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All photos by Mike Stensvold
Unless Otherwise indicated
 Close-up
photography is a popular pastime, for its rewards, and for its challenges. Tamron’s
SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di 1:1 Macro lens Model 272E makes it a bit less challenging,
but no less rewarding.
Popular since its introduction some 25 years ago for its fine performance and
compact design, the SP 90mm macro lens was given 1:1 macro capability several
years ago, and now has been upgraded to Di (Digitally Integrated Design) spec.
Tamron’s Di lenses are designed to eliminate optical aberrations that
often appear when traditional lenses are used on digital SLR cameras, whose
smaller-than-full-35mm-frame image sensors require more precise lens qualities.
In the case of the SP AF90mm macro, this takes the form of new antireflection
coatings that help prevent reflections from the mirrorlike digital image sensor
from adversely affecting image quality. The new lens also features an improved
rubber pattern on the focusing ring, and one-touch switching between auto and
manual focusing by simply sliding the focusing ring back and forth (for Nikon
D and Canon AF mount versions).
Specs for the SP AF90mm include 10 elements in 9 groups, a minimum object distance
of 11.4 inches, a filter size of 55mm, a diameter of 2.8 inches, a length of
3.8 inches, and a weight of 14.3 ounces. The lens is available in mounts for
Canon, Minolta (D), Nikon (D) and Pentax AF SLRs, film and digital. On Nikon
and Pentax digital SLRs (1.5X “crop” factor), it frames like a 135mm
lens on a 35mm camera. With the Canon Digital Rebel and EOS 10D (1.6X crop factor),
it crops like a 144mm lens on a 35mm camera; with the EOS-1d and EOS-1d Mark
II (1.3X crop factor), it crops like a 117mm; and with the EOS-1Ds and Kodak
DCS Pro SLR/n and /c models (full-frame sensor), it has no crop factor: it provides
the field of view of its true 90mm focal length.
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Tamron’s
SP AF90mm Macro is a terrific studio lens. This shot was made
using a single studio flash head in a softbox, and a Canon EOS
10D digital SLR. Photo by Lynne Eodice
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In Use
The SP AF90mm macro lens is easy to use. For autofocusing, just slide the focusing
ring forward to the AF position, aim the viewfinder’s AF target at the
subject, and press the shutter button halfway down. (With Minolta and Pentax
cameras, you must also set the camera body to AF.) To focus manually, just slide
the focusing ring back toward the camera body, then rotate the ring until the
subject appears sharp in the finder. (With Minolta and Pentax cameras, you also
have to set the camera body to MF mode.) In practice, when shooting at maximum
magnification (i.e., the lens’ closest focusing distance), it’s
easier just to move the camera closer to or farther from the subject to focus,
instead of rotating the focusing ring. In the forward (AF) position, the focusing
ring does not rotate, so you can’t accidentally interfere with it as you
hold the camera and lens in shooting position; in the aft (MF) position, the
focusing ring is conveniently located for manual operation.
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