The Canon Magazine 113
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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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