Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD review - Introduction

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Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD

11 January 2013

Arkadiusz Olech

1. Introduction

Although the line-up of Tamron lenses is pretty modest, the users are usually very happy with them. The Tamron SP AF 60 mm f/2.0 Di II LD (IF) Macro 1:1 is a great example – it is not only optically brilliant but pretty fast for a macro lens too. Also the elderly Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro has had many good opinions, being even a resolution record holder on the Canon EOS 20D sensor for some time on our forum.

However the rivals of Tamron have been improving their macro devices, adding new autofocus motors and image stabilization. Small wonder Tamron didn’t want to lag behind and decided to move on as well. The first one for a major overhaul was the 2.8/90 model exactly – the old model featured neither an ultrasonic AF motor nor stabilization and its optical construction was outdated, with the front element system extending significantly outwards as you passed to the 1:1 magnification ratio. All changed right before the 2012 Photokina when we witnessed the launch of the Tamron SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD, with an image stabilization system (VC) and an ultrasonic autofocus motor (USD), a closed construction, which front element remains immobile, no matter what scale you apply.

The new lens has been hitting the shelves since December 2012 and one of the first specimen found its way to our office so right now we can present a full test of this interesting optical instrument.

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The Foto-Technika company lent us the lens for testing – thank you very much!

You are also invited to get acquainted with our test procedure, described in the article "How do we test lenses?" If you feel it’s still not enough, please go to our FAQ section where you can find some further explanation.