Tamron is a Japanese company that is famous for manufacturing optical products and camera lenses. They offer a wide range of adaptable and versatile lenses. Good thing is that these lenses are suitable for a variety of popular brands such as Nikon, Canon, and Sony. Many photographers with different demands and needs prefer to buy Tamron lenses for the quality they offer.
A lot of people think that they should look for the maximum megapixels when buying a camera without realizing that it’s actually the lens that is responsible for delivering outstanding photos. If the lens doesn’t transfer a clear image to the sensor, it will end up with a blurred image.
Are you trying to improve your photography skills and are looking for a Tamron lens? Check out the list below which includes some of the best Tamron lenses for any budget and style of photography.
1. Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 is an excellent lens that has an impressive build quality but which adds some extra size and weight to the lens.
The manual focus ring has a smooth operation and the vibration compensation feature lets you handhold down to ultra-slow shutter speeds of up to 1/25s, which makes it easier to shoot in low light. Photographers who often shoot in difficult lighting conditions would love to have this lens.
The autofocus of the lens is fast and quiet, and its maximum aperture of f/2.8 is another great feature that helps a lot in low light conditions.
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 G2 VC delivers an excellent image quality. Images remain sharp from the center to the corners. The 24-70mm focal length is something that suits well for various types of photography needs such as landscape, architecture, portrait, and street photography. However, the size of the lens can sometimes make it difficult for street photographers to make their shots.
Additionally, the lens comes with moisture-resistant capabilities and features a coating which helps reduce flaring and ghosting effects.
Read our full review of the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2.
2. Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD
This Tamron 90mm lens is designed for macro shooters who are looking for professional-quality optics. Image quality is excellent and the lens maintains perfect sharpness even at the corners of the frame. Chromatic aberration is handled very well, but at wide apertures it shows up and this is probably the only weakness that this 90mm lens has.
The f/2.8 aperture along with a great vibration compensation feature makes the lens perform quite well in low light scenarios. However, macro shooters should be aware that the closer to the subject you get, the more light you lose.
Fast aperture also means that this may prove to be a great lens for portrait and event shooters. The build quality of the lens is impressive and it can withstand both moisture and dust. It’s a little bulky but that shouldn’t be a problem for a macro shooter.
Although quick focusing has always been an issue with macro lenses, the focusing speed of this lens is incredible and it allows the macro shooter to capture fast-moving subjects such as insects. The price isn’t exactly low, but the lens totally justifies it with its powerful performance.
To find out more about this lens, read the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD review.
3. Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
The Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 VC is the best wide-angle lens that the company offers, which is perfectly suitable for landscape photographers.
Although it is built with plastic, it still gives a nice solid feel in the hands. It’s a bit bulky and heavy, but a serious landscape photographer won’t mind carrying some extra weight when he gets premium quality shots in return.
The f/2.8 aperture and the built-in vibration compensation are two handy features added to this lens. This makes it one of the widest lenses that has an aperture beyond f/4 along with excellent image stabilization.
This unique combination makes it a fantastic choice to shoot in difficult lighting situations. Landscape shooters may not get much of a benefit from it, but for the event shooters looking for an ultra-wide lens, this would do an outstanding job.
When it comes to sharpness, the lens performs well throughout the whole focal length. You get sharp images from the corners to the edges. Chromatic aberration is also very well-controlled, but it’s visible at 15mm. From a wide lens like this, a little distortion is expected at both 15mm and 30mm, but this can be corrected in post.
Read our in-depth review of the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD to learn more.
4. Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD
The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is an amazing portrait lens available at a decent price. It poses a serious challenge to its Nikon and Canon competitors.
The 85mm focal length and the f/1.8 aperture allow you to take full and half-body shots with amazing background blur. Vibration compensation is also there, which helps you capture stunning images in low light, making the 85mm an ideal choice for indoor photography.
Tamron 85mm is constructed with metal and has a solid feel – it seems quite durable. It also comes with a moisture-resistant capability. The lens is heavy but has decent handling.
We can’t say that the autofocus performance is amazing, but it’s good. You won’t have any problem shooting in good light but sometimes it becomes difficult to deal with moving subjects. However, you won’t get terrible results in the end.
Check out our review of the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD here.
5. Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Budget Winner)
The Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD isn’t a professional-grade lens, but it’s a great choice for hobbyists with an affordable price tag.
The lens construction is solid but it may not be as durable as some of it’s other competitors are. Obviously, they are more expensive. Handling is good, but it has significant weight and size.
The 70-300mm focal length takes it from a standard to a telephoto lens. This means it may fulfill the needs of a range of photographers including, nature, travel, and portrait.
The autofocus of the lens struggles to keep up if you are using it for sports and action shots. However, it won’t be an issue for you if you are shooting slow-moving portrait subjects.
Vibration compensation does provide an anti-shake mechanism for steady shooting. And finally, image quality is good but isn’t as great as the above Tamron lenses offer. Sharpness is good throughout the focal length but at 300mm it drops a little.
Picking the Best Tamron Lenses
Tamron has introduced quite a decent amount of lenses so far, and they target all types of photographers. They offer lenses from professionals to beginners, all with a justifiable price tag.
In our list above, we have thoroughly reviewed some of the best Tamron lenses considering different needs of photography. Check this out and you will certainly find the best one for you.
