Photo Plus - UK (2019-12)

The Canon Magazine 113

3000

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f/1.2f/1.4 f/1.8 f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22

85mm PORTRAIT LENSES

Centre Middle Edge

Sharpness

TAMRON SP 85mm

f/1.8 DI VC USD £749/$749

There are high-tech attractions here, even if the

Tamron is the joint ‘slowest’ in the group

nybody in pursuit of the

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likely to be put off by

this Tamron’s ‘slow’

f/1.8 aperture. But it’s

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than the f/1.4 contenders, and

a full stop slower than Canon’s

f/1.2 lenses, it can still deliver

beautiful bokeh.

In its favour, the Tamron

scores well for build quality

with a strong metal barrel and

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not lightweight and, at 700g,

is heavier than Canon’s f/1.8

offering. Unlike some of

Canon’s older lenses, including

the 85mm f/1.8, the Tamron is

designed from the ground up

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more prone to ghosting and

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such, it features two types of

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work to keep ghosting and

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includes a fast and accurate

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optical stabilization system.

The aperture is controlled by a

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Performance

Sharpness isn’t exceptional

when shooting wide, but it’s a

bit better than in the Canon

f/1.8 at the centre, and much

better towards edges and

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aperture, bokeh is excellent,

matching most f/1.4 lenses for

smoothness. Bokeh fringing is

negligible, as is lateral

chromatic aberration and

distortion. Add the bonus of

stabilization for consistently

sharp handheld shots, and the

Tam ron is a smar t buy.

FEATURES

VERDICT

01

The nano-structure

eBAND and BBAR

coatings reduce

ghosting and flare.

02

The optical path

includes LD and XLD

elements.

03

Weather-sealed with

a metal body and

mounting plate.

04

The mechanically

coupled focus ring

enables full-time

manual override of AF.

05

Switches are

available for auto/

manual focusing and

stabilization.

FEATURES

BUILD & HANDLING

PERFORMANCE

VALUE

OVERALL

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04
A
edding and event photographers often keep a 70-200mm
f/2.8 zoom lens up their sleeve. Naturally, the widest
available aperture doesn’t match an 85mm prime lens,
but the zoom range gives you the flexibility to react to portrait
opportunities on the fly, without having to move closer or further
away, or to change the lens that’s on your camera. It’s great for
‘reportage’ style portraiture, when you’re aiming to capture life
as it unfolds, rather than setting up posed compositions.
Another bonus of the extra zoom range that stretches to
200mm is that you can shoot from further away, which can help
when you’re aiming for candid portraits. And towards the long end
of the zoom range, the f/2.8 aperture can enable a tight DoF.
A focal length of 200mm with an aperture of f/2.8 can give a nice
shallow depth of field, as shown in this half-length shot
TAKE A
LONG SHOT
At weddings and other
events, a longer zoom
can help you reach out
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