Canon 85mm 1.8 or Tamron 90mm 2.8 (Macro)

[bensambrook]

Can anybody give me any advice on these lenses, missed out on a bargain 85mm so I went to find other alternatives. Macro would be handy although I've never ventured into that realm. The lens will be used for all kinds of photography (photography just a hobby at the minute).

Any help appreciated

 

[Phil V]

Well I own them both, and they're chalk and cheese.

The focus motor on the Canon is awesome the bokeh and DoF is good too.

The Tamron only gets used as a Macro lens, usually in MF, in anything other than brilliant light the hunting is a bind. I have used it as a portrait lens in the past but frankly it's no fun.

 

[EOS_JD]

Phil's right. For general stuff the 85 is fantastic even in low light - but no use as a macro lens. The Tamron is a great Macro lens but less useful in low light.

 

[grotty]

If you could stretch the budget a little the canon 100mm macro will give you the best of both; sharp macro and fast, silent focusing. It too makes a great portrait lens.

 

[Phil V]

If you could stretch the budget a little the canon 100mm macro will give you the best of both; sharp macro and fast, silent focusing. It too makes a great portrait lens.

This^ I'm hoping to swap the Tamron for one at some point.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Phil's right. For general stuff the 85 is fantastic even in low light - but no use as a macro lens. The Tamron is a great Macro lens but less useful in low light.

85mm is wonderful. There are always extension tubes if you only occasionally need macro-ish.

If you could stretch the budget a little the canon 100mm macro will give you the best of both; sharp macro and fast, silent focusing. It too makes a great portrait lens.

Since buying 85mm, my 100mm is relegated to macro only shooting. 85mm is sharper at longer distances, more accurate, and faster focusing, and obviously it it f/1.8.

 

[travellingcello]

Actually despite its mediocre build quality and focussing the Tamron was one of my favorite lenses when I had it, purely for its I.Q....

I had a 85mm 1.8 at some point as well afterwards but was never properly impressed with it, although I get the feeling now that i didn't know how to get the best out of it.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I had a 85mm 1.8 at some point as well afterwards but was never properly impressed with it, although I get the feeling now that i didn't know how to get the best out of it.

85mm likes pro grade AF. With ex 40D it would miss everything. On 1D it shines every time when it barely had a split second to focus. I can only kill the frame with camera shake.

 

[bensambrook]

Thanks for the comments everyone, I was really leaning towards the 85mm and it was only the price difference that started to guide me to the Tamron. The comments about low light and focusing speed made me think how important these things are to me and what I'd want in a lens that I will of used my money on. I already have a set of extension tubes to use if I was ever to try any sort of macro photography.

I'll take this thread that I should wait patiently, and save for the 85mm 1.8

 

[SixToes]

85mm is wonderful. There are always extension tubes if you only occasionally need macro-ish.



Since buying 85mm, my 100mm is relegated to macro only shooting. 85mm is sharper at longer distances, more accurate, and faster focusing, and obviously it it f/1.8.

Interesting. I've just god rid of my 85mm f/1.8 after getting the 100mm f/2.8 macro. I much refer the 100mm. I don't think it's softer, or any slower focussing unless you're going from MFD to infinity which isn't a fair test.

 

[woof woof]

I know that the 85mm f1.8 has it's fans but to me the look of the out of focus areas and highlights is crucial in a lens like this and the angular nature of the f1.8 just isn't for me. Slow focus and/or hunting is often an issue with macro lenses and of course the macro's aren't f1.8.

Personally I went for the Sigma 85mm f1.4. It's more expensive than the Canon f1.8 but the wide aperture rendering is so much better IMVHO.

 

[Bambi72]

I have a Tamron f2.8 macro and the AF tends to search a LOT and its noisy. Manual focus, which I use 90% of the time, its a great lens for the money.

 

[EOS_JD]

If you could stretch the budget a little the canon 100mm macro will give you the best of both; sharp macro and fast, silent focusing. It too makes a great portrait lens.

The canon 100mm Macro lens can hardly be classed as a fast focussing lens

Yes sharp but the hunting in low light (as is the case with many macro lenses) is not found like that in the suoer fast 85mm f1.8.

Yes the Macro lenses in that range (from all manuafacturers) make great portrait lenses but NOT in lower light.