Hands-On Lens Review: The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8

One of the latest additions to Tamron’s SP series of prime lenses, the 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is designed for full-frame DSLRs. According to Tamron, it’s the first lens in its class to offer image stabilization—or “Vibration Control” in the company’s parlance—which is a welcome addition to a focal length that’s a staple among wedding and portrait photographers. Image stabilization alone would be enough to entice us to try out this lens, but its f/1.8 aperture and $749 pricetag are equally appealing.

The lens is currently available in Canon and Nikon mounts. A Sony DSLR A-mount will be available at a later date, although without vibration correction (Sony DSLRs offer in-camera image stabilization). I tested the lens on a Nikon D4S.

The wide aperture of the SP 85mm delivers soft and pleasing background blur with an effective amount of separation between the foreground and subject. Photo © Theano Nikitas

Image Quality
This lens is sharp across the frame. Detail capture was very good and, even in high-contrast shots, chromatic aberration was minimal. Background blur was generally soft and pleasing, creating an effective amount of separation of the foreground subject. In good light, autofocus was fast, accurate and, although not totally silent, quiet enough to use during a wedding ceremony.

Design
The Nikon version of this lens measures 3.5 inches in length, weighs 23.3 ounces and is only slightly smaller and lighter than the Canon model. Interestingly, though, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G (which is currently my go-to 85mm lens) is even lighter and smaller, despite its faster aperture. Although I expected the new lens to be lighter than it is, logically the additional weight makes sense with the addition of a Vibration Control system. That said, the Tamron SP 85mm felt well-balanced on the D4S and operated smoothly for both manual and autofocus. The AF/MF and VC On/Off switches are conveniently located and snap easily into place when changing settings. And there’s a manual focus override even when the lens is set to AF.

Solidly built, the Tamron SP 85mm offers moisture protection, with seals around the AF/MF and VC switches as well as between the focus ring and the lens barrel. The lens also features an ultrasonic silent drive (USD) that promises to deliver fast AF. Both the Canon and Nikon versions are built around low dispersion (LD) and extra low dispersion (XLD) glass elements, and the Nikon mount offers an electromagnetic diaphragm—a feature that’s standard for Canon mounts but has also been supported on a number of new Nikon DSLRs and NIKKOR lenses. In addition to anti-reflective coatings, the SP 85mm also features a fluorine coating on the front lens element to help repel grit and grime and make it easier to remove smudges and dirt.

What We Liked
It’s no surprise that the integration of image stabilization is a plus and comes in handy when shooting in low light. Tamron estimates about 3.5 stops of IS, which allowed me to shoot at 1/15th of a second when stopped down to at least f/3.5. If you have steadier hands than I, you may be able to push the shutter speed even slower.

This is also one of the first lenses to be compatible with Tamron’s forthcoming TAP-in Console. Using the Console, you’ll be able to quickly update the lens’s firmware and make adjustments to vibration correction to either prioritize viewfinder stabilization or the stabilization of captured images (the lens strikes a balance between the two out of the box).

What We Didn’t Like
There’s really nothing to dislike about this lens, but I do have a wish list of what I think would make this lens even more appealing. As mentioned earlier, I understand that VC might add weight to the lens, but I was expecting the SP 85mm f/1.8 to be a little lighter. Autofocus in low light/low contrast settings didn’t lock in as quickly as I had hoped, and I noticed occasional lens flare under challenging conditions.

Keep in mind, though, that these are—for the most part—minor points. Overall, I think that Tamron made an excellent lens that delivers where it counts, especially with sharpness. And they managed to price it very reasonably, given the level of quality images the lens is capable of delivering.

How It Compares
Although there are less expensive fast-aperture 85mm lenses such as the $480 Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G, I think the $749 Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 is a solid alternative to lenses that are twice the price. If you want to stay in the Tamron price range, check out the Sigma 85mm f/1.4; it’s a little heavier than the Tamron model and lacks image stabilization, but it’s slightly faster. I’m going to stick with my more expensive, lighter and faster NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G, but I’ll miss the Tamron SP 85mm’s image stabilization.

Wedding and portrait photographers will find the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 a welcome addition to their gear bags.

Theano Nikitas has been covering photography for over 20 years. She pens Rf’s PhotoForward Tech Tuesday blog posts and, although she loves digital, she still has a darkroom and a fridge filled with film.