A new era begins for Tamron as the company famous for its zooms moves into the premium fixed-focal-length lens market. Damien Demolder tests the first, a 45mm fast standard.
Manufacturer: Tamron
A new era begins for Tamron as the company famous for its zooms moves into the premium fixed-focal-length lens market. Damien Demolder tests the first, a 45mm fast standard.
Having watched one of their main rivals, Sigma, garner all the recent plaudits with their popular range of Art lenses, Tamron have responded with the premium quality 35mm and 45mm f/1.8 SP prime lenses.
So why do we use 50mm as a standard? Well, it doesn't really matter, but the maths does explain why Tamron is touting this unusual focal length as a standard for full-frame users. The company isn't the first, either, as Pentax offers a rather nice 43mm f/1.9, and has done for some time.
We have it in our heads that 50mm is the standard focal length for 35mm format, and it has been for years. The rule is that the length of the diagonal of the frame, of film or sensor, is the focal length with the ‘normal' angle of view, and that's what makes our standard focal length.
I read several reviews saying they had some focusing issues with this lens but I recently bought the 85mm 1.8 VR and was very pleased with it after similar reviews. I LOVE this lens, the sharpness and color are very good. The AF has give me zero problems.
Pros: Great prime lens for a very good price. Cons: Heavy but understandable due to better glass Other thoughts: This lens makes a great addition to anyone's collection.
There are plenty of reviews about this lens on YouTube etc and I would suggest watching a few of them. Personally I love this lens, it is sharp at f1.8 and extremely sharp from f2.8 on wards. I used Focal software to micro adjust the focus which gave me a reading of -5 and it is now spot on.
My salesman Frank Brown went over and above the level of service I expected from a mail order company. This is my second Nikon lens purchased in the last 12 months and I can truly say that I will shop nowhere else.
Wide range of usages, given its pictorial and optical qualities, weather sealing, close focus, and stabilization. Very convenient FL, by the way. At ease with portraits, social events (despite bulk and slow AF, but MF is good enough), architecture.
Image quality is very appealing; I'd say "delicate rendering", as contrast may be milder than with, say, recent Zeiss lenses; Users should not get blinded by absolute resolution figures (yes, Otus is better, so what).
Size and weight
So happy with this lens, its sharp like razor, thanks for tamron.
Copyright © Global Compare Group Limited t/a PriceMe 2024