Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 VC lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)
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- čas přidán 9. 03. 2017
- Tamron are continuing in their movement upmarket, with this new, solidly-built, image-stabilized (!) portrait lens.That's a helpfully unique feature in a market that's quite crowded with this type of lens - let's see how it performs.
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system):
geni.us/tamron85mmf18
All pictures taken by me on Canon 6D and EOS M3 cameras.
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Equipment I use to make my videos (Amazon affiliate links):
Canon EOS R5: geni.us/CanonEOSR5Body
Canon EF-RF Adaptor: geni.us/CanonEFtoRF
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 'Art': geni.us/Sigma50mm14Art
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM: geni.us/CanonRF35mm18Macro
Marumi Fit and Slim CPL Filter: geni.us/MarumiFitSlim77
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Music:
'Opportunity Walks', Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b... - Jak na to + styl
I love the consistent format you employ for reviews Christopher... very helpful! Thanks for your hard work.
Christopher,
Another brilliant review. Your videos are always well planned, thorough, and enjoyable to watch. This lens looks like another winner from Tamron. Thank you for taking the time for the review.
Bravo from Texas!
I LOVE how I can search for any lens on CZcams and your almost the first video that comes up. Thank you
Congrats on finally reaching 100,000 subscribers.
you've created one of the best fireside lens review formulas out there ...... all aspects are covered without the need to quote figures ... .... I know exactly the images a lens will actually produce ....... big plus for the Nikon Z7 and the upcoming S lens reviews !!
Great review! I really enjoy all your videos! Nice work!
This may be a new lens to add to my wish list. great review.
battle of the 85 mm lenses!! love your videos chris keep up the great work
Thanks. Decided to get this instead of a used Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX (non-ART). The image stabilization is definitely what separates this from the rest.
congrats on the 100k. u deserve 1m subs 👏👏👏
Congrats on 100K subscribers!
As Always, so pleasing to listen to! And great review! I know that you probably ment for EF but there is also the full frame Batis 85 1.8 with stabilisation for Sony FE!
Cheers!
Excellent review!
What a great review!
Nice reviews as always, it's such a blessing that talented people take a lot of time to help others with sincere reviews. Your channel as always been most helpful. Respectfully I still don't understand why Tamron make cheap looking old school type switches, are the margins so tight when in production I wonder, or are the people behind the design just not completely in control of aesthetics market research. No doubt the lens is the most important device and looks are not everything, but a little upbeat thinking would also help sales. I noticed purple fringing on the full frame test as well, just as much as the APSC test. Looks like an nice addition and it's surprising to hear it's faster than the Sigma Art rival. God bless
Thanks for the comment :-)
yet another very good review ! thanks again ! +Christopher
Quick tip for the Tamron 85mm f1.8. For even better sharpness and contrast at f1.8, turn off the image stabilization. Generally, the image quality becomes quite excellent then. Starting F4 or so, the difference in image quality when the VC is turned off or on becomes negligible.
Very good tip, especially if one is using a tripod.
excellent review and to the point.
Thanks, this is really helpful
awesome review
Thank you. Your reviews are wonderful. Subscribed. Liked. Commented.
congratz on 100k
Thanks!
congrats in 100K!
I'm using this lense. It's really good. I like the color, contrast and VC of this lense.
Praise God & Thank you brother Christopher for your PERSONAL suggestion, I will reserve it on my priority list. 🙌
Wonderful review Chris as always.. I would take this lens over the sigma anyway. The sigma may be a touch sharper, but that means nothing if it misses focus.
You can calibrate the focusing with the dock at least.
But, what you don't get on the Sigma lenses is any kind of IS.
You live in the most interesting place. Every time you post a video there are things in it that are so odd, but so nice. Like that straw man and the sword. Weird, but very interesting to look at :)
I want this Tameron.
This lens allows 92% of megapixel to pass through on my camera on DXO, very sharp lens.
Hi Cris, love your reviews. Excellent review as always. All my lens were bought following your recommendation. If they have an apsc version of this lens, I will buy one immediately. It is extremely challenging to find a high quality auto focus telephoto lens for my 70d without breaking bank.
This lens is designed for both APSC and full frame sensor
I want this Tamron lens as well as the Tamron 45
Since you do canon lens reviews, may I suggest you get a Metabones Speedbooster for your a6300. I have one and I'm always curious how a lens I'm interested in performs. I own the Tamron 35 1.8 VC and it performs decent with the focal reducer. Plus you get 1 stop increase for the camera over the lens's aperture range. All the pros that I know use the Metabones EF adapters with their a7rii's... makes for a smooth transition over to mirrorless especially with all the great glass being released recently. An interesting comparison would be the a6500 with the speed booster VS the a7rii and Metabones adapter.
Looking forward for your SAMYANG AF 85mm F1.4 review. It seems like a good affordable alternative.
keep up the gj Chris ! more fuji lens plz
Nice. Hope for your tamron 70-200 f2.8 g2 review
wake up! 3rd party was trash few years ago, not now.
Wow VC on a prime. I want it.
i hope you can also review the tamron 90mm macro di..or its newer version.
Chris, na sua opinião. Qual se saiu melhor no AF, essa Tarom ou a Sigma 85mm art? E na qualidade ótica?
Another great review Chris, consistently helpful, informative and highly detailed. Would you say the IS makes it worth upgrading from the Canon 85mm 1.8? I absolutely love the images from this lens but on a crop sensor I find hand holding tricky in darker situations with no stabilisation. Thanks!
Personally I love this lens's stabilization
I love your camera review.can you please review tamron 90mm vc sp macro 1:1 f2.8
No one ever seems to bring up the superior weather sealing of the Tamron glass. Either they just don't seem to know about it or they omit it for whatever reason, as if it isn't important... This 85 is vastly better built for harsh elements than either the Sigma or the Samyang versions... And that needs to be known. Same goes for both of the 35mm primes and the 45mm. If it's DSLR based, this goes for the entire SP lineup.
Well done Chris,
a review of the G2 70-200 f2.8 by Tamron would be very interesting.
I hear it's good. Hopefully after Easter. Right now I have a whole tonne of other new lenses to get through
Hi Cristopher.
Ítalo isso possible to do a review os the nikkor 1:1.4D on your nikkor z7 45 mix?
Thanks
My copy is incredibly sharp at 1.8, after some AF fine tuning. In fact even at 100% I cannot see any difference between 1.8 and 2.8. I suspect sample variation explains your results.
Also I found the VC adds some softness to the image, so I rarely use it unless it's necessary. Great video as always.
Were you using a tripod?
Picked it up on sale today for 347 euro new, gonna pop it on the EOS R. I love a good deal.
What was the results on the eos R. Did you like it?
@@ryandammert798 It's awesome. Besides having to turn off pheripheral illumination in the lens aberration menu. Otherwise it has grey circles on the screen.
Hei Chris. What about fujinon 10-24mm f/4. Will you make a review of this lens some day? :)
sir, can you do review on helios 85mm?
i just found your channel and really love your review videos
Please please please do a review of the Tamron F017E SP 90 mm F/2.8 Di Macro, 1:1 VC USD Canon :D I love your tests and your videos. They have helped me chose my lenses a lot so far :D
Thanks Chris, great review as always. On a side note, you must like the image quality from canon 6D?.
Sure it's great! Although of course it's slowly getting surpassed by newer cameras
How does the YN 85 compare with the Sigma Art and this Tamron 85?
well good day chris!
hope you do the new 90mm macro form tamron chris
I had one of these for about a year and a half. Ended up only using it without the VC, as it never seemed as sharp with VC enabled. It was still a lovely lens, but I ended up trading it to get a Sigma 20mm f1.4, then got a Nikon 85mm f1.8 instead.
Hello :) is it the Nikon 85mm better than the Tamron one?
@@lior2538 I found the Tamron to be better optically. The Nikon has a lot of color fringing issues, while the Tamron didn’t.
@@BenLomonRail Thank you.I’m curious because it’s gonna be my first 85mm lens !
Hey Christopher, I noticed you didn't have this lens on your top sharpest list. You don't like it compared to sigma?
wow !.
What is the sharpest lens between 80mm and 105mm at 1.4 or 1.8 around 300-500 EUR or Dollar? Used market is okay for me
hello Christopher first of all, always nice videos about photo equipment, you are one of the best. i don't know why nobody makes a video about new Tamron SP 90mm macro lens but anyway. please if it is possible can you make a review about this lens.
I might give it a try soon hopefully
I'd love to see a side to side comparison of sharpness and bokeh of those 3 lenses, or maybe an 85mm challenge, comparing Canon 85mm 1.2 and 1.8; Samyang 1.4 and 1.2; Sigma, Tamron, Carl Zeiss....
I'm thinking of doing a joint review of 85mm lenses sometime soon, when I've covered a few more of them
I've enjoyed your channel for 4 years and have never bought a lens prior to watching your review first. Great work.
I am shooting with an APS-C body and will continue to do so at least for few more years.
Should you ever do a review titled "My top 3 sharpest portrait lenses for APS-C Canon DSLR/mirrorless bodies", it would be much appreciated. Even the many new 85mm wide aperture primes from Tamron/Sigma/Samyang seem to suffer from loss of sharpness when put on a cropped body. I was hoping the Sigma 50-100mm Art would do the trick, but apparently not.
To put it another way, what would be your lens of choice for portrait work (effective focal length perhaps somewhere between 80-200mm) with relatively modern cropped bodies equipped with +20 megapixel sensors?
Hmm I'm a huge fan of the Samyang 85mm f/1.2. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 would also be great :-)
It would be great if you can review the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 85mm 1.2 too...
This lens will not work on the EOSR without turning of the Peripherals in the lens calibration settings. i'm getting the lens dock today and see if the firmware update works.
I recently bought a Sigma 35, Tamron 45 and 85. This is all that's left of those. I've been shooting Cambodia with it, at f2-2.8 and f11-nothing in the middle. VC and AF are great
Captain Zouave how do you like the Tamrons compared to your Sigma Art? I just recently bought the Tamron 45mm and wondering if I'm missing out that much from the Sigma 50mm Art...
You misunderstood. I ended up selling the Sigma 35 because focus sucked. I bought the Canon 35 1.4II instead. (Il'l probably sell that too-35mm just isn't my focal length-I've owned all the Canon and Zeiss optics but found no keeper at 35mm. The 1.4II is great(!), but I'd love a 28mm much more.)
The Tamron 45 was very nice, but at 50mm and wider, I prefer to MF, and I have the Zeiss 50 Makro Planar and Zeiss 50 1.4 Milvus, both of which I preferred over the T45. Both Sigma and Tamron used to be obvious crap, but I think today that while Sigma is sharp, the Tamron has much better AF. Something about Sigma drawing seems shallow, while the Tamron is almost Zeiss-like. Add VC and a better build. Don't switch. I just had too many 45-50mm's and thought I wanted AF.
As my basis, I have all the Zeiss lenses, except the 18, 35 and 135. I only have a couple of Canon fast zooms anymore. My quest for mid-range AF glass came because my beloved Zeiss 24-85 had been in repair for a year with zero parts available and sometimes I just wanted AF. In general I have no problem (prefer) MF for wide-normal lenses-I'm already in someone's face so I'm not being stealth. The Tamron 85 is great for all the times I don't want to lug a 70-200 2.8.
After a year, my Zeiss repair guy found a new barrel assembly in Guangzhou rather than Japan, so I'll be back with it soon 😀
Captain Zouave hi captain when I test tamron 45 mm I click a photo of a person a Window behind him and when I zoom the photo I see heavy purple fringing on person. can you check in ur lens a photo in same way..
Captain Zouave please check
Kenneth Amador sigma is sharper
Do you recommend this lens for full frame mirrorless camera?
i love your reviews Chris...although sometimes I fall asleep because of your background piano music and voice. lol! Can you review lenses specifically for the canon 80D? thanks a lot
refer to his APSC camera's result :D
i saw those. i would like more though of other lenses. that is why i subsribe to Chris as he also combines ff and aps-c cams on lens reviews.
Hey Vincent. I've already reviewed nearly all the APS-C lenses available. With the older ones, I'm probably not going to go back and re-test them on my 24mp APS-C camera through - I'm too busy testing out new lenses nowadays.
Please review the Tamron 18-400mm VC. Thanks
I want one mainly for video on my Nikon D750 the stabilisation is a must at 85mm
Thank you so much for reviewing this lens Chris!! I'd go buy it right now if not for Tamron's new 70-200 coming out... :-/
Have you bought it? Are you happy with it?
@@guardianobserver6593 I never did. Shortly after this video came out I jumped into the Sony pool, and I've only recently started to climb out, Lol.. I've recently started playing around with a 5D3 and an EOS M with Magic Lantern on them, and just today I received the Tamron 45mm f/1.8. Initial impression is that it's a nice lens, so I may yet end up trying this 85mm f/1.8. I recently got a Zeiss Planar 85mm f/1.4, so that would be an interesting comparison of images.
@@tptrsn
I have the canon m3 with the 18-55mm and since 50% of my photos are with the 55mm part, I am interested for a 85mm that will be like 135mm fullframe but unfortunately there are no many options.
@@guardianobserver6593 I can tell you that with the Tamron 45mm f/1.4 on an EOS M50 through a Viltrox EOS M to EF adapter, the autofocus is not impressive. Other than that it seems like a nice lens so far, but if the M3's autofocus works like the M50s does, I doubt the AF will be great with the 85mm either.
But other than that, I do really like 85mm on the crop sensor bodies, as you mentioned. I have a Rokinon 85 1.4 for Nikon that I've adapted to the Viltrox adapter (Lol), and the Zeiss Planar 85 1.4, and they both look very nice on there. Not the ultimate sharpness, but a pleasing look that doesn't necessarily happen with ultimate sharpness.
@@tptrsn
Thank you. Interesting information. Too bad there aren't many ef-m lenses.
I want this for my Nikon D5500 and my future Nikon D750
The IS is definitely a game winning factor among the competitors
With this lens on the EOS R I had to turn OFF "peripheral illumination correction" in the "lens aberration correction" menu. Otherwise I had grey circles on my screen and pics.
Did you have to put it in to crop mode also? Mines not working properly in any option but better in crop. Still mild circles though
@@lkradventures No. Not in crop mode. Maybe now with firmware updates it works better?
Over the moon dude. I literally thought this lens was money down the drain. Just turned off Peripheral Correction and it works brilliant in both normal and crop. Did you have any other issues with the lens on the Eos R?
@@lkradventures Nope. It produces lovely portrait pictures. Had the chance to buy an RF85mm F1.2 couple of years ago for 2200 EUR. I didn't cause I figured I already had this Tamron F1.8 and the RF 50mm F1.2. Also I'm not rich. haha.
Please try to review the tamron sp 70-200mm f/2.8 g2
how can it be to be for full frame and APS-C at the same time?
This and the Youngno 85mm I want for my Nikon D5500 and my Nikon D750 and my GH5 and GH4
Please review "Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 DI VC USD macro" 🙏🏻
Brother Christopher, hope u r doing good.
My question is, which 85mm is good for Nikon D3300 (APSC camera) or which telephoto lens should I take for portrait shots to use with apsc format camera.
Sam Biswas I haven't tested any Nikon lenses so I'm not the best person to ask. I would personally consider this Tamron lens
Which adapter can be used for Sony A7III?
Helo friends
I have d750 with nikon 85mm but i m not happy cause due to no VR in ths lens my pics alway shakky...i hear that tamron 85mm have VC..ths are great.anybody can advice that vc if ths 85mm lens are really usefull or not
Christopher, I was considering getting this lens for my 80d for portraiture and as a short telephoto until I saw this review. I just sold my canon 85 1.8 and don’t want to buy the sigma 85 mm. I’d prefer to buy a lens that can be used on either FF or crop. Do you have any suggestions? (I already have the Tamron 45 mm, canon 35 2.0; 24 mm 2.8, old canon 50 mm 1.8 and canon 10-18.)
This Tamron lens should be pretty good
Thank you for your input :)
any chance you could do the tamron 35mm 1.8 vc usd ? to complete their trinity of sp primes :)
Yes many have requested this!
hi Chris, have you reviewed the new tamron 90 macro lens yet?
Nope
Is this any good for video work Chris ? With 6dii ? Have 24-70, 70-200 and need a 1.8 with vc or is for low light ! Steve
Sure
Cheers
Have you experienced any of the front focus problems at close distance as reported by many users?
If you watch the review, you'll see that I mention the focus is pretty accurate
Great review
how do you compare it with nikor 85mm f 1.8 lens?
i want to know because i want a nikon lens for my nikon apsc camera.
Mikhail Campbell sad because i got D5300
I am in i just find my 85mm hope they amek it for FE too usin A7R i so i need that extra stab badly
I think the 76mm min focusing distance reported at 5:32 is not correct. This seems to be off by a factor of 10.
It's actually 80cm which is still better than normal, especially when you consider that the Tamron is actually a bit longer than 85mm at around 87mm. It thus offers higher magnification ratio at 0.14 compared to the usual 0.11.
I've been watching your channel for quite some time Chris, and since i'm a sony FE user , i would be grateful if you did a review of Mitakon Speedmaster 85mm f/1.2 and see the results, some complain of not being sharp at 1.2 ,although its bigger guys canon 85 1.2 and samyang xp 1.2 surely perform a lot better. I cannot anticipate reviewing the Speedmaster, is it worth the 799$ after all.Thanks in advance, keep up the magnificent work of yours. John
I won't be doing any more FE lenses until I can get hold of a full frame Sony camera. Won't be fore a while -sorry!
sure ,but note that the Speedmaster is also released in Canon EF mount , and it may be of your concern also,and by reviewing it would be convenient for me as well.Thanks again
Chris, what is the best 85mm you've tested for an APS-C camera? Particularly a Nikon. Thanks.
Gosh, I don't know. The sharpest would probably be the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 art
do the New tamron 70-200 2.8 G2 !
+1 here !
I hear it's good. Hopefully after Easter. Right now I have a whole tonne of other new lenses to get through
love that lens.. sharp and fast :)
Christopher Frost Photography thank you for a very good review
+2 here
Please review the new version Tamron 90mm sp di vc usd. And the new Tamron 10-24mm Di II VC HLD
I ordered the 90mm lens and I am excited to try it. As I read a positive review on it.
Thanks.
Dr. Ebrahem Habibeh Have you got the lens yet? If so, how is it?
Great lens for the money. What I don't like about it and in all macro lenses in general.... It's not constant f2.8 for close focus the maximum apperture will decrease... Otherwise I find it very good.
Christopher, will there be an review a new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM?
Yup! When I can get hold of one.
May God of all bless you for what you do for us!
Really nice to see a fast prime with OS, no idea why we don't see more. I guess they figure that with fast shutter speeds you don't need it and video guys wouldn't choose a prime - wrong on both accounts in my eyes.
It's very difficult for manufacturers to implement stabilization into large aperture lenses, as the glass elements involved need to be bigger
Hadn't thought about that - thanks for putting me straight :)
Compare this to the Canon 85 1.8 size! Same focal length and aperture, but much bigger because of VC and probably the weather sealing.
Same with the Tamron 45mm vs the Canon 50 1.8 STM!
what do you mean by saying video guys don't choose primes??? primes are the best for video work
DXOMark has this lens resolving all of 36mp of the venerable D810 and 44mp of the D850 both cameras without a lowpass filter, and 21mp of on the D7100 of which also no lowpass filter. Unfortunately the Canon equivalents of this era just did not allow to take advantage of the sharpest 3rd party popular highend lens during this time. All low res full frame seem to get resolved at 100% (D700/D3 12mp) and dx at 80% to 90%(D300 11mp and D7000 13mp) on the Nikon bodies. This is why I refuse to get Canon cameras even as a hobby. Only in the past year that I was able to get a Canon 5d Mark 2 for $215 which allows me to dabble in Canon environment. I am excited as I just won this lens for $310 for the Canon to play around with this lens.
One question. If I used this on my GH5 with my ultra Speedbooster, would the focal length be 120mm or 60mm?
No idea, sorry!
85mm 1.8 * 0.71(speed master magnification ) = 60mm 1.3
On m43 it will be 120mm 1.3(DOF 2.6) in 35mm equivalent focal length
Awesome! I sent you a message 1 month ago asking you if you can review it... and here it is. Thanks! :)
I am probably going to buy the Sigma 18-35 1.8 for my 750d today... good choice?
Great choice I think :-)
Hello Christopher
I wanted to buy the new ( Sigma 85mm f/1.4 art ) and i have already tried it a couple of times shooting weddings
But after seeing your review on this ( Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC ) i am a little confused ,
does the difference between those two in image quality and colors is big enough to get the sigma or it`s not (450$ difference)
Note : i don`t care about the 1 stop difference in sigma or VC in tamron
best regards
I'd probably get the Tamron then
can u test it with r system please?
Will you review the 86mm 1,4 L IS?
One day, yes (it's 85mm BTW)
@@christopherfrost thank you. 85 of course!
Quick question: why does the image become brighter at f 2.8?
You mean the image corners? Because vignetting is reduced
Hi. Can I use an adaptor with this to make it a macro lens?
You should be able to use extension tubes
@@christopherfrost thanks, Chris. I always watch your videos...
I prefer this lens over sigma 85mm 1.4
the VR gives me 3 stop of light. I can shot at speed like 1/50 , with sigma i cant go anywhere bellow 1/200
The batis 85mm 1.8 has IS too 0:56
I have been learning this! Thanks. Hopefully I can test it out sometime
It means both tamron 45 & 85 mm give purple fringing on APSC body
It's a common issue for a lot of wide aperture lenses