Tamron SP AF 180mm F3.5 Di LD IF A-mount lens review by op1318

op1318#24478 date: Jan-25-2016
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5	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:	Tamron 90 Macro f:2.8
price paid:	700 EUROS (new)
positive:	• Sharpness • Size and weight (very subjective) • Colors • Bokeh
negative:	Subject to chromatic aberrations in extreme conditions
comment:	This is my main macro lens and I love it! I use the 90mm when travelling because it is much more compact and lightweight but when size and weight are not an issue, I much prefer the 180mm (distance to subject, focal, bokeh…). This is a sharp lens. The 90mm may be just a bit sharper though. AF is quite unusable (slow and hunting) but that is not relevant for a macro lens. The lens produces exactly the images I am looking for. The colors are beautiful and the bokeh is amazing. I find that most of my pictures with this lens have been taken between f:5.6 and f:6.3. I suspect this is where the balance between sharpness, depth of field and bokeh pleases me the most. I have been using it for almost 9 years now and hope it will last forever. I mainly use it with an A77 now (because of the APS-C crop factor + focus peaking).