Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Review

Handling and Features
Performance
Verdict
Specification

The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD prime lens is a fast short telephoto in the classic focal length for portraits. It is also a focal length that usually offers the very best of the lens makers' art, so the standard expected is very high. It is a 35mm-format “full frame” lens. Let's see how this new Tamron design performs and how it compares to other newly released optics in the same category.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Handling and Features

It has 13 elements in 9 groups, including LD (Low dispersion) and XLD (Extra-low dispersion) glass and a Fluorine coating on the front surface to repel dirt and grease. Reflections are suppressed using eBAND and BBAR coatings. eBAND is a nano crystal coating and BBAR is Tamron's version of multi-coating. The lens focuses to 0.8m (31.5”), has a maximum magnification of 1:7.2, takes 67mm filters and weighs in at a reasonable 700g.  It is an AF lens and also has Vibration Control (VC) to reduce the possibility of camera shake. Two switches on the lens barrel control AF/MF and VC on/off. There is a solid plastic bayonet fit lens hood provided and this clicks firmly but easily into place.

Focusing is snappy and the viewfinder image reassuringly crisp. The point of focus is very precise, as we would expect from an f/1.8 lens. As there is no aperture ring on the lens there is no depth of field scale either. Manual focusing is via a wide rubber ring at the front of the lens and despite its short throw the point of focus can be easily found. The direction of focus was correct for the Canon EOS 6D camera used for this review.

The VC system takes about one second to click in, which does mean it is best switched off for action subjects. It is also best to switch it off when using the camera on a tripod as the VC system may try to hunt for vibration that does not exist. It is, however, excellent for more static subjects.

Moisture resistant seals are included in the lens construction, a feature that is really useful as we can now continue shooting images regardless of the weather conditions.

Although the lens is quite chunky, it balances well on the Canon 6D used for this review, making a very ergonomic package. The operation of all controls is smooth and reliable. The AF is very slick, virtually silent and locking on positively every time. There is no hesitation or hunting.

Applications will cover many different areas of photography, from portraits to landscapes, sports, reportage (street photography) and anything else needing a short telephoto lens.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Performance

Sharpness is of a very high order, basically excellent across the whole image area and across the full aperture range, pushing towards outstanding at f/5.6 and f/8. The high level of corrections seem to have resulted in the edges of the frame outclassing the centre, although the figures are close and visually the sharpness is high and very even across the frame.

MTF Chart
 

How to read our charts

The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges. 

The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution as LW/PH and is described in detail above. The taller the column, the better the lens performance. 

For this review, the lens was tested on a Canon EOS 6D using Imatest.

Chromatic Aberration (CA), the splitting of light due to the lens not focusing all colours at the same point, is virtually absent. The CA figures are commendably low and consistently so across the aperture range.

CA Chart
 

How to read our charts

Chromatic aberration is the lens' inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.

Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimise the problem, hence they usually cost more.

For this review, the lens was tested on a Canon EOS 6D using Imatest.

Distortion measures the amount of bending of straight lines and this too is very low indeed. It measures at +0.151% pincushion distortion, which is a negligible amount for general photography.

Flare is well under control and it was not possible to induce any in normal photography. The coatings and lens hood clearly do an excellent job.

The VC system seems to work best at slow shutter speeds, under 1/125sec, and gives us about 3-4 stops advantage. Remarkably slow shutter speeds can be used, even down to 1/15sec or so, which is remarkable for a short telephoto lens. Of course, this is no good if the subject is moving and in that case high shutter speeds will be needed to arrest that movement.

Images look deliciously crisp and the bokeh smooth and creamy. So out of focus areas take on a very smooth gradation, something that is very much sought after.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Sample Photos

Value For Money

There is a wide choice of 85mm lenses available, perhaps unsurprisingly as this is the classic focal length for portraits. The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is priced at £749.

At the high end of the options, the Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 costs £1379, equalled in cost by the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM (£1499) and the Nikon 85mm f/2.8 D PC-E Micro-Nikkor (£1299). The Nikon is also a perspective control lens, adding yet another dimension of possibilities. Zeiss also offer the 85mm f/1.4 Planar (£989) and the Otus 85mm f/1.4 (£3299). The Zeiss lenses are manual focus only.

Alternative lenses from Nikon are the 85mm f/1.8 G AF-S (£399) and the 85mm f/1.4 G AF-S (£1199). Canon also has the EF 85mm f/1.8 at £237.

Sigma offer the 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM (£619). Manual focus options come from Samyang and Lomo. The Samyang 85mm f/1.4 IF MC costs £249 and the Lomo 85mm f/2.2 Petzval Art Lens in brass is £459, or the black version is £549.

For more options have a look at the Top 5 Best Tamron lenses.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Verdict

A slightly slower maximum aperture of f/1.8 (many 85mm lenses are f/1.4 designs) does seem to have its advantages in terms of a more compact, lighter lens and also a lower cost. Performance is impeccable, the lens handles superbly and the price well within reason. There is little not to like about this Tamron lens and Nikon, Canon and Sony users will be able to use it to their advantage. Unless the photographer has a definite need for an f/1.4 then the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD delivers superb quality at a more reasonable price level. What a lovely lens this is, with Vibration Compensation (VC) unique in this lens. 

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Pros

Beautiful, high-quality images
Fast and silent AF
Effective VC system
Very well controlled CA
Excellent flare resistance
5-year warranty
Low distortion
Beautiful bokeh

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Cons

Limited choice of mounts

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is a superb short telephoto lens at a very reasonable price.

 

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Specifications

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