DxOMark Published the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens Review (Canon & Nikon)

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DxOMark completed their reviews of the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD lens (for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts).

Tested on Canon EOS 5DS R, the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 (Canon version) achieves a top score of 42 points, delivering excellent all-round performance:

Sharpness is outstanding, scoring 38 P-Mpix on the 5DS R, and offering high levels of uniform resolution at all aperture settings, including wide-open at f/1.8. Despite lower overall and sharpness scores of 37 points and 27 P-Mpix on the 30.4Mp Canon 5D Mark IV, as well as 34 points and 19 P-Mpix on the 20.2Mp Canon 1Dx Mark II, the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 actually realizes more of the resolution potential of these DSLRs.

Conclusion from DxOMark:

The Tamron 85mm f/1.8 is the highest-scoring of all the 85mm prime lenses under $1000 that we’ve tested on Canon full-frame DSLRs. Securing excellent all-round lens metric results, it delivers outstanding overall sharpness, with high levels of acutance and uniform edge-to-edge sharpness at all aperture settings. Although it achieves its highest sharpness score on the EOS 5DS R, the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 actually squeezes out more of the resolution potential of the 5D Mark IV and 1Dx II cameras. Excellent image quality is allied with a good set of features, too, including Tamron’s VC image stabilizer and USD autofocus motor, which improve low-light performance.

Its maximum f/1.8 aperture has lower light transition compared to the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 and the Canon 85mm f/1.2L II, which could be an important factor in your buying decision, but these faster-aperture lenses also cost significantly more. The new Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art will probably give the Tamron a good run for its money in a similar price bracket (and we’ll bring you those scores as soon as possible), but for now the Tamron short telephoto 85mm prime lens offers the best value for Canon full-frame shooters. Read the full review.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens for Canon EF: $749 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Tested on the 36.3MP Nikon D810, the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 (Nikon version) achieves a top score of 45 points, delivering excellent all-round performance:

Sharpness is outstanding, scoring 36 P-Mpix on the D810, offering high levels of uniform resolution at all aperture settings, including wide-open at f/1.8. Despite lower overall and sharpness scores of 41 points and 20 P-Mpix on the 20.8Mp Nikon D5, as well as 41 points and 24 P-Mpix on the 24.3Mp Nikon D750, the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 maximizes the full resolution potential on all three of these Nikon full-frame DSLRs.

Conclusion from DxOMark:

The Tamron 85mm f/1.8 is the highest-scoring of all the 85mm prime lenses under $1000 that we’ve tested on Nikon full-frame DSLRs. Securing excellent all round lens metric results, it delivers outstanding overall sharpness, with high levels of acutance and uniform edge-to-edge sharpness at all aperture settings.

Excellent image quality is allied with a good set of features too, including Tamron’s VC image stabilizer and USD autofocus motor, which improve low-light performance.

Its maximum f/1.8 aperture has lower light transition compared to the Carl Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 and Nikon’s own $1597 Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G, which could be an important factor in your buying decision, but these faster aperture lenses also cost significantly more. The new Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art will make for an interesting rival to the Tamron in a similar price bracket (and we’ll bring you those scores as soon as possible), but for now the Tamron short telephoto 85mm prime lens offers the best value for Nikon full-frame shooters. Read the full review.

Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens for Nikon F: $749 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.