Lenses

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Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: hard to clean front element

Pros: IQ reasonably small well protected front element

Summary: good value lens that gets lots of use, even as short tele for birds.

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: None

Pros: Sharp, nice bokeh, light

Summary: This is a fine lens for macro work; I would disregard any mentioning of autofocus, because autofocus for macro is not helpful anyway - if you want a full control of your image you have to focus manually. Of course, it is usable for any other type of photography, but the primary purpose is macro, and this lens absolutely shines in this area. Deep recession of front glass element works as protection and a hood, I really like the design. I own several Canon L lenses, and can say that this Tamron lens is in the same league.

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: Slightly noisy AF

Pros: Sharp Good price

Summary: Tremendous lens for the money, never regretted buying it. While Tamron has some average zooms, this lens is a cracker and recommended to anyone.

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: chromatic at large aperture, normal speed on auto focus, a bit noisy on focusing

Pros: Lightweight, limit switch for focusing, sharp picture, good price, not only use for macro, portrait is good as well

Summary: never regret to buy this lens, price on performance, build quality either

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: fantastic bokeh, tacksharp on K10/20, 90mm is perfect for normal macro-work, wide-open not bad, no distortion, prize

Pros: little bit cromatic aberration, buildquality could be better

Summary: very strong macro-offer, a real big boy in macro and cheaper than Sigma

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: Lens can hunt a bit - you need the focus limiter. Deeply recessed lens front element can be hard to clean

Pros: Sharp, good contrast and colour, fast, can be used with FF and APS-C

Summary: A great lens, bought it second hand (but only 1 month old) from the US. A little light compared to its competitors, but bang for buck is brilliant. The additional lens hood is a bit of overkill due to the fairly deeply recessed front element. Tack sharp and good for both portraits and macro. In macro don't forget to stop right down as the DOF is razor thin.

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: AF hunts a little. User manual is somewhat vague and leaves important stuff off like where to set and lock the lens for use in AF mode and no trouble-shooting section for nubees like possible solutions for EE messages. Not moisture proof or dust proof so handle it like fine china. It's not a professional lens build quality but neither is the price. The image results more than make up for it's shortfalls.

Pros: Sharp lens, beautiful bokeh, almost heaven for portraits and macros shots. It's light weight, the image resolution and quality will stun you.

Summary: This my first Tamron and my very first departure from Nikkor. What an amazing lens. the image quality and resolutin are stunning. it makes average snap shots pop. The lens will make you look good. Use that tripod and remote for portraits and macros and you will amaze yourself. Shoot, quit reading this review and go bid on one and start shooting!

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: -Strong chromatic aberration from f/2.8 to f/4.5. -Not sharp (soft even at centre) at high magnification macros. -Slower than some macro lenses in AF in macro focus range. -Extremely slow AF in Full focus range.

Pros: -Quite sharp from f/2.8 to f/13. -Decent bokeh. -No chromatic aberration after f/5.6. -Focus limiter switch very useful for speeding up AF (autofocus). -Pretty nice MF (manual focusing) ring

Summary: Easily portable (low weight, pretty short with hood reversed). Great for portraits and low-magnification macros. Very fun for people-photography, but remember that its 135mm (35mm equivalent) on an APS-C cropped sensor camera, which means you need to stand quite a distance away for full body portraits. Not-DI version used on Sony Alpha A200.

Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money
Overall

Cons: Very deep set front-glass makes occasional cleaning a chore. Autofocus 'hunts' from time to time - not any specific subject or lighting. Autofocus can be slow (body-motor driven on Sony mount).

Pros: Normally very sharp and clear pictures. Good for portrait/medium telephoto in addition to macro use. Focus-range limiter handy to mitigate the focus issues. Manual-focus clutch works very well. Can be used completely without taking your eye from the viewfinder - no random or illogically placed controls.

Summary: Lightweight macro lens, good way beyond it's low price. (on a Sony A100)