REVIEW: Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD Lens Review

Handling and features Tamron's 90mm Macro lenses have earned an enviable reputation for optical quality and value for money over the years. With this new 90mm Macro optic, Tamron have brought their 90mm up to date with the latest technology by incorporating Vibration Compensation, silent internal...

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD SP review by MediaGuru

I purchased this lens to use with my Sony A57 (16.1 megapixel APS-C, 1.5x crop). I have three other Tamron SP lenses (A16, A005 and B01) and chose them because I felt their image quality was as good, maybe even better than the comparable Sony or Sigma lenses.

solid build; good fit & finish; very sharp at f/2.8-f/3.1 and tack sharp at f/3.5-f/16; no lateral chromatic aberration; no distortion; IF; quiet af; no front/back focus issues; smooth focus ring; moisture resistant; 6 yr warranty

a-mount connector a bit loose; sharpness declines after f/16; minor bokeh fringing from f/2.8-f/7.1; minor vignetting from f/2.8-f/3.5; lens flair; Sony version lacks VC; AF slower than expected; no case/pouch

SP 90 mm f/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD

Although the line-up of Tamron lenses is pretty modest, the users are usually very happy with them. The Tamron SP AF 60 mm f/2.0 Di II LD (IF) Macro 1:1 is a great example – it is not only optically brilliant but pretty fast for a macro lens too.

modest accessory kit; vignetting on full frame could have been lower

Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD

The Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD features a USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) that allows near-silent auto-focusing. Importantly, this solution allows instant manual override even when the focus mode switch is in the AF position.