Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD: A Superb Quality Prime Lens

Tamron has a good choice of prime lenses for Canon, Nikon, and Sony DSLR cameras. Their Super Performance range of lenses offers enhanced build quality, and additional features compared to the basic range of lenses.

In this guide, we look specifically at the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD. This is a high-quality prime lens that offers a perfect focal distance for various photography types.

Main Features

First let’s look at the main features of this lens. As stated above, it is part of the Tamron Super Performance range. Aside from this, it has an impressive range of basic features that enhance its usability:

• Weight: 815g
• Max Length: 104.8mm
• Viewing Angle: 63゜26′
• Maximum Aperture: f/1.4
• Minimum Aperture: f/16
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Lens Hood: Yes
• Closest focusing distance: 0.3m
• Maximum magnification: 1:5
• Filter diameter: 72mm

The aperture range of this lens is great. Whilst some lenses do go as low as f/22 for the minimum aperture, f/16 is still adequate. The lens has a decent minimum focusing distance of 0.3m (or 30m). This means you can still get relatively close to your subjects and make use of the maximum f/1.4 aperture.

The lens element is made from 14 elements in 10 groups, and the aperture blades consist of nine circular diaphragm blades. This allows for a smooth circular bokeh effect when using the lens at its higher aperture range.

In terms of accessibility, the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD is compatible with Canon EF, Nikon F, Nikon Z, and Canon EOS R mount cameras. This makes it a versatile lens for the most popular DSLR full-frame and mirrorless cameras.

Design

The design of the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD is excellent. Firstly, the exterior lens element has a special fluorine coating that helps protect it from fingerprints, dust, water, and smudges. This makes the lens relatively durable and able to be used in adverse weather conditions.

The lens weighs just 815g and has a maximum length of 104.8mm. It is therefore portable and lightweight. As a result, it could be used as a lens for travel or street photography, for example.

This Super Performance lens looks great. It has a stylish design and a textured grip towards the top of the lens. You can grip it comfortably and it has a useful display to show the aperture and other information. The metal lens mount is a nice touch as it forms a solid connection with your DSLR camera.

Performance

The Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD performs really well. The 35mm focal distance is versatile and can be used for a range of photography. It offers a wider focal distance than popular 50mm lenses but can still give detail if required.

You could use this lens comfortably for different types of photography like landscapes, portraits, street photography, or events photography. The key to maximizing this lens’s potential is to utilize your movement. It is a prime lens and you will have to work more for your compositions as opposed to simply zooming-in on your subjects.

The USD motor provides an accurate and fast autofocusing system. Whilst this lens can suffer sometimes in extremely low-light situations, the focusing generally performs well.

Due to the enhanced optics and lens elements, the image quality is excellent. The colors and contrast are spot-on, and there is minimal distortion.

Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD vs. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

So how does this Tamron SP lens compare to other 35mm prime lenses? One of the best third-party 35mm lenses is the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art. This is a top contender and a brilliant comparison to the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD. We have listed the basic specifications below:

Both lenses are part of a superior lens range from their respective manufacturers. The Sigma Art range and Tamron Super Performance range are both a class above their standard lenses. This means they both have a great build quality and superior optical performance.

In terms of portability and compactness, the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD is slightly smaller and lighter. It weighs nearly 200g less than the Sigma 35 and is also slightly shorter. This means it offers improved portability and could be considered a better travel lens.

Both lenses to provide exceptional quality for the 35mm focal distance and have the same maximum aperture of f/1.4. Due to the advent of image stabilization, and the slightly smaller build, the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD is the better option.

Is the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD a Viable Prime Lens?

We feel the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD is one of the better 35mm prime lenses available. It has a solid build quality and a good array of features including a USD autofocusing motor.

The actual image quality this lens produces is excellent. The images are sharp, have great contrast, and minimal distortion. If you want a high-quality 35mm prime lens, this Tamron Super Performance model is a solid choice.