| Reviews : Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras |
Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Product By Tamron Available From 5 Sellers |
Technical Details
- Lens Construction (Groups/Elements) - 9/10
- Angle of View - 27 Degrees
- Diaphragm Blade Number - 9
- Minimum Aperture - F/32
- Minimum Focus - 11.4
Product Description
Tamron AF57N-700 72E SP90MM 1:1 Macro Lens - This lens for Nikon SLR cameras lets you take high-quality close-up shots of various subjects. Whether you want to take a detailed photo of a flower, or little army men, this macro lens is what you'll need. This 90mm f/2.8 macro lens features a focusing ring clutch, which engages and disengages the focusing gear. So the switch between AF & MF is a simple slide of the focusing ring forward or back. Macro Mag. Ratio - 1 - 1 Length - 3.8 Weight - 14.2 oz. Includes a lens hood & case 6 Year Manufacturer's Warranty Designed Specifically For Nikon SLR CamerasSimilar Products
Customer Reviews
By Dr. Jianhua YAN (Chicago, IL USA)
Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
I need a lens for portrait and macro. I narrowed down two choices: Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED IF AF-S VR or Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di. I searched the internet. Thom Hogan says " The big difference is this (between the Nikon and tamron): for $400 less money, you give up VR, focus speed, and a bit of build quality from the Nikon 105mm. That's about it. The Tamron 90mm is the poor man's mid-range macro." I learned the Nikon is bulkier, heavier and cost much more, the tamron is cheaper, optic quality if not better, at least as good as the Nikon, I also learned from somewhere Tamron's service is good, fast, six years. I am not a professional, not going to use it a lot, so I ordered the Tamron from B&H in May15, 2009.
I tried the lens to shoot a quarter; it IS sharper than my Nikon 28-105mm D. it is summer time, I bring my boy to North Beach in Chicago. I quickly found that the lens refuse to focus automatically without any warnings. It just won't focus when I press the shutter bottom. But if I power the D200 off and on, or unscrew the lens off the body and put back again, the focus will be back. Tamron uses a push and pull mechanism to switch from manual focus to automatic focus, actually I like this, but the problem is the switch is not smooth. Sometimes I have to first turn the lens about 45 degree before I can pull it back.
I remembered I read somewhere some one is saying it has the same problem. I want the lens, don't want to return it. Summer is good, I used it for about three to five times on the beach, but the problems are getting worse. So I decided to send it back to Tamron for a check.
Tamron mailed back. Saying it needs 160.0$ to repair and it is not under warranty. The repair listed is
" SK Evidence of shock damage
F Focus defect or poor image quality
Z Zoom defect
1 General check, clean, and adjust
2 ETA:10, Business days depending on volume"
This morning (Oct 6, 2009) I called the number on the notice. A gentleman answered. I said I just used the lens four to five times, and I never dropped or bumped the lens, how could it be shock damage" He asked me to wait him to get the lens. He came back saying the lens has sand in it, it is the sand causing the problems, so not covered by warranty. I said I did use it on beach, sand could be there, but it might not be the cause of the problems. He then said, actually the lens needs a "major repair", they are doing me a favor, price it for a "minor" repair. I asked him if he really believes it is the sand that causes the problems, he confirmed and told me to think about it, and I don't need to make a decision at the moment( to pay the 160.0$).
I hang up, not happy, the estimate did not say anything about sands, instead "shock damage". So I called again. This time a lady answered. I told Her in a very calm voice" I might not be in a good mood, so I am sorry". The lady said "I am not in good mood too". So I tried to tell the story. Not long into it, she interrupted me, saying I can keep going on and on, but it will not change the conclusion, sand causes the problems and not covered by warranty, and she has that lens too, it is the best lens Tamron ever produced, no problems at all. Then I asked if I paid the money, you fix it, and when it gets back, the sand is no more there, but the problems come back, will tamron refund the money because that approves it is not the sand that causes the problems. The lady said no, if the problem comes back, they can repair it again. I said, then it approves it is not the sand causing the problems. She said they could be caused by something else, but they can't refund you. I asked, why not, and then she said "hold on". I waited, waited about five minutes, then another voice said hello. I said I was talking to a lady, the lady wanted me to hold, I don't know how the phone got it to you. Then I was transferred to the lady in the service dept again.
The lady said "sorry, I have another call". She said she talked to the manager, the highest person in charge of the repairs. The manager said they made a mistake, it is a major repairs, needs to charge more than 300.0$. The lady then said, at least it needs 240.0$ instead of the 160.0 to repair it, but it is their mistake, so they will honor the 160.0$. I began to feel guilty if i don't accept the kind 160.0$ offer, but I stupidly repeated the same question if she really believes it is the sand or the sand particle is coincidental there. She told me to hold again.
I waited this time much longer; the phone went back to the operator again in about 8 to 10 minutes. I asked the lady in the service dept if you asked me to "hold", will the phone go back to the operator. The lady said" yes, it loops".
I asked the lady if there is Tamron authorized service agents in Chicao, The lady said"no, there is only one in California, they will charge you three times more".
I gave them my credit card number, 160.0$, a lifelong big lesson.
Here are a few things I learned:
1.The repairs stated on the Repair Acknowledgement/Estimate" might not be the real cause, as "shock damage" to "sand" in my case.
2. They will make mistakes in estmate, from "major repair" to "minor repair". They should charge from more than 300 to 240 to 160, they are doing me great favors.
3. Their phone loops. They will ask you to hold, the time during "hold", the phone will loop from the service department to the operator of the company. However, the operator is nice enough to transfer you back to the service agent you were talking with, and the line was not cut.
4. No Tamron authorized service agent in Chicago, only one in California, it might charge three times more.
5. Sand will easily get into the lens (my years old Nikon 28-105mm is not, taking so many pictures on the beach). Sand particles at least will stop the auto focus that can be saved by power off the body and void the warranty.
By Eran Shpigelman (Plano, TX USA)
I have these lens for over a year now and I am really impressed by the quality of the pictures I get with it.
The lens are sharp, and have great bokeh for out of focus subjects. The AF speed is a bit slow when you are shooting Macro - but the same goes for the Nikkor 105 VR micro. For portrait shoots the AF speed is quite good, especially when you limit the AF switch to focus on subjects not in Macro mode. I see no reason to buy the Nikkor/Canon lens unless you have to due to camera constrains (like if you have the D40/60).
These are great lens and you won't be sorry for getting them.
I cannot say anything bad about them.
By Chris Newman (Bradenton, Florida United States)
Right out of the box I was impressed. Many reviews I had read said it felt lightweight or had a plastic feel compared to the Nikkor 105mm. I don't know about that but it feels great to me. While this may not be as heavy as the Nikkor it felt right and looked good straight away. I have always used Nikon lenses (other than a Sigma 10-20mm I have, another great lens) so I do think twice about anything other than Nikkors. I am not disappointed with this Tamron. It is pin sharp, feels nice in the hand on the camera (D300) and the manual focus slide control works smoothly. For macro you do need manual focus. A review I read somewhere said it was slow to focus and sounded noisy. Can't agree. Maybe it is not as fast as the Nikkor (I have not tested the Nikkor) but this lens focuses fast enough at longer ranges. No different to other lenses I use in term of speed in focusing, that I can notice. And I don't find it noisy. And what a deal with $90 off thru April. I am critical about my lenses and would not have a poor quality lens in my bag. Makes a nice portrait lens. Don't hesitate - get it now.
By Laura Mackinnon (Tokyo, Japan)
All the above reviews are useful - it also took me a minute to realise the switch from AF to manual focus was a simple, manual push-pull; but I quite like that feature now.
It's lightweight, you can get some excellent, really sharp detail, and the bokeh is very smooth. For the price, it's a great lens.
I would also note that there is a considerable amount of softness around the edges, so that may or may not be something you like (the cat close-up I put in the sample images above illustrate this).
By Brian J. Ross (Ontario, Canada)
This is my first macro lens, and I am very pleased with it. It is well-made, light, and the optics are tack-sharp. My intention is to do macro nature photography (insects, spiders,...), and so far it has been a pleasure to use. Before buying it, I read in many user forums that the minimum focusing distance of a 90mm macro lens such as this one (12 inches) is too close for photographing skittish subjects such as butterflies. I could have moved up to a 150mm macro lens, which would add 3 inches to the distance, but at the cost of a much narrower depth of field, as well as a heavier lens requiring a tripod. I opted for the Tamron 90mm, after seeing some excellent insect photographs online. But one word of caution: the minimum 12 inch distance is measured from the focal plane at the back of the camera (as is always the case when measuring focal distances). When the lens is fully extended, you might have about 3 or 4 inches between the front of the lens and the subject (and that's without a lens hood). Hence this is definitely a close distance for skittish insects! Nevertheless, this is part of doing business with a macro lens... short focusing distances, and extremely narrow fields of view. Because you'll usually want to step the lens down as far as possible, you will either need fast-moving subjects in full sunlight, or you'll need to use an external flash. Unfortunately, the built-in pop-up flash of digital SLR's will cause a shadow through the middle of the picture at short macro-length distances.
In any case, this is a great macro lens for a novice or pro.
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