Tamron SP 45 mm f/1.8 Di VC USD review - Distortion

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Tamron SP 45 mm f/1.8 Di VC USD

13 October 2015

Arkadiusz Olech

6. Distortion

The chart below presents a comparison between distortion results of different full frame standard lenses with the aperture close to f/1.8.

	Canon 1.8/50 STM	Canon 1.8/50 II	Nikkor AF-S 1.8/50G	Nikkor AF 1.8/50D	Minolta 1.7/50	Tamron SP 1.8/45
APS-C/DX	−0.41%	−0.39%	−0.49%	−0.20%	−0.30%	−0.31%
FF	−1.31%	−1.28%	−1.18%	−0.49%	−0.68%	−0.58%

The Tamron fares here exceedingly well. Out of all older constructions only the Nikkor AF 1.8/50D seems to be slightly better. Still if you take measurement errors into account the difference between those two becomes practically imperceptible.

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However it must be mentioned that the new 50 mm devices fare much better in this category than older constructions. The Sigma A 50 mm f/1.4 DG HSM is a good example – its distortion level on full frame was almost zero. On the other hand the 45 mm focal length means a slightly wider angle of view and more problems with correction of deformations so the task of the Tamron was a bit more difficult. It should be said the tested lens managed to correct the distortion very well indeed.