[selfnoise]

I've been shopping for a new toy, and I saw this one at KEH:

Tamron 90

Now obviously this is the older non-DI lens, and it's hard to get a feel for this one online since googling brings nothing but DI reviews. Thoughts on the older version? Worth getting/built well? I have wanted a macro lens for a long time.

[Miserere]

From our very own Hin Man:

Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro (non-Di) - Hin's Tech Corner

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro (non-Di) Test Shots - Hin's Tech Corner

Drop him a PM; I'm sure he'll be happy to post his thoughts here.

[skaktuss]

Nooo, forget about it! Tamron 90mm non-di is evil lens. It is too sharp and macro shooting will take too much time of Your life.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/32848-bugs-first-pics-tamron-90mm.html

[hinman]

I don't have the Di version so I can't tell the difference between the Di and the non-Di version. As Mis mentioned in the links posted from my blog page, I owned the older version with non-Di and it is a winner in my book as I find it well built though not as good as the Sigma 105mm in build quality. It is superb in portraits along with ease in manual focusing for close up.

I used it for most of my product shots for my lens, tried it on portraits on my wife and she asks me to keep the lens, all casual test shots in close up from 1:2 to 1:1 yield good results in my book.

The AF is slow and sometime the back and forth traveling in focusing can be daunting to hear but it is similar or even more pronounced in Sigma. It is difficult for me to pick one over the other between the Tamron 90mm and Sigma 105mm. And I don't think you can go wrong in tossing the coin between the two. If you love portraits in your macro lens, go with the Tamron and if you want the best in build quality along with a better distance for bugs, go with the Sigma.

I had tried both Sigma 105mm in DG (digital) and the non-DG version and I can hardly feel any significant difference. The non-DG Sigma has better grip in the lens barrel as well as a better padded case. The DG is the newer version and I dislike the thin and non-padded nylon case which is similar to the DA* 50-135mm zoom.

For the Tamron, if the price for the non-Di version is too close to $300, I suggest you to look for the Di version in pricegrabber as I recall seeing a $90 rebate few months back in 2008. If the non-Di version is closer to $200 end, go for it.

[volosong]

I also have the non-DI version, and also purchased it from KEH for about the same price several years ago. It is my only Tamron, and I'm impressed with the construction quality. I'm very satisfied with my copy and will most likely never part with it.

I've used it on a DS, K10D, K100D, and K20D (at various times, as I've "upgraded" bodies). Works quite well on all. If you are in the market for a macro in that focal length, this is a good one. Pay the few extra bucks for the LN- one. You won't be disappointed!

[Mechan1k]

I have the Di version ... and it is awesome ... and the images from the non-Di version is just as spectacular as well.

[Jewelltrail]

I have the Di version and find it awesome as well. I also have read the non-DI version is just as awesome.

[faidoi]

The Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 is so nice that I bought Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro and the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di instead of their Sigma counterparts.