Tamron 90mm for portrait?

[andy-xr]

As I'm changing the type of photos I take, I have a look in the kit bag, scratch my head and go for the nearest thing I have available.

For portraits thats been a Sigma 18-50 2.8 but I'm finding it a little short. My other option is a cheap Nikkor 50-200 F4.5-6 but everything I've taken with it feels soft and slightly yellow.

White balance aside, I think the lens is being shown up as the £140 glass it is, so I need something quicker, sharper, better.

I'd looked at the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 but it seems a bit much for what I'm thinking of using it for, and stumbled across the Tamron.

Other than good macro reviews and interesting bokeh, am I in the right area?

Edited by andy-xr on Friday 27th February 22:17

[Ordinary Bloke]

I have a Sigma EX 70-200 f2.8 but it's too big and heavy for most situations, and too long unless you're outdoors.

I also have the Tamron DR Xi 28-75 f2.8 and apart from a slightly plasticky feel, and the need to lock the zoom to stop it winding itself out when pointing downwards (no big deal though), I love it. Sharp, reasonably fast and accurate focussing, and very good value for money at around £300.

Don't know about the Tamron 90mm though, is that the macro?

[SamHH]

Tokina, Tamron and Sigma all do 1:2.8 macro lenses around the 90mm focal length and they always seem to get good reviews for their image quality. Nikon do an 85mm 1:1.8 that I believe is quite highly rated too. They have very similar prices so really it comes down to whether you want the macro capability or the extra stop and a third of aperture.

Edited by SamHH on Friday 27th February 23:31

[beano500]

If you're on a DX sensor I wouldn't discount the latest Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 AF-S Micro for its abilities as macro, portrait and all-rounder. It's a step up from the older non AF-S version in its other-than-macro abilities where all the older incarnations were one-track-wonders (I used a manual 55mm for a few years - brilliant for anything close).

If you are seriously into portraits you'd probably be yearning for a 85mm f/1.4 already (theoretically not a brilliant lens, but in practice awesome - don't always limit your research to the charts). I also use a 50mm and a 45mm from time to time.

As for the Tamron 90mm it is lauded as a really, really great macro lens - up there with Nikkor's latest 105mm f/2.8 AF-S VR micro - in practice I find the 105mm a tad too long for a lot of portraits unless you want to get a really tight crop so wouldn't suggest this unless you're back to FX sensor size, when 105 and 135 DC woudl be even better.

Whether the 90mm Tamron is really versatile enough for portraits at a really high standard I am afraid I don't know. But if macro is you're thing, then it's a fantastic lens.

I know that this guy uses the 90mm macro a lot: http://images.nikonians.org/galleries/showgallery.... )

[andy-xr]

That 85mm 1.4 does look tempting, but I'm wincing at the price so I dont think it's for me. This will probably be a one trick pony for what I'm thinking of, macro photography isnt somewhere I'm planning to go. Might be better looking at the Nikkor 85mm 1.8 really.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Dogsey]

SamHH said:

Tokina, Tamron and Sigma all do 1:2.8 macro lenses around the 90mm focal length and they always seem to get good reviews for their image quality. Nikon do an 85mm 1:1.8 that I believe is quite highly rated too. They have very similar prices so really it comes down to whether you want the macro capability or the extra stop and a third of aperture.

Edited by SamHH on Friday 27th February 23:31

I have the Sigma 70mm f2.8 Macro and absolutely love it!

[Gemm]

I often use my Canon 100mm f2.8 macro for portrait and it works very well. I tend to choose it over 70-200 f2.8.

[andy-xr]

Just as an update on this, I ended up with the Nikkor 85mm F1.8, picked up from LCE Exeter (who gave brilliant service) at a good price.

Still learning my way around studio lighting but was fairly pleased with this, although it's actually a little too sharp!