3 reasons the Tamron 90mm changed my photography

Can one lens have the power to shift your fundamental approach to photography?

For me, the new Tamron SP 90mm F2.8 did just that. Let me explain.

I am a portrait photographer who is a dedicated wide angle junkie. While I adore the aesthetics of telling a story with a wide angle lens, what actually draws me to a 35mm or wider viewpoint is the proximity to my subject. I can be close. Really close. All up in your business, I’m the tickle monster, close. That’s my style.

So when I gave the 90mm lens to try, I felt a bit unsure. I couldn’t tickle my subject from fifteen feet away. A longer focal length forced me to be more of an observer rather than an active participant in my portrait work. Except for a few obligatory traditional portraits for my clients, I have all but abandoned my 85mm lens for this reason. I love the look of a long focal length, but I value the interaction with my subjects more.

However, Tamron’s newest lens is not only a superb portrait lens, but it is also a macro lens. After keeping the 90mm on my camera for a solid week, I found a new rhythm with my photography. I could stand back and observe my subject, unobtrusively snapping away and then step into my comfort zone amidst the action to capture macro shots that I normally would never be able to take. I can’t even tell you how much I love capturing my family moments in such a versatile way!

Aside from a new approach to photographing my every day, I have discovered a few other features of the Tamron SP 90mm that have made it a new favorite.

1. It’s incredibly lightweight, without any sacrifice.

I’ll be honest and admit that I often equate a lightweight lens with cheap optics. I was pretty floored that not only is it easy to carry, but in combination with its outstanding color, contrast and razor sharpness it is an unmatched competitor to every other lens in my bag. There is no trade-off.

2. The vibration compensation works and has saved me on numerous images.

Remember when I mentioned that I observe from afar and then “step” in to capture detail shots? Well, to be honest, that step is often more of a clumsy running leap so as to not miss THE SHOT (I am a mother to a two and five year old). Even shooting with a very high shutter speed, it’s comical how often my own motion has caused a blurry shot with my old 85mm lens. No longer is this a problem!

3. I rarely even touch the Lens Corrections panel in Lightroom.

With little to no distortion, vignetting, or chromatic aberration, my images look exactly how they should straight out of camera. I was flat out astounded that the water shots I took weren’t covered in that pesky purple fringe that is so common on backlit high contrast images.

Tamron’s SP 90mm F2.8 lens has breathed new life and inspiration into my story making. I have stretched my photographic style to include images that narrate from every perspective, without any limitation from my lens. This wide angle girl has just been converted!

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