With many DSLR camera makers now switching to mirrorless, third-party lens manufacturers are also working rigorously to provide their best optics to the new generation of photographers. Tanron is no different. To mark the 45th anniversary, the company is advancing its mirrorless lineup, especially for its perfect partners, Nikon Z-mount and Sony E-mount. Today, they unveiled a new lens that could be a new favorite for macro photographers: Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro VXD (Model F072). So, is the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro worth the wait for you?
Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro: Is It A New-Gen Lens?
The first Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 (Model 52B) lens was released in 1979, originally nicknamed “Tamukyu,” which instantly garnered praise from macro and portrait photographers. From there on, the company kept inventing the focal length to meet the needs of photographers, and we even had the opportunity to test the 2013 and 2016 versions of the lenses.
In that regard, the new lens has better imaging optics, which can help photographers achieve the best with today’s advancing technology. For instance, the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro features four low-dispersion lens elements, which the company also uses in its other lenses to reduce aberrations. It also comes with coatings that Tamron states will give users sharper images with minimal ghosting.
The new Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro is also said to provide flat-field performance, which means it can produce edge-to-edge sharpness when capturing flat subjects such as documents or paintings. With Tamron’s first-ever 12-bladed diagram, the company promises soft bokeh and starburst effects when shooting against the light.
The Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro incorporates a new hood design with a sliding window to make it more compact. This will make filter adjustments easy during long shooting days. Other features include autofocus capabilities with subject tracking performance, a customizable focus button, a focus limiter switch, and Tamron’s Lens Utility software. All of this is priced at $699 and will be available from October.
Tamron 90mm Could Be Worth The Wait
As we mentioned earlier, it has been a while since the company released the 90mm lens, and with new features such as a 12-blade aperture and a more compact design, Tamron could be one of the best-sellers soon. Firstly, the elements and blades have been upgraded, with the 2016 edition only featuring 14 elements in 11 groups with a 9-blade aperture. Moreover, while in our review, we noted we needed a f2, we also knew it would be difficult to achieve at the price point. Despite that, we quite liked its performance. So, there is plenty of hope for the new Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro, especially for the Z-mount. We have noted previously that Nikon and Tamron are a pair made in heaven, which means that one could expect exceptional performance with the new device.
As for Sony users, the last time Sony released a 90mm f2.8 macro was in 2015. In our review, we noted that the lens would work better for portrait photography than macro because after f8, “the image quality starts to really fall apart harder than offerings from other companies.” In that sense, Sony photographers also have a lot to gain.
There are other third-party offerings, too, but they also come with some issues of their own. Laowa has a 90mm lens for both Sony and Nikon, which costs only $500 but lacks autofocus and weather-sealing. Sigma has a 90mm offering, too, but we haven’t really tested it. Then there is the AstrHori 85mm f2.8 macro tilt lens, which costs only $329, but there are some limitations to its sharpness and a lack of autofocus.
If you look at all parameters and Tamron’s own performance in the past, the new Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro sounds like a great offering for mirrorless users on paper. However, you have to wait for our review before you make a decision.
For more information, visit Tamron USA’s website.
Specification
| Model | : F072 |
| Focal Length | : 90mm |
| Maximum Aperture | : F2.8 |
| Angle of View (diagonal) | : 27°2′ (for full-frame mirrorless format) |
| Optical Construction | : 15 elements in 12 groups, including four special glass LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements and The BBAR-G2 (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection Generation 2) coating |
| Minimum Object Distance | : 9.1 inch / 0.23m |
| Maximum Magnification Ratio | : 1:1 |
| Maximum Diameter | : Ø79.2mm |
| Length | : 5 inch (126.5mm) for Sony / 5.1 inch (128.5mm) for Nikon |
| Weight | : 22.2oz (630g) for Sony / 22.6oz (640g) for Nikon |
| Aperture Blades | : 12 (circular diaphragm) |
| Minimum Aperture | : F16 |
| Standard Accessories | : Round-shaped hood with filter effect control window, Front and Rear caps |
| Mount | : Sony E-mount, Nikon Z mount |
Specification