Just received this against all odds in the mail. Have to say the sharpness and quick AF are impressive. Haven’t taken many shots so far but one thing does stand out; When storing the lens hood reversed on the lens, it covers up access to the focus ring. To my way of thinking, working with that lens hood “off” is exactly when you would be most likely to want access to manual focus.
Not a deal killer but I noticed this design flaw almost immediately.
Paris Panagiotopoulos
September 15, 2020 3:10 am
Very reliable and fun lens. Even works well with focus stacking software like helicon remote. Still need to get the tap-in console.
sashi daniels
August 16, 2020 7:10 am
Bought this lens 2 years ago and used it to photograph a couple of weddings. I like its image quality. The level of detail and sharpness is just impressive as is the feel of color from the Tamron 90 f2.8 f017. It is not fair to compare it with the Nikon 70-200 f2.8, this being a zoom, but images shot with the Tamron 90 macro are more detailed and are sharper. I have not used any other zoom in the same class such as the Nikon 105 or Sigma so I cannot say how well the Tamron fares. Would I recommend it to others? Sure.
Bob
July 31, 2020 12:41 am
My only comment would be that I consider Tamron to be a branded lens :) The Tamron brand is becoming very strong, and their build quality for a given price point (IMHO) exceeds Nikon. I understand the reason for the terminology, but feel that giving it a good review, but relative to “branded” products is a bit of a backhand compliment. They’re not no-name.
Tom Clemens
July 28, 2020 8:53 am
I use this lens with a Canon 1D Mark IV. Mostly for water drop photography. Through f stops 11-16 t is tack sharp I love it. It was cheapest than a used Canon 100mm L. And every bit as good. I would recommend this lens to anyone
Hans Forsstrom
July 26, 2020 2:14 am
Great Review Nasim! You write: “Lastly, don’t forget to turn off image stabilization when using it on a camera with built-in image stabilization (such as the Nikon Z6 or Z7), since the two systems might end up working against each other.” I wonder if this is correct as I don’t own this lens but at few other Tamrons (G1 and G2) and aZ7. On those lenses the on/off of image stabilization is done on the lens and when you turn that off you don’t have built-in stabilization either. As far as I can understand there is no way to only use IBIS on lenses that are equipped with stabilization. Or maybe it is but how? Cheers/Hans
Turtle Cat
July 23, 2020 7:27 pm
What is frustrating about Tamron is how long they have taken to add Z lens support to their lenses. And this lens being the very last one, almost 2 years since the Z7 was first released. No explanations and nothing other than “it’ll happen one day”. Yet Sigma has no such trouble with Z support. It certainly doesn’t encourage me to invest any further in Tamron.
I gave up on Tamron supporting the Z cameras with this lens, and bought the Canon version to use with my Fringer EF-NZ. It’s a little quirky focusing with the adapter, and does not report the actual aperture when close focusing a la Canon’s normal protocol, but I love the lens My son got the Sigma about the same time, and we can’t see much real difference in IQ, but I like the Tamron a lot.
Incidentally, the Fringer adapter works great with the venerable Canon 100-400 II, which is what I got it for. Wish Nikon would make a lens like that.
FB101
July 22, 2020 7:18 pm
So which one would you buy? Nikon, sigma or Tamron? That’s the elephant in the room that the review never addresses. Three lenses supposed to compete against each other, at 3 different price points… which one hits the sweet spot?
Personally, I would probably buy the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8, I think it hits the sweet spot. It has the best coatings, best overall performance and the price is very reasonable.
I’m sorely tempted, Nasim – I NEED an AF MACRO – I tried the Nikon 105 a while back and didn’t really think it was sharp enough – the reviews I’ve been reading are generally suggesting the Tamron has the edge on sharpness – and because I’ve had [VERY severe!] back focus probs with another lens, I’m also attracted by Tamron’s console. SIGMA’s 105 is probably just about a good – but “just about” isn’t what I’m shopping for, and while it was probably excellent at the time of its release (c. 2012), SIGMA has already proven with the release of its SONY base 105 mm MACRO that it can now do far better than that. I love my 50 mm SIGMA ART, so I’d probably go with their 105 SIGMA ART MACRO, if there was one in F-mount. Another thought – I see some comments saying it’s a shame Tamron only do this lens in DSLR mounts, not Z-mounts. True – at least for the moment – but why the presumption that we’re all going to get tired of DSLRs and replace them with Z-mounts? I for one don’t intend to. I don’t see why the industry can’t keep making both, and letting US make the choice.
Mark Ferguson
July 22, 2020 5:18 pm
Hi Nasim. Loving your reviews. Just had delivery of a new Z6 with the 24-70mm kit yesterday. I am interested if you will be reviewing the 24-200mm z lens soon, especially how it compares the kit zoom. Initially reviews I have seen are that it measures up very well
Mark, I will be reviewing it, as soon as I can get one! The problem is, this lens has been out of stock since it has been released.
Valdemar Klauber
July 21, 2020 3:39 am
In the time waiting for a new formidable micro Nikon Z, I would like to se a comparison of the optical features between the old SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 (Model 272E) and the newest SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F017
Just received this against all odds in the mail. Have to say the sharpness and quick AF are impressive. Haven’t taken many shots so far but one thing does stand out; When storing the lens hood reversed on the lens, it covers up access to the focus ring. To my way of thinking, working with that lens hood “off” is exactly when you would be most likely to want access to manual focus.
Not a deal killer but I noticed this design flaw almost immediately.
Very reliable and fun lens. Even works well with focus stacking software like helicon remote. Still need to get the tap-in console.
Bought this lens 2 years ago and used it to photograph a couple of weddings. I like its image quality. The level of detail and sharpness is just impressive as is the feel of color from the Tamron 90 f2.8 f017. It is not fair to compare it with the Nikon 70-200 f2.8, this being a zoom, but images shot with the Tamron 90 macro are more detailed and are sharper. I have not used any other zoom in the same class such as the Nikon 105 or Sigma so I cannot say how well the Tamron fares. Would I recommend it to others? Sure.
My only comment would be that I consider Tamron to be a branded lens :) The Tamron brand is becoming very strong, and their build quality for a given price point (IMHO) exceeds Nikon. I understand the reason for the terminology, but feel that giving it a good review, but relative to “branded” products is a bit of a backhand compliment. They’re not no-name.
I use this lens with a Canon 1D Mark IV.
Mostly for water drop photography.
Through f stops 11-16 t is tack sharp
I love it.
It was cheapest than a used Canon 100mm L.
And every bit as good.
I would recommend this lens to anyone
Great Review Nasim!
You write: “Lastly, don’t forget to turn off image stabilization when using it on a camera with built-in image stabilization (such as the Nikon Z6 or Z7), since the two systems might end up working against each other.”
I wonder if this is correct as I don’t own this lens but at few other Tamrons (G1 and G2) and aZ7. On those lenses the on/off of image stabilization is done on the lens and when you turn that off you don’t have built-in stabilization either. As far as I can understand there is no way to only use IBIS on lenses that are equipped with stabilization. Or maybe it is but how?
Cheers/Hans
What is frustrating about Tamron is how long they have taken to add Z lens support to their lenses. And this lens being the very last one, almost 2 years since the Z7 was first released. No explanations and nothing other than “it’ll happen one day”. Yet Sigma has no such trouble with Z support. It certainly doesn’t encourage me to invest any further in Tamron.
I gave up on Tamron supporting the Z cameras with this lens, and bought the Canon version to use with my Fringer EF-NZ. It’s a little quirky focusing with the adapter, and does not report the actual aperture when close focusing a la Canon’s normal protocol, but I love the lens My son got the Sigma about the same time, and we can’t see much real difference in IQ, but I like the Tamron a lot.
Incidentally, the Fringer adapter works great with the venerable Canon 100-400 II, which is what I got it for. Wish Nikon would make a lens like that.
So which one would you buy? Nikon, sigma or Tamron? That’s the elephant in the room that the review never addresses. Three lenses supposed to compete against each other, at 3 different price points… which one hits the sweet spot?
Personally, I would probably buy the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8, I think it hits the sweet spot. It has the best coatings, best overall performance and the price is very reasonable.
I’m sorely tempted, Nasim – I NEED an AF MACRO – I tried the Nikon 105 a while back and didn’t really think it was sharp enough – the reviews I’ve been reading are generally suggesting the Tamron has the edge on sharpness – and because I’ve had [VERY severe!] back focus probs with another lens, I’m also attracted by Tamron’s console.
SIGMA’s 105 is probably just about a good – but “just about” isn’t what I’m shopping for, and while it was probably excellent at the time of its release (c. 2012), SIGMA has already proven with the release of its SONY base 105 mm MACRO that it can now do far better than that. I love my 50 mm SIGMA ART, so I’d probably go with their 105 SIGMA ART MACRO, if there was one in F-mount.
Another thought – I see some comments saying it’s a shame Tamron only do this lens in DSLR mounts, not Z-mounts. True – at least for the moment – but why the presumption that we’re all going to get tired of DSLRs and replace them with Z-mounts? I for one don’t intend to. I don’t see why the industry can’t keep making both, and letting US make the choice.
Hi Nasim. Loving your reviews. Just had delivery of a new Z6 with the 24-70mm kit yesterday. I am interested if you will be reviewing the 24-200mm z lens soon, especially how it compares the kit zoom. Initially reviews I have seen are that it measures up very well
Mark, I will be reviewing it, as soon as I can get one! The problem is, this lens has been out of stock since it has been released.
In the time waiting for a new formidable micro Nikon Z, I would like to se a comparison of the optical features between the old SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 (Model 272E) and the newest SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F017
Valdemar, I wasn’t able to get the older SP 90mm f/2.8 macro for testing and comparison, since it has been out of stock.