Tamron SP 85mm F1.8 Di USD A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#44411 date: Nov-9-2019 | |
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| sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron SP 35 F1.8 USD Tamron SP 45 F1.8 USD (VC and non-VC) Sigma 65 F2 DG DN C Sigma EX 70 F2.8 DG Macro Samyang 75 F1.8 Samyang AF 85 F1.4 FE Sony FE 85 F1.8 Canon EF 85 F1.8 USM Lensbaby Velvet 85 F1.8 Minolta MD 85 F2 Sony 85 F2.8 SAM Tamron SP 90 F2.5 Macro Canon EF 100 F2 USM Minolta AF 100 F2 Minolta MC 100 F2.5 Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Soft Focus Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro D Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro RS |
| price paid: | 251 USD (used) |
| positive: | Good contrast Minimal axial CA Very little purple fringing Quiet internal focus Always available MF Moisture-resistant |
| negative: | Size and weight Some field tilt/misalignment Slow USD AF Focus shifts Missing VC Metal veneer No Lens Compensation Pre-2011 AF |
| comment: | This is the last new A-mount lens having been released by Tamron in 2017. I hadn't really considered it as the retail price is $750. For reference the Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM is now on sale for $270 and the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is normally $600 with an occasional $50 off sale. This is a nice barely used copy with original box only missing the original rear cap and soft bag. "MADE IN CHINA" "DESIGNED IN JAPAN." If you discount color fringing the Canon and Sony lenses are sharper in the center wide-open. There is a bit of aberration in center wide-open probably indicating a minor alignment problem with this copy. Purple fringing is pretty much absent wide-open. The reduced resolution is probably worth the lack of purple fringing. This lens produces cleaner images than either the Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM or the Sony FE 85mm F1.8. This lens would really benefit from stopped down focusing as used on E-mount bodies. Sony has not implemented with their LA-EA adapters so far. Like the Canon neither the front nor rear element moves. This is unlike their 35/1.8 (both) and 45/1.8 (rear). Unfortunately focusing is even slower than the 45mm F1.8, but it is quiet. The Canon USM primes focus much faster. At least it doesn't hunt much when focusing. It also does not support any of updates Sony introduced with A77 in 2011. There is no Lens Compensation, and tracking is much worse. Sony cameras did gain Lens Compensation support for the Sony 85mm lenses. The optical stabilized versions of this lens makes sense for cameras without in-body stabilization. I am not seeing much benefit of the removed optical stabilization (VC) except for one less switch on the lens. Tamron has also eschewed optical stabilization for many of their FE offerings. Meanwhile Sigma is offering dual stabilization for their SLR lenses adapted via their MC-11 adapters. This lens shares the filter thread diameter (67 mm) and hood bayonet with 35/1.8 and 45/1.8 primes though it comes with a larger circular hood (HF016). The HF021 petal hood from those lenses doesn't fit reversed on the larger focus grip diameter of the 85 mm. Many FE lenses use this filter diameter including the Sony and Zeiss 85mm F1.8 primes and all the Tamron FE offerings so far. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 3
- sharpness: 4.67
- color: 4.67
- build: 4.67
- distortion: 5.00
- flare control: 5.00
- overall: 4.80