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

dilettante#3800 date: Jul-3-2008
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7	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:	Cosina 100/3.5
price paid:	Ł440
positive:	Sharp Well built Smooth bokeh
negative:	Big and heavy (as you'd expect) No focus limiter for AF (but I never use AF on this lens)
comment:	I love using this lens - the working distance is a big plus for insects, and the narrower field of view makes it easier to get uncluttered out of focus backgrounds. Sharpness is great when you get it right, though its weight and size mean I get best results using a tripod, which is not always easy when stalking insects in the field. The tripod collar is good to have - apart from the obvious balance advantage, it makes it easy to rotate the camera between landscape and portrait or anywhere in between without have to radically reframe on the tripod. I've given it a lot of 5's but I don't have much to compare it against. I've never seen any flare, and it has a good hood, so 5 there. Haven't noticed any colour or distortion problems, so 5 again.