Tamron SP AF 180mm F3.5 Di LD IF A-mount lens review by Dash66

Dash66#10963 date: Mar-4-2013
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Sony 18-250
price paid:	730 USD(New)
positive:	sharpness, bokah
negative:	weight Slow Autofocus noisy autofocus
comment:	I am very impressed with this lens. The photos that I have been able to take with this lens are nothing short of amazing! I never dreamed that I could take pictures that had this sort of sharpness, or had bokah that was this beautiful. To temper my enthusiasm, this IS my first macro lens, so I can't guarantee that it takes better pictures than any other macro lens, but to me the quality of the results is incredible. My negatives run along with what I've read from most reviews for this lens. First, the lens is heavy. For this reason, I'm glad that some of the lens body is made out of plastic. That makes it a bit lighter than an all metal lens body would be. Next, the Autofocus. The autofocus is slow to lock on, and the motor is a bit noisy, but I've been primarily using manual focus, so that hasn't been much of an issue for me. Then again, if the Autofocus was quicker, I might use it more often.