Is this clicking normal?

[V8Wagon]

I am totally new to macro lenses and took delivery of a used Tamron 90mm the other day. Since I've had it when I rotate the focus ring I get an electronic clicking noise at various points and if I look into the end of the lens I can see what appears to be the aperture ring click partially closed for a split second.

I'm kind of the opinion that macro lenses are kinda specialised so I don't really know what it 'normal' for this lens, but I do know that it behaves differently to my other lenses. For example I went out into the garden before sundown tonight and I know the suggestion seems to be that you need lots of light for macro, even when just taking a portrait of my daughter with the aperture set at 2.8 the camera ramped up the ISO to 6400. Surely a 2.8 lens should have better low light performance than this?

Anyway...the irritating noise. I'd appreciate it if any of you could advise if you think it's normal?

Thanks a million :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE7h48_7SHA&fe...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvTne4i0m6k&fe...

[V8Wagon]

Any thoughts on this? I could really do with any opinions you may have as I really don't know if its normal or if I should be returning it as faulty.

[ExPat2B]

Its really hard to tell from that video but I think you might have a problem with the electronic aperture on that lens. As far as using it as a portrait lens, it ought to behave exactly the same as any other lens at normal focal distances. Try setting manual mode on the camera, turn auto iso off, and take a series of pictures varying the aperture from 2.8 to 16 and see if the picture gets brighter and darker as you would expect. Another test is to set a correct exposure and then try to match it by changing the shutter speed and aperture, ie f4 and 10 seconds should have an identical exposure to f8 and 40 seconds

[Simpo Two]

V8Wagon said:

I'm kind of the opinion that macro lenses are kinda specialised so I don't really know what it 'normal' for this lens, but I do know that it behaves differently to my other lenses. For example I went out into the garden before sundown tonight and I know the suggestion seems to be that you need lots of light for macro, even when just taking a portrait of my daughter with the aperture set at 2.8 the camera ramped up the ISO to 6400. Surely a 2.8 lens should have better low light performance than this?

Can't comment on the click but if you're using a macro lens as a portrait lens (ie not as close-up) then it should be just like a normal lens. Can't see why it would need ISO 6400 at f2.8 unless it was very dusky or you had a 1/000the sec shutter speed set. Are you using manual exposure?

[gck303]

Simpo Two said:

V8Wagon said:

I'm kind of the opinion that macro lenses are kinda specialised so I don't really know what it 'normal' for this lens, but I do know that it behaves differently to my other lenses. For example I went out into the garden before sundown tonight and I know the suggestion seems to be that you need lots of light for macro, even when just taking a portrait of my daughter with the aperture set at 2.8 the camera ramped up the ISO to 6400. Surely a 2.8 lens should have better low light performance than this?

Can't comment on the click but if you're using a macro lens as a portrait lens (ie not as close-up) then it should be just like a normal lens. Can't see why it would need ISO 6400 at f2.8 unless it was very dusky or you had a 1/000the sec shutter speed set. Are you using manual exposure?

I suspect that the camera may have recognised the increased likelihood of camera shake, and did not want to reduce the shutter speed to much, so increased the ISO. Also, you might be surprised how much light levels can drop off at dusk, especially in the shade.

[Mroad]

I don't think it's normal operation, check out some youtube reviews if you haven't already.
Have a look here for normal autofocus operation: https://youtu.be/HIXAS7LweBY?t=4m31s
It might be an incompatibility issue with the mount adapter you are using rather than with the lens itself, you need to try it on a native format camera.

[Simpo Two]

gck303 said:

I suspect that the camera may have recognised the increased likelihood of camera shake, and did not want to reduce the shutter speed to much, so increased the ISO.

It would be interesting to know what the shutter speed was.