Quote: Alfisti: My god the excuses. Macro lenses do not just go tits up at longer distances, that is far too soft for a lens that is fantastically sharp.
Alfisti: I do not think anyone here is a Tamron Apologist; there are not excuses being made. Rather, we are all just trying, without kneee-jerking into conclusions, to provide the best and most accurate answer to the OP's question. Having spent the money on the lens, if I were the OP and I had any doubts to the lens' performance, I would surely seek other opinions too.
Looking at the original shots, which somehow show up as taken with the Nikon D-80 in my Photome (unlike the crop which show K10--bizzarre), I do not see anything obviously wrong with the sharpness.
But, as so many have sugggested, try shooting on a tripod--do not rely on these 2 shots. And, more importantly, since it is a Macro lens first and foremost, evaluate its performance in that medium. Best of luck making your decison.