Tamron 90mm ƒ/2.8

The Tramon 90mm ƒ/2.8 is really a macro lens that also can double as a very good portrait lens. This is also excacly why I bought it. I wanted a macro lens and a portrait lens combined at a good price, which this really is.

This is really an excellent lens for shooting most still-life macro subjects, which is what i’ve tried. For more moving subjects you’d probably want a lens with a better autofocus system, something that lacks a bit in this one. The lens has as said no built-in focus motor and uses the motor in the house to focus, making it a bit sluggish at times. The autofocus is also known to be hunting quite a bit sometime. You can help this however by limiting the focus range down. For really close-up 1:1 Macro work, the autofocus should be no problem, as you are more likely to be focusing manually anyway.

It is absolutely tack sharp and it performs just brilliantly, even great wide open at 2.8 which is really something. I don’t really find the loss of VR from the Nikon 105 VR much to worry about since most times you do have it on a tripod.

All in all I’d definitely recommend this lens to anyone who wants to get either a good macro lens, a good portrait lens or both in the same, at a very good value.