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.
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
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.
Imtiaz
July 21, 2020 12:20 am
Great review Nasim, though late. I had to buy it without the support of your review. I have been using this lens for over six months now. It never disappoints. I love the VR of this lens, which is incredible. It is as good as Tamron’s 15-30mm F2,8 G2 which is legendary. I have also had a chance to compare it with Nikon 105mm macro, i must say Nikon’s image contrast is far superior than this lens. That does not mean this a bad lens. For the money I paid for this lens here in Bangalore, India this beast is absolutely worth it.
Thank you for your feedback Imtiaz! I know we are a bit late on this one, but we tested a few Tamron SP lenses earlier this year when traveling in Jordan and UAE, so we decided to post the reviews anyway – better late than never, I guess :)
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.
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.
Great review Nasim, though late. I had to buy it without the support of your review.
I have been using this lens for over six months now. It never disappoints. I love the VR of this lens, which is incredible. It is as good as Tamron’s 15-30mm F2,8 G2 which is legendary.
I have also had a chance to compare it with Nikon 105mm macro, i must say Nikon’s image contrast is far superior than this lens. That does not mean this a bad lens.
For the money I paid for this lens here in Bangalore, India this beast is absolutely worth it.
Thank you for your feedback Imtiaz! I know we are a bit late on this one, but we tested a few Tamron SP lenses earlier this year when traveling in Jordan and UAE, so we decided to post the reviews anyway – better late than never, I guess :)