Rayjenks

Their are 2 Tamron 90 macro lens what is the difference one is 649 the other is 400 plus what is the difference and which is the better of the. Two

throughrhettseyes Loc: Rowlett, TX

Look at the Tokina 105mm macro f2.8

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

One I think has vibration control. I have that one and love it

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The latest has VC and is compatible with Tamrons USB Dock system, its a great macro lens and only $649 with a 6 year warranty!

leftj Loc: Texas

Just look at the specs for each.

Largobob

Wow....that sure didn't answer the question....

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

If shooting true macro, VC is limited. It works better at 1/2 life-size or larger. AF isn't accurate at life-size either. There are a number of 90mm Tamron macros. I had the older version that only went to 1/2 life size & returned it. Not because it was inferior IQ but because it only went to 1/2 life-size. You don't indicate what camera system you use. I use Nikon & my go-to lens is an older (mid-1980's) MF 105mm macro. My cameras can meter with the older MF lenses but I shoot in all manual modes anyway. I seldom use a tripod but do use a ring/point light. It allows me to stop down the lens so as to increase the slim depth of field and the short duration of the flash freezes all motion, be it my subjects or my own ( thus no need for VC). That said, unless you are using the lens for other than life size macro, the lesser priced one will work just fine. It all depends on your usage.

zzzynick Loc: Colorado

All of these shots were taken with the new G2 90 mm Tamron lens.
I don't like taking shots of bugs or flowers.
All these were hand held. I chose this lens over the Canon 100 L macro. I am glad I did.

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chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

The 649 lens is the newer one (SP model with VC) - I have it - great lens - tack sharp and also good for general medium telephoto/ portrait photography as well. You don't have to use it just for macro/ closeups.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The less expensive Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 is the older version. It uses a micro motor to drive the AF, is not an internal focusing lens and it doesn't have image stabilization.

The more expensive Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 macro is a newer version with faster USD (ultratonic) focus drive, internal focusing (lens doesn't grow longer when it's focused closer) and it has VC image stabilization.

Both the Tamron 90mm are "Di", which means they can be used on either full frame or crop sensor cameras.

Tamron also makes an SP 60mm f/2 Macro/Portrait lens that's "crop only" Di II. It's internal focusing, but it uses a slower micro motor focus drive and doesn't have image stabilization.

There's no such thing as a Tokina AT-X "105mm" macro lens. There IS a Tokina 100mm. It's an "FX" or full frame capable lens (which will work on both full frame/FX and crop/DX cameras). If planning to use on a Nikon camera, be aware that this is a "D" type lens. The Nikon mount version of it doesn't have a built in focusing motor. It relies upon a focusing motor built into the Nikon camera body for auto focus. Therefore, it will not have autofocus on D3000 and D5000-series Nikon DSLRs.... It's only able to autofocus on D7000-series and higher models. In other mounts (Canon, etc.) the Tokina 100mm macro has a slower micro motor focus drive motor. In all mounts it's not internal focusing and it doesn't have image stabilization.

Sigma offers a 105mm f/2.8 macro lens with HSM/ultrasonic focus drive, internal focusing and OS image stabilization. They have also recently re-introduced a new "Art" version of their 70mm f/2.8 macro lens. Both these are DG or full frame and crop sensor capable. Don't know too much about it yet, but it appears to not be internal focusing and doesn't have image stabilization. Must use a micro motor, too, since there's no mention of their faster HSM focus drive.

Canon and Nikon each have a number of excellent macro lenses, too. Sony offers a good 100mm, as well. I don't know what Pentax, Oly, etc. currently offer.

A couple notes:

Even with higher performance focus drive, macro lenses are not as fast auto focusing as non-macro lenses. For one, they need to move their focusing group a long, long way to go all the way from infinity to full 1:1 (life size) magnifications. They also mostly use "long throw" focus that emphasizes precision over speed, because depth of field makes focus accuracy critical at high magnifications. A lot of macro work is more easily done using manual focus techniques, anyway, and autofocus performance may not be all that important when shooting macro. It may be more important if wanting to use the lens for other purposes... Might be fine for other things, but macro lenses generally aren't great for sports/action shooting that demands fast focusing and good tracking of moving subjects.

Several above lenses have image stabilization. This is also of limited usefulness at higher magnifications. Stabilization has little effect at the highest magnifications (1:1 on all the above), but can be more useful when using the lens for less magnification or non-macro purposes.

FYI, the Tamron 90mm dates back to the 1980s when it was first produced as a manual focus lens with interchangeable Adaptall2 mounts (easily swapped to use the lens on virtually any 35mm film SLR). There have been numerous models of it over the years. The Tammy 90mm USD VC is the latest and most advanced version to date.

tarpon007 Loc: Hollywood, FL

Great lecture. Very informative. Thanks.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

For people not familiar with IF (internal focusing) see this Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_focusing

fishone0 Loc: Kingman AZ

I love my Tamron macro 90mm lens wish the made one for m4/3rds

Past Pro Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

Agreed!