Tamron Telephoto SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF USA
- Price: $459.95
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offer ends APR 30 '12 - Price after Rebate: $409.95
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The 90mm f/2.8 macro lens boasts high resolving power and sharp image depiction with ideal background blur, making it the ideal lens for close-up and portrait photography. With emphasis on portability, this macro lens is compact and lightweight. A wide, smooth focusing ring makes delicate manual focusing in the macro mode easy and precise.
Di (Digitally Integrated Design) is a designation Tamron puts on lenses featuring optical systems designed to also meet the performance characteristics of digital SLR cameras. The "Di" design is achieved by applying a new optical multi-coating to its element surfaces.
As part of the SP series, this is a high-performance lens featuring high design specifications.
- Provides life-size 1:1 macro images
- Ideal as portrait lens
- "Di" design optimized for digital and photo cameras
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 90 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/2.8 Minimum: f/32 |
| Camera Mount Type | Pentax K |
| Format Compatibility |
35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor Pentax Digital (APS-C) |
| Angle of View | 27° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 11.4" (28.96 cm) |
| Magnification | 1x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:1 |
| Groups/Elements | 9/10 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 55 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 2.8 x 3.8" (7.11 x 9.65 cm) |
| Weight | 14.29 oz (405 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 27 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus (17)
- Consistent output (15)
- Durable (13)
- Lightweight (13)
- Strong construction (8)
Cons
- Slow focus (6)
Best Uses
- Macro photography (8)
- General purpose (6)
- Portraits (6)
- Macro and portraits (4)
- Low light (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (11), Photo enthusiast (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)
Most Liked Positive Review
very good results
I purchased this lens for factory photos for my job but I've found the Tamron 90mm Macro is a very versatile lens on my Pentax K20d.
This lens is sharp from center to all ...Read complete review
I purchased this lens for factory photos for my job but I've found the Tamron 90mm Macro is a very versatile lens on my Pentax K20d.
This lens is sharp from center to all edges; the Macro focusing allows for interesting, minimalist compositions and great close-up shots.
The 2.8 is shallow enough for portrait shooting and the smallest aperture provides good DoF (but expect to use a tripod for the best macro work)
The large, easy-to-use manual focus ring is excellent (but the full cycle from ∞ to min focus dist. is quite a far turn). I like the simple focus ring push-pull mechanism to lock-unlock manual focus mode (much better than others’ lever switches.)
The lens sometimes hunts for focus this can be tedious as it has no internal focus motor (such might add a couple of hundred bucks to the lens’ price.)
The build quality feels plasticky compared to my Pentax DA* and DA Limited lenses. But the Tamron 90mm is on par with better kit lenses.
The front end of the lens barrel extends quite far and can bump close-up work when focusing from down from ∞. [Set it to close-focus before approaching the subject.]
Bottom line: if you buy prime lenses you must buy a Tamron 90 Macro.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
good performer
after testing with 3 copies of the lense, I think I will be happy with shooting a prime with extension tube.
after testing with 3 copies of the lense, I think I will be happy with shooting a prime with extension tube.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 27 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Consistent Output
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
- Heavy
- Slow Focus
- Weak Casing
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
- Sports/Action
- Weddings/Events
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I bought the lens for macro and portrait photography. It makes very nice photos. Buid quality is average, autofocus for close-ups is on the slow side, and lens is very noisy when focusing. It could have been cheaper, considering the not so wide aperture of F2.8.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
Cons
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I had been shopping around for a macro lens for some time and after reading many excellent reviews of the Tamron SP AF 90mm f2.8 Macro I decided to buy one over the Pentax smc Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro.
It might not have the WR sealing of the Pentax but its image quality is as good if not better and its $170 cheaper.
I highly recommend it!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- NONE
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Macro Photography
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I use this for macro work and I am pleased with the results. I was looking at the Pentax WR- 100mm as well but for the price bifference, this was a no brainer for me. I have a Pentax D FA 100mm macro and as far as side by side comparison of image quality, the Tamron looks a bit cleaner.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Macro Photography
- Night Photography
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
So far, I've used this lens for portraits and macro.It's fast, and sharp as.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Lightweight
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Not sharp edge to edge
- Not sharp wide open
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
after testing with 3 copies of the lense, I think I will be happy with shooting a prime with extension tube.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Macro Photography
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
This lens is a must-have for macros at a great price. I am thoroughly enjoying the sharp 1:1 macros. Last weekend I used it as a 90mm portrait and the results were excellent too.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
Very lightweight
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Fast / accurate auto-focus
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Macro Photography
- Wildlife Photos
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
This one for the wife, she being the macro nut. Great lens. Only minor concern being difficulty in moving from manual to auto with lens hood in place. Other than that lens is clear, easy to work with , great build quality.
She loves it! Just returned from Yellowstone where she had it on camera at least 70 percent of the time.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Quick Focus
- Sharp Focus
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
This Tamron macro is a classic and has performance to back it up. It is sharp wide open and sharpness does not drop until f/16. Relative to the Pentax 100 f/3.5 macro, this Tamron is a tank. Besides being a 1;1 macro, it can also be a portrait lens. The fast f/2.8 produces a nice diffused background.
I wish it has SDM or equivalent. Focus speed was not slow but not fast either. The lens extends a lot and hence smaller effective aperture at high magnifications, so an IF design would be nice.
I eventually returned the lens not because it is poor. Not at all. The improvement over the Pentax 100 f/3.5 was not significant enough to justify replacing it. I have a list of wants in the pipeline, this Tamron was at the top of the list.
Pros
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Lightweight
- Sharp Focus
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Closeups and macro use
- General Use
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I'm using the Tamron 90 for general closeup and macro work, and finding the experience very pleasant.
The automatic focus sometimes "hunts" a great deal and is somewhat noisy, but since I use manual focusing for more precise macro work, that doesn't matter.
As a general short telephoto (on an APS-C sensor it's the equivalent of a 135mm lens on a 35mm film camera) it's also excellent. There is a slight softness at f2.8 but this disappears by f4.
Its plastic construction keeps the lens lightweight. It does not feel cheap at all.
I have no regrets about purchasing this lens.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Sharp Focus
Cons
- Searches in autofocus mod
Best Uses
- Macro and portraits
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I have hardly taken the lens off my camera since it arrived. Love the stunning macros with lovely bokeh. Great for portraits too. The only drawback is that it searches in autofocus mode -- however, I prefer to use manual focusing so it is not a problem. Focus limiter is a good feature. This is by far the best lens that I own.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Lightweight
- Quality Construction
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Macro and portraits
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I initially bought this lens for its macro capability, which is outstanding, but I soon found it to be great for low light photos and portraits as well. I use it for flowers, bugs and other small things. I took it to a museum to photograph China's Terra Cotta Warriors. No flash was allowed so I used this lens. I got some what I thought were good "portraits" of the warriors with it in a difficult lighting situation.
If you're in a the market for a macro lens this one is hard to beat.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Lightweight
Cons
- Lens hood attachement
Best Uses
- General Use
- Macro
- Night Photography
- Sports/Action
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I bought this lens for portraits and macro photography. I used it to take available light pictures at a conference where it behaved wonderfully. I think that compared to the older Pentax FA 2.8/100mm this lens is much lighter and seems to have at least comparable quality.
The one thing that is not so nice is that the lens hood is not quite so easy to attach, especially in the reverse transport position. There Pentax lens hoods are much better. I use this lens a lot.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Sharp Focus
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Close-ups
- Portraits
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
Excellent lens for close-ups as well as portraits. Sharp, clear, and beautiful results.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easily Interchangeable
- Sharp Focus
Cons
Best Uses
- Macro and portraits
- Special Effects
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I have used the lens mostly for macro photography, and some portraits. For best Macro results the lens probably should be mounted on a tripod in manual mode and used with a cable release. It is a great quality lens. Also, Tamron has periodic workshops on using this lens, and I am intending to participate in one soon.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Lightweight
- Sharp Focus
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Wildlife
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
General use and macro photography
Crisp sharp pictures
Decent construction for the money. Performs consistently well.
Noisy auto focus
Pros
- Lightweight
- Sharp Focus
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I bought it for it's macro capacity but found it is an all around great lens.
- Recommended:
- General Brand 55mm UV Protector Filter - Glass
Pros
- Lightweight
- Sharp Focus
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Wildlife
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
I bought it for its macro and low light capabilities. The sharpness and color ae amazing. The only thing I don't like is that you have to slide a collar on the lens backward or forward to select autofocus or manual focus.
- Recommended:
- General Brand 55mm UV Protector Filter - Glass
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Lightweight
Cons
- Noisy focusing
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Macro
- Portraiture
- Wildlife
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
The lens is sharp, produces great image quality and is a worthy alternative to the Pentax-made equivalent. The bokeh produced with this lens is fantastic and I've not seen any issues thus far with chromatic aberrations or purple fringing. Its only downside is the somewhat slow, noisy autofocus which tends to hunt, though this problem is mitigated a bit by the focus limiter. Another issue that the length of the lens does extend significantly the closer you focus in on something, however this is common among lenses in this class so it can't be said to be an issue with this lens in particular. There do exist macro lenses which don't have this problem however.
Pros
- Durable
- Sharp Focus
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Macro and portraits
Comments about Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF:
Nice, sharp macro lens with reasonable working distance from subject. Pleasing bokeh for portraiture work. Focus can hunt some, but easy to switch into manual focus mode for quickly tweaking focus.
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- Original: $9.79
- Save: $0.98
- Price: $8.81
What's in the Box
- Front & Rear Lens Caps
- Hood
- Soft Pouch
- 6-Year Warranty
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