peterm1
Veteran
I have a definite soft spot for short and mid range tele lenses and just recently stumbled on an eBay ad (there are many such ads as this is a common lens) for a Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.5 52EN lens. This lens, in my case dating from the 1990's, is one in a long series of similarly spec'd macro/micro lenses by Tamron, Tokina and others which started in the manual focus era. I believe the successors to the lens are still going strong - though much more expensive than the $100 I paid for my slightly older one.
Pentax Forums rates the lens very highly with 9.5 score for sharpness and it is also acknowledged as having very nice bokeh - something my so far limited tests tend to confirm. In terms of build quality I am pleasantly surprised. It has a sold feel to it and its body seems to be more or less on par with Nikkors of that era - being built from high-grade polycarbonate. It focuses very quickly and accurately, as fast if not faster than the Micro Nikkor AF D 105mm f2.8 if my memory serves me correctly. (I no longer own this lens but had one in years past). Its focus system is also quieter than I had anticipated. Maybe my expectations were too low. Though its look screams "1990's" I do not mind this appearance having several Nikkors dating to that time. The later Tamron lenses of this sort are not especially handsome in any event. I suppose its lens coatings are not quite up to par though.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-sp-af-90mm-f25-macro-12-52ep.html
I will post some images but as the lens only arrived yesterday afternoon I have not yet had the chance to process and upload any.
But I would be interested in knowing if others have experience with the lens or more knowledge about it and this series of lenses in general. I do not believe I have ever bought a Tamron lens previously so am a virgin in this space.
PS I am not interested in macro photography and intend using this as a normal short tele lens.
Pentax Forums rates the lens very highly with 9.5 score for sharpness and it is also acknowledged as having very nice bokeh - something my so far limited tests tend to confirm. In terms of build quality I am pleasantly surprised. It has a sold feel to it and its body seems to be more or less on par with Nikkors of that era - being built from high-grade polycarbonate. It focuses very quickly and accurately, as fast if not faster than the Micro Nikkor AF D 105mm f2.8 if my memory serves me correctly. (I no longer own this lens but had one in years past). Its focus system is also quieter than I had anticipated. Maybe my expectations were too low. Though its look screams "1990's" I do not mind this appearance having several Nikkors dating to that time. The later Tamron lenses of this sort are not especially handsome in any event. I suppose its lens coatings are not quite up to par though.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/tamron-sp-af-90mm-f25-macro-12-52ep.html
I will post some images but as the lens only arrived yesterday afternoon I have not yet had the chance to process and upload any.
But I would be interested in knowing if others have experience with the lens or more knowledge about it and this series of lenses in general. I do not believe I have ever bought a Tamron lens previously so am a virgin in this space.
PS I am not interested in macro photography and intend using this as a normal short tele lens.
D&A
Well-known
Peter, I have used many incarnations of this Tamron lens since their earliest days of producing lenses. Optically, they were/are all extremely similar, differing mostly in their construction. It started out in the manual focus era with their adaptall line of interchangeable mount lenses, meaning one lens could be used on a whole host of SLR's. It actually worked very well retaining open aperture metering in most cases. I have to go back to my own notes but the lens may have originally had a macro reproduction ratio of 1:2 and then with a small matching adaptor, it went down to 1:1. I'd have to check on that be be certain it's performance stood with the best of them, in past or present era. Even at infinity it performed admirably.
Enjoy and at a $100.00, it's a bargin.
Dave (D&A)is
Enjoy and at a $100.00, it's a bargin.
Dave (D&A)is
farlymac
PF McFarland
Back when I got my N90s new, I populated the camera bag with mostly Tamron glass, and was quite satisfied with all the lenses I had, though the 90 macro was not one of them. They could be newer as the bodies were mat grey, not glossy black like yours, Peter.
PF
PF
raid
Dad Photographer
I have the manual 90/2.5. It is my favorite macro lens, Peter. It is an awesome lens.
Most likely taken with Canon F1N and Tamron 90/2.5 on Fujichrome 100.
Most likely taken with Canon F1N and Tamron 90/2.5 on Fujichrome 100.
peterm1
Veteran
Thank you Raid that is a very nice photo. It shows how nice the rendering of this lens is and I am looking forward to getting out and about with it.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I have the 52BB version of the Tamron 90mm 2.5 lens, I use it a lot for flower close-ups and have been very happy with the results...
I bought mine off e bay, paid about $70 US and a few months later found the lens hood at a camera swap meet...maybe paid $5 - $10 for it...
There is an extension tube specifically for it but that's a tough one to find on it's own.
I own several of the older MF Tamron lenses and am impressed with how sharp they all are...
I bought mine off e bay, paid about $70 US and a few months later found the lens hood at a camera swap meet...maybe paid $5 - $10 for it...
There is an extension tube specifically for it but that's a tough one to find on it's own.
I own several of the older MF Tamron lenses and am impressed with how sharp they all are...
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
peterm1
Veteran
Thanks Sam both posts have very nice images but I especially like this last one.
peterm1
Veteran
BTW I forgot to ask if any knows if the optical system in the AF version is the same as in the earlier MF ones? My impression is they had the same optics perhaps with some tweaking but I may be wrong.
And if they are different how does image quality compare overall?
I found this link to some photos from one of the MF ones and they are impressive.
https://pbase.com/kkawakami/tamron_sp_tele_macro_90mm_f25
And if they are different how does image quality compare overall?
I found this link to some photos from one of the MF ones and they are impressive.
https://pbase.com/kkawakami/tamron_sp_tele_macro_90mm_f25