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For the provided lens TAMRON SP AF MACRO 90mm 1: 2.8 72E many thanks the store ProFotoSalewhere you can find many new and used lenses for different systems, including Similar Tamron Lenses.

Navigation

• In short
• History
• Main Specifications
• Assembly
• Focusing
• Diaphragm
• Image quality
• Sample Photos
• All Original Micro Nikkor Autofocus Lenses
• My experience
• Results
• User Comments
• Add your review / comment or question on the lens

In this review, I will abbreviate the TAMRON SP AF MACRO 90mm 1: 2.8 72E lens Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E. Please note that this review shows a lens for Nikon cameras with Nikon F mount. At the same time, the Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E was produced for Canon cameras with Canon EF / EFS mount, for Sony and Minolta cameras with Sony / Minolta A mount and for Pentax cameras with Pentax K mount.

In short

The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is a macro lens for SLR cameras with the ability to shoot at a maximum magnification of 1: 1. It has good quality of the created image. This version is not yet optimized for work with digital cameras, however, it behaves very well in digital.

All Tamron macro lenses are good and deserve their due consideration. The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is Tamron's first autofocus lens with 1: 1 zoom capability. Prior to its introduction, Tamron 90 / 2.5 class macro lenses could only receive 1: 2, and 1: 1 required the use of macro rings.

The optical design of the Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is similar to the manual Tamron 72B under the Adaptall-2, as well as the subsequent Tamron 172E and Tamron 272E lenses.

History

The history of Tamron macro lenses is quite long. Back in 1979, the company had a wonderful Tamron SP 1: 2.5 90mm Tele Macro BBAR MC MODEL 52B which has undergone a number of iterations and has survived to the present in the form of a model Tamron SP 90mm F / 2.8 Di VC USD Macro 1: 1 MODEL F017. Below is a list of all Tamron 90 / 2.8 or 90 / 2.5 class macro lenses:

1. Model 52B: Tamron 90 / 2.5 SP TELE MACRO 1: 2 BBAR MC1979, 8/6, Tamron Adaptall-2
2. Model 52B-B: Tamron 90 / 2.5 SP MACRO 1; 2, 1988, 8/6, Tamron Adaptall-2
3. Model 52E: Tamron 90 / 2.5 SP MACRO 1: 2, 1990, 8/6, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K
4. Model 152E: Tamron 90 / 2.5 SP MACRO 1: 2, 1994, 8/6, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K
5. Model 72B: Tamron 90 / 2.8 SP MACRO, 1996, 10/9, Tamron Adaptall-2
6. Model 72E: Tamron 90 / 2.8 SP AF MACRO 1: 1, 1996, 10/9, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K. Version from this review.
7. Model 172E: Tamron 90 / 2.8 SP AF MACRO 1: 1, 1999, 10/9, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K
8. Model 272E: Tamron 90 / 2.8 SP AF Di MACRO 1: 1, 2004, 10/9, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K, since 2008 revision 272E NII for Nikon with built-in motor
9. Model F004: Tamron 90 / 2.8 SP USD Di MACRO 1: 1 VC, 2012, 14/11, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A [without VC]
10. Model F017: Tamron 90 / 2.8 SP USD Di MACRO 1: 1 VC, 2016, 14/11, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A [without VC]

It is also worth highlighting Tamron 180mm 1: 3.5 LD DI SP AF [IF] MACRO 1: 1 B01introduced in 2003.

• All 90 / 2.5 class lenses are based on the same 8/6 optical design
• All lenses of class 90 / 2.8 without stabilizer are built on the optical scheme 10/9
• All lenses of class 90 / 2.8 with stabilizer are built on the optical scheme 14/11

Main technical characteristics of TAMRON SP AF MACRO 90mm 1: 2.8 72E:

Review Instance Name	The inscription on the body: TAMRON SP AF MACRO 90mm 1: 2.8 1: 1 ø55 ∞-0.29m (0.96ft) 72E MADE IN JAPAN
Basic properties	Lens designed for use on cameras with a full-frame sensor and 36 * 24 film SP (Super Performance) - high performance inherent to Tamron's professional lens range AF - automatic focusing (for Nikon by means of a motor in the camera) Macro 1: 1 - Possibility of macro shooting with 1: 1 magnification 72E - lens model for quick identification Aperture control ring (similar to Nikon NON-G) lens transmits focusing distance to camera (analogue of Nikon D) Dedicated push / pull AF / M focus mode switch Full \ Limit - focusing distance limiter Important: a lens from a third-party manufacturer, which imposes some restrictions on its practical use.
Front Filter Diameter	55 mm
Focal length	90 mm EGF for cameras with APS-C sensor Kf=1.5 Nikon, Pentax and Sony is 135 mm EGF for Canon cameras with APS-C sensor is 144 mm EGF for Canon cameras with APS-H sensor is 117 mm
Zoom ratio	1 x
Designed by	for film SLR cameras (produced in versions for Nikon F, Canon EF, Sony A / Minolta A, Pentax K
Number of aperture blades	9 rounded
Tags	focusing distance in meters and feet hood attachment mark zoom ratio scale for values ​​1:10, 1: 7, 1: 5, 1: 4, 1: 3, 1: 2.8, 1: 2, 1: 1.8, 1: 1.5, 1: 1.3, 1: 1.1, 1 :1 depth of field scale for F / 16 and F / 32 aperture value
Diaphragm	From F / 2.8 to F / 32 at infinity and from F / 5.6 to F / 51 on MDF. The maximum aperture value depends on the focusing distance.
MDF (minimum focusing distance)	29 centimeters, maximum magnification ratio 1: 1
The weight	402 grams (measured, lens without caps and hood, Nikon F version)
Optical design	10 elements in 9 groups The optical design is the same as for the 72B, 172E, 272E / 272E NII models.
Lens hood	bayonet, plastic, model Tamron C9FH JAPAN
Manufacturer country	MADE IN JAPAN (Japan)
Period	Since 1996.In 1999 replaced by a similar model Model 172E
Price	about 200-300 dollars in the used version you can check prices for modern Tamron macro lenses on E-Katalog at this link

These lenses are very popular. All major lens manufacturers have models of the 90 / 2.8 or 100 / 2.8 class in their arsenal. Often these lenses are used not only for macro photography, but also for portrait photography.

Assembly

The build quality of the Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is quite high. The lens is made in Japan. The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is robust and reliable to the touch. The color of the case is not black, but dark gray, ash, with fine-grained white blotches, creating a corresponding appearance.

The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E uses a metal mount. The focusing ring is rubberized. Plastic diaphragm ring.

The front element is recessed very deeply into the body frame, which creates a kind of built-in hood effect.

During focusing, the lens trunk extends substantially, nearly doubling the overall length of the lens.

The lens itself weighs just over 400 grams. The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E uses a small 55mm filter.

The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E can use a hood that locks into special slots located near the front lens element. The hood can be installed in the opposite direction for transport, thus completely losing access to the focusing ring. The hood moves with the lens barrel.

Focusing

Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E auto focus speed very low. The running time from infinity to MDF and back is very long.

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

• D1, D1h, D1x, D2x, D2xs, D2h, D2hs
• D3, D3x, D3s, D4, D4s, D5, D6
• Df
• D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90
• D7000, D7100, D7200,D7500
• D100, D200, D300, D300s,D500
• D600, D610, D750, D780
• D700, D800,D800E, D810, D810a, D850
• Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro, S2 Pro, S3 ProS3 Pro UVIR, S5 ProIS Pro
• Kodak DCS PRO 14n, DCS Pro SLR/n

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

• D40, D40x, D60
• D3000, D3100, D3200, D3300, D3400, D3500
• D5000, D5100, D5200, D5300, D5500, D5600
• all digital mirrorless cameras Nikon ZDX, Nikon ZFX with Nikon FTZ/FTZ II adapter

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

During focusing, the front lens and the frame for filters runs forward but does not spin. The rear lens remains stationary during focusing.

The focus ring rotates to 225 degrees. The ring travel is smooth, you can rotate with one finger. When extreme positions are reached, the ring abuts. The focus ring is very wide with rubberized inserts. The minimum focusing distance is 0.29 m. The maximum zoom ratio is 1: 1.

It's important: the range from infinity to 1 meter is poorly stretched, it is very difficult to focus manually on this range. The lens is designed in such a way that it is primarily aimed at shooting at close focusing distances.

To switch focus modes, slide the focus ring towards the mount (M) or front lens (AF). This focus mode switch is called 'push / pull'.

In focus mode 'AF', set using the corresponding switch on the lens, the focus ring is mechanically disconnected from the autofocus drive. This means that when the camera motor is performing autofocus, the focusing ring remains stationary. If you try to rotate the focusing ring manually, it will rotate freely in both directions without restrictions, but it will not affect the focusing in any way. In this state, it is quite convenient to support the lens for it.

It's important: after switching the lens to the 'M' mode, you need to set the 'M' mode on the camera, using the focus mode switch located near the camera mount. In focus mode 'M', set using the appropriate switch on the lens, the focus ring is mechanically linked to the autofocus drive and built-in focus motor. If you do not set the 'M' mode on the camera itself, you can damage the focusing motor built into the camera. Made a bit in a bad way, but you can get used to it very quickly and this behavior of switches does not cause any discomfort. The switches are similarly implemented on many other older Tamron and Sigma lenses.

When used on a camera Nikon D700 the lens behaves well without any major focusing issues.

The lens feature is focusing distance limiter 'Full \ Limit'. In the Limit position, focusing is available from infinity to 45 cm. In this position, the lens is convenient to use for classic purposes - portrait, landscape, shooting large objects. In the Limit position, a maximum magnification of 1: 3 is available.

In the Full position, the entire focusing distance range from 29 cm to infinity is available. In this position, you can shoot macro and other scenes. True, with autofocus in Full mode, the lens monstrously long focus from MDF to infinity and vice versa.

If you set the focusing distance from 29 to 45 cm in Full mode and then move the limiter from Full to Limit, then the lens in the Limit position will be able to focus only from 29 cm to 45 cm. This position is convenient only for macro shooting.

Focus Features:

1. There is a depth of field scale
2. Focus speed may vary slightly depending on the camera used. This issue has been considered. here.
3. During focusing, the lens and camera are quite noisy.
4. There is a very strong effect of 'Focus Breathing' (changing the viewing angle during focusing). During focusing towards MDF, the viewing angle decreases
5. The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E transmits the focus-to-subject distance to the camera and is a lens type Nikon D.
6. The lens has a scale with a focusing distance in meters and feet in the form of a window. There is a scale with a magnification.
7. The direction of rotation of the focus ring does not match the original Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105mm 1: 2.8
8. Unknown compatibility with teleconverters.
9. Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is a third party lens. It may happen that it will not work correctly with some Nikon cameras. Details on this issue have been reviewed by me here.

Diaphragm

The lens has a plastic ring for manual iris control. To be able to control the value aperture from camera or for automatic installation aperture on modern digital cameras, you need to turn the control ring to the value F / 32, after which it is automatically fixed by a small special button-lock, which is located to the left of the marks aperture. If this is not done, then on a number of cameras, the display will display an error - 'fEE' (ring is not installed aperture) Some cameras having diaphragm rheostatallow you to control the aperture using the ring aperturebut only in metering modes exposure 'M' and 'A'. You can read more about this issue in the section on Non-G Lenses. Ring aperture rotates with clicks, it has F / 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32 (full feet) values. Other intermediate values ​​can only be set using the camera menu.

It's important: Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E on cameras Nikon D3400, D3500 can only work in 'M' mode. These cameras simply do not support NON-G type lenses (which have an aperture ring).

Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E uses aperture on 9 petals. The aperture blades are rounded; at all aperture values, you can get fairly even circles of confusion.

When the aperture is closed, the lens makes a loud and harsh clanging sound. The disadvantage stems from the lever-operated aperture control on Nikon SLR cameras.

Note that the Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E only displays its maximum open aperture of F / 2.8 when focusing at infinity.

During focusing on the MDF, the maximum relative aperture becomes 1: 5.6.

The change in the number F when changing the focusing distance is introduced specifically to achieve accurate metering exposure. In almost all macro lenses, during focusing towards the MDF, the effective aperture value changes. This is due to the fact that during focusing towards the MDF, the effective focal length of the lens changes.

This behavior of the F number is quite important when working with manual pulsed light, where you need to set a certain power for each shot, and when changing the focusing distance, you should always take this into account and make the necessary correction.

Other macro lenses with which I had to deal with behave in a similar manner. This is not a problem, just such a feature of macro lenses.

Image quality

I didn’t have enough time to drive Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E in full frame, I managed to collect examples of photos only on crop, where he showed himself very well.

The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E does not have serious optical problems with image quality, only frigging (chromatic aberration in the blur zone). Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is quite sharp at F / 2.8, while the lens shows good results both during focusing at infinity and during focusing at short distances. It is believed that macro lenses are optimized primarily for working only at close distances, but the Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is also good when focusing on infinity. At F / 5.6, the lens shows very good sharpness over the entire field of the APS-C sensor frame.

Basic optical distortions such as chromatic aberration, vignetting, and distortion are low. Special attention is paid to bokeh, which is quite pleasant both because of the optical design and because of the rounded 9-blade aperture.

In general, Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E in terms of image quality can compete with modern similar macro lenses.

Sample Photos Nikon D3200

D3200 still remains one of the cameras with the highest pixel density, and therefore from the pictures from it you can easily judge some of the optical capabilities of Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E. Convert RAW source files with the original Nikon Capture NX-D v 1.4.6 utility. The lens was used without a filter and a lens hood.

• Picture Control Mode: SD (Standard with default settings, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0)
• White balance: Auto (with default offset)
• Active D-lighting: ON (the camera does not allow you to select a level ADL)
• Noise Reduction: OFF
• use of the function 'Aut. distortion control 'with this lens on the camera Nikon D3200 not available, but Capture NX-D automatically removes part of the chromatic aberration
• The lens was used without filters.

You can download the original photos in RAW ('.NEF') format at this link (20 files, 350 MB).

My experience

I love Tamron macro lenses. They are all very interesting and I don’t know of any frankly bad or 'mediocre' solutions. Tamron is also proud of its range of 90 / 2.5 and 90 / 2.8 macrics.

No significant difference with the newer Model 272E I have not seen.

Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E can be found cheaply, this lens is still very good as a macro lens, and I strongly recommend any of its anticipations and subsequent versions.

It is a pity that the 90 / 2.5 versions were left only in manual focus options, and all new lenses can only use the maximum aperture of F / 2.8.

I have for personal use was Model 272E, optically very attractive, but I sold it because of back focus (there was a built-in focus motor there).

All autofocus MICRO / MC NIKKOR lenses

Z-mount FX:

1. Nikon Nikkor Z MC 50 mm 1:2.8
2. Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105 mm 1: 2.8 VR S

F-mount FX:

1. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 50 mm 1:2.8 R-UW
2. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 55 mm 1:2.8
3. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1:2.8
4. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1: 2.8D
5. Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat (Japan or Thailand)
6. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1:2.8
7. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1: 2.8D
8. Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1: 2.8G ED VR SWM IF Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat (Japan or China)
9. Nikon ED AF Micro Nikkor 200 mm 1: 4D
10. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180mm 1: 4.5-5.6D ED

F-mount DX:

1. Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 40 mm 1: 2.8G SWM
2. Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 85 mm 1: 3.5G ED VR SWM IF Micro 1: 1

Results

The Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is a quality old macro lens with good optical performance. At one time, a lot of updates came out for him, which are already optimized for working with digital cameras, some of them have an image stabilizer, a built-in ultrasonic focusing motor for internal focusing. At the same time, the Tamron 90 / 2.8 72E is excellent for macro photography and can serve as a good budget solution to this day.

10 main advantages:

1. Top quality professional lens, Tamron SP Series
2. maximum magnification ratio 1: 1
3. bayonet hood included
4. focus distance limiter
5. focus mode switch
6. aperture control ring
7. lens transmits focusing distance to camera (analogue of Nikon D)
8. depth of field scale, focusing distance, magnification
9. 9 aperture blades, well rounded aperture at all aperture values
10. good optical performance

10 main disadvantages:

1. absence inboard motor focusing (critical for users of amateur Nikon cameras without motor focusing)
2. no dust and moisture protection
3. noisy auto focus
4. very slow auto focus
5. inconvenient switch of focus modes (you need to use an additional switch on the camera)
6. the direction of rotation of the focus ring does not match the original Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105mm 1: 2.8
7. no optimization of enlightenment for working with cameras with a digital image sensor
8. clanking sound from the operation of the lever mechanism of the diaphragm (perhaps the version for Canon does not have this)
9. there may be incompatibility with some cameras and / or teleconverters
10. some optical flaws inherent in such lenses, for example, strong chromatic aberration in the blur zone

For the provided lens TAMRON SP AF MACRO 90mm 1: 2.8 72E many thanks the store ProFotoSalewhere you can find many new and used lenses for different systems, including Similar Tamron Lenses.

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.