control: 2 

user: DarkScribe   review date: September-18-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Minolta 85mm F1.4, Minolta 100m F2.8 macro, Sigma F2.8 90mm Macro,

price paid:

90.00 au

positive:

Cheap - under au$100 from a pawn shop.

negative:

Much the same as other reviews, focus is slow, noisy and continually hunts. It drains the battery faster than any other lens I own. Limited (2:1) macro. A disappointing lens.

comment:

Nowhere near as good as I expected, either for portrait or macro use. Its only really redeeming feature is that it was cheap. I will probably eBay it soon, I should at least get my money back.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 5 

user: pjdb   review date: April-03-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

18-70 kit
Minolta 50mm f1.7
Minolta 100-200mm f4.5
Sigma 70-300mm APO

price paid:

200 EUR

positive:

Very sharp
Compact & Solid
Colours
Bokeh

negative:

Extremely Noisy AF (scratchy)
AF hunts (but it is a macro)
Lens Cap (it is like cigarette paper)
Only 1:1

comment:

It is sharp as a knife even at f2.5 (view my sample images) and a good lens for portraits. Taking into account that it was build 19 years ago it is a superb lens with a very good control of flare and a nice bokeh. I was looking for a second hand Di (f2.8), but I found this one an I am happy.
Did I mention that it is sharp at f2.5?

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: tommyrider   review date: January-30-09  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sigma 50 2.8 macro (non DG)
Sony 100 2.8 macro

price paid:

290 USD (used)

positive:

Sharp wide open
Sweet bokeh
1 :2 Close focus
Nice color rendition
Accurate Af
Focus limiter
Very smooth manual focus ring
Cheap 52mm filters

negative:

Noisy AF on my a700(as i expected)
Very hard to find

comment:

I nice and a very special lens. I found it while i was looking for the newer 90 2.8 wich has 1:1 magnification.But this one can deliever excelent close ups. plenty of detail, and richnes of colors.A great lens for portraits ,low light shooting,flowers, bugs, and more.
If you find one around ,dont think twice, its an excellent adition to any minolta/sony setup.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Dario4108   review date: December-26-08  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

28/135
Tamron 17/50 2.8
Sigma 70/210 2.8
50 3.5
Sigma 10/20
CZ 135 3.5
Tamumar 50 1.8

price paid:

300USD

positive:

Color
Bokeh

negative:

Slow focus

comment:

I bought this lens thinkig was similar to 2.8; great error, is a very personal and special lens, it has an incredible bokeh, render a soft and nice colour at 2.5, and very sharp when you close..is different to any other lens I have. Great for portrait and flowers shot.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: jakubh70   review date: October-23-08  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Tamron SP Di 90mm F/2.8 MACRO, Sony F/2.8 100mm Macro

price paid:

150EUR

positive:

Sharpness, contrast, color, IF. Excellent bokeh.

negative:

AF issues, only 1:2 macro

comment:

The look of this lens is old-stylish and you won't like it at first sight. But when you take a picture, you'll love it...

If you think that the lens you use is sharp and contrasty, try this one to compare. Incredible glass. CA is controlled much better than in newer 2,8/90 Di model, not to talk about Sony/Minolta with its visible vertical CA. As sharp wide open as Di at F/3,5-4. The only issue I notice was AF, that sometines hunts when object is few meters away, in good lighting conditions. Focusing closer and then trying to focus away helps. It has focus limiter but only 1:2 macro, not 1:1. For macro shooting better use manual focusing. Impressive flare control for such old glass. Perfectly smooth bokeh - the best lens in this category I own, far before Minolta 1,7/50 and beercan. Great for portraits, if you like really sharp portraits!

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: UBO1   review date: September-27-08  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Nothing to compare to really, because I only have a sigma 18-200 and this one

price paid:

330 euro

positive:

sharpness
color

negative:

hard to AF for objects that are far away (but lens is of course build to make close-ups)

comment:

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: JaVelin   review date: September-18-08  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

100mm Mino F2.8

price paid:

140.

positive:

Build
Compact
Close focus

negative:

None really
no 1:1

comment:

This was a great lens. not being 1:1 it's not as sought after as the F2.8 models. It focuses slow bt the image quality is top knotch I hva the minolts above which gives maybe not better colour just diferent. and the contrast is fantastic on this lens as well.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: Sonnarman   review date: February-26-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

KM 50mm 1.4RS
KM 28-75 2.8D
Zeiss Planar 85mm 1.4 (R SL35)
Zeiss Distagon 35 1.4 (R SL35)
Zeiss TeleTessar 200 4(R SL35)

positive:

Really sharp
Beautiful OOF Rendition (Bokeh)
Adequately fast focus
Super portrait lens
Stunning macro

negative:

AF slow for some, but this is to be expected (Almost as fast as 50mm)

comment:

After a solid worklife this lens came to me by chance. (Thanks Brettania) I have been using it for only a week at time of writing, but am now keen to get a personal project on the go!