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

reviewer#8944 date: Apr-18-2011
sharpness: 4
color: 4
build: 4
distortion: 3
flare control: 3
overall: 3.6
tested on:
  • film camera:Film camera
  • APS-C: 6MP6 MP; 10MP10 MP; 12MP12 MP; 14MP14 MP; 16MP16 MP; 20MP20 MP; 24MP24 MP
  • full frame: 12MP12 MP; 24MP24 MP; 36MP36 MP; 42MP42 MP; 61MP61 MP
ownership:I own this lens
compared to:Tamron 90mm macro 2.8
Minolta 100 Macro 2.8
price paid:Retail
positive:its a macro
negative:noisy
no limiter
drains battery in no time
comment:I have been waiting and waiting for this lens. Finally, it arrived.

Out the door we went.

Within an hour, I knew this lens was going back. The lens hunting far too much to my liking. If I have to use a $700 lens in manual (which I can) to capture some decent shots (which I did) but honestly, 80% or more of the test card were not even worthy of keeping.

In less than an hour, the battery was dead.

I went and grabbed an extra battery charged up and put on my Minolta 100mm 2.8 macro and put those images on the same card. Honestly, with the factor of making this about 150mm on a digital body there was perhaps a greater satisfaction with the Minolta.

This was all tested on an alpha 100. I also have the alpha 350 and the a55. Doubtful putting this on a higher mp body would improve the performance. Hunt and batter drain is hunt and battery drain.


UPDATE: I have decided to keep this lens and give it more time so we can become friends. A key to my purchase was all the positives read right here on DYXUM, long before I became a member. I will spend more time with the manual mode as well as use extension tubes or teleconverters. One day (or an hour or two) is not time enough to adequate praise or condemn a highly regarded piece of glass.

rating summary

lens image
  • total reviews: 38
  • sharpness: 4.78
  • color: 4.68
  • build: 4.29
  • distortion: 4.74
  • flare control: 4.42
  • overall: 4.58
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