| Author: | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: October 18, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Optical performance, price, aperture ring | | Cons: | Garish 90s graphics, focus hunting | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50
| |
For some reason, the Pentax mount version of this lens was significantly cheaper than the Canon/Nikon mounts I found on Amazon. The seller listed the condition as very good, but considering the lens age, I would have rated it excellent+. Optically, it performs as expected - superbly. Right out of the box I made images of flowers in the yard that astounded my girlfriend. If I ever need a portrait lens, it'll do that very well. It has (by design) a long focus range, so it hunts a lot in low light if you're using it in a non-macro situation. For macro, I use manual focus, so the long throw is highly effective. It's not as sharp as my Rikonon 135mm F2.0, so I can't give it a 10 in that department. My only personal beef with it is the bold gold lettering, only because it clashes with its conservative Pentax and Sigma siblings. Other reviewers have noted that as a positive.
If you have a need for a full frame macro lens with manual aperture control ability that is bargain priced but delivers professional results, this lens is a top choice.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2017 Posts: 5 | | Review Date: November 24, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, sharpness, amazing overall image quality | | Cons: | no aperture ring for using on manual cameras | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
I have the E72 version on my K1 and the SP Di in Nikon mount, both version is very great, soon pictures available.
Excellent lens also recommandable for portraits.  | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: Montreal Posts: 4
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 17, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | bokeh, sharpness, construction, price | | Cons: | autofocus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K5
| |
It's a amazing macro lens. Very performant, sharpness. The only "default" is that it's a little bit slow (autofocus), but it's better to use the manual mode with a macro lens. It's clearly the best macro lens to beginning.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2015 Posts: 13
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 9, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $428.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp from wide open! Nice bokeh! Fine color and contrast. Low cost. | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5, K-3
| |
Almost ideal lens (may be, it lacks the ultrasonic motor)! I want the same, but for 135mm! And 300mm to!
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Wild-Nord-East Hungary Posts: 149
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 8, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, contrast, color, build, focus limiter, price | | Cons: | I so far not found | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30, K-3 II
| |
I purchased used, not primarily to photograph macro; lacked on analog routine 135 mm.
The DA 70 / 2.4 behind this is the best lens, which I have.
F2.8 aperture portrait is pleasant and nice bokeh; f4: portrait is almost too sharp.
The limiter is very useful; the focus so is very fast and accurate.
Limiter without a little hunting.
Bokeh narrow on opening at the somewhat confusing
The front lens sits deep enough, it can be used without a lens hood.
Manual with focus adjustment on my old Pentax (P30n) is also useful.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 63
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 23, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $399.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, fast, contrast, color, handling | | Cons: | I can't find any | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
Outstanding portraits, closeups, product shots, candids, macro... so many uses for this lens and it does them all brilliantly. I've done side-by-side comparisons shooting this lens with other Pentax primes like the FA 43 Limited, DA 70 Limited, and DA 100 macro. This one is just as good or better shooting the same scenes on the same camera.
Should be higher priced than it is. I bought it used and will probably keep it forever.
So easy to get shots like these.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 3
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 1, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Extremely sharp close-up, comfortably soft from 1,5m to infinity, handling and build quality are perfect. | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
| |
I liked this lens for macro, but now I mostly use it for portraits.
AF with focusing limiter switch on is even faster than on KIT lens and almost never misses on both GX-20 and K-3.
There is one great feature - this lens become slightly softer at long range. Just soft enough for non-oversharpening portraits.
Bokeh is really good at all ranges.
It's my standard lens for daily use. Through 4 years of expeditions and daily usage didn't find any problems at all.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2013 Posts: 5
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 5, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Razor sharp, value | | Cons: | non | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
| |
This is simply the best lens I have. It had cost around 450 USD, if I remember correctly, and for this little money it offers perfect images. Very good IQ, ultra sharp, nice colors and contrast, smooth bokeh. What else could you want..? Sure, the shift-ring for the AF is a bit of a strange thing, but hey, does not bothers me at all. One could say it is not easy to clean the lens as the optics are badly reachable. But on the other hand there is no lose part such as a crappy lens hood and if you shoot something like raindrop-macros on your balcony, you do not have to bother with drying and cleaning your front-lens every 3 seconds 
This lens is very usable on all openings. Right away from 2.8 down to what you may just need. Always quality ! Beautiful portraits are possible as well but remember the sharpness of that thing. Not always nice what you see on someones face when too sharp 
A bit of a surprise for me was that 90mm experience on my DSLR's. You must take a bus and drive a bit if you wanted to make a photo of something bigger than a flower. For a portrait you will be already in some distance to get the full head on your photo.
This is in any way my lens where I have most confidence in. If I go out to shoot with this lens, it's sure that I will come back home with something nice on my SD-card. Highly recommended.
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 285
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 16, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great clarity | | Cons: | loud | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
| |
This lens is the sharpest, cleanest and best picture taking lens I have. I have four other lenses and this takes the best all around pictures. Yes it is narrow compared to all of my other lenses but the quality is just fantastic. The bokeh is great and it is extremely sharp. It yields great color and it just a pleasure to use. It is not complicated like other lenses. You just have to have plenty of distance from your subject to get it in the frame. Or if you are shooting macro, it is a great performer there too. I can't complain about it. The focus is loud but moves pretty quick. It is a fantastic portraiture lens coupled with the K-5 IIs you can see all there is to see on some one's face.
other lenses I have used: kit lens 18-55mm which is very sharp with this camera. Pentax 12-24mm, very good, Promaster 28-135mm 30 year old lens that is pretty nice. Tamron 10-24mm, not as good as the Pentax 12-24 mm, very old sigma 70-210mm, not much fun with my digital camera. To sensitive and very difficult to focus.
The Tamron 90mm takes the best, sharpest and all around pictures of my lenses.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2012 Posts: 18
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $480.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, 1:1 macro, very light for handheld macro, good for portraits | | Cons: | Deep set front element can be hard to clean | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
Needs no further praise really - it's the best -available new- macro out there for Pentax, certainly given the money compared to the Pentax options.
I gave the negative of the deep set from element but all macros I've used have this. It can be hard to clean but it's great for protection.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 72 | | Review Date: June 5, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $335.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness,AF,macro 1:1,price,built quality,color,contrast | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
| |
Nothing else to say:it's a great lens!
This is my first Macro lens and it's amazing to use it in nature with my K5.
It produces natural colors & excellent contrast (almost no post processing in PS).
Good work Tamron!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 327
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 20, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp sharp sharp, great bokeh, focus delimiter | | Cons: | AF/MF clutch, for non macro subjects AF can hunt at times | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
| |
like it's competitors, its extremely sharp and has great bokeh
i tend to use it only for macro in which i use MF only, but have at times used it for portraits in AF mode which i found hunted a fair bit and was slow - to be honest this is what most macro lenses are like
once tried to use it for sports when i didnt have other lenses around but it was a complete failure with the AF speed which is obviously not what it was designed for 
otherwise, if using it for portraits and have time, and obviously close up macro subjects, this is the perfect lens in terms of value + IQ
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 66
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 23, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $430.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Can you say SHARP? Add great bokeh, no distortions. | | Cons: | A bit heavy but it's a full-frame lens, what do you expect? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
| |
I bought this lens because it was consistently rated very close to the Pentax SMC-FA 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, one of the sharpest macros around. The Pentax cost almost twice as much and, as you may remember, was quite the tank of a piece of glass.
I'm very pleased with the Tamron 90mm. The image quality is superb, as is the bokeh and lack of distortions. The focus limiter is nice to have when using it as a street lens. I enjoy having the option of using this lens with my film body MXs.
BAB
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: January, 2012 Location: Prince George Posts: 4
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 29, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $430.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Easy convert between auto and manual focus, not overly heavy, adaptable to varying situations. | | Cons: | Hunting while in autofocus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
Love this lens, I never leave home without it in my bag!
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Gothenburg, aka Göteborg Posts: 234
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 28, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $650.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light, sharp as a needle! | | Cons: | Can sometimes have problems focusing, noisy focus. | |
Although it is rather big, especially at minimum focusing distance, it weighs quite little, and delivers stunning photos, both as a macro, and as a normal lens. It struggles occasionally with focusing, and it is a bit noisy, when it focuses, but bar those two minor faults it is close to faultless!
You can't really mount a filter on it, as the lens is recessed far into the lens barrel, so while you can attach a filter it ends far from the lens front, so any dust on the filter will show up.
A stunningly good portrait lens, comparable (on a FF camera) of a lens of 135 mm focal length.
Very plastic lens feel, reminding me of the DA55-300, in size and feeling.
| | |
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
