Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

Hi trapper1,
I use both the Tamron 90 and the Tokina 100 professionally (catalog product and magazine-illustration photographs). Both are excellent and the Tokina is a bit less expensive. Take care & ...

Canisdirus

The Tammy is as good as any other for macro work. Very sharp, nice colors, great bokeh.
The holy grail of macros is the Minolta 100mm f/2.8 ....
But outside of that particular stellar legacy lens.... the Tammy performs admirably.

duck72 Loc: Laurel Ridge, PA

I have this lens and like it *very* much. (D7200) "Die-hard" Nikkor 105mm macro fans are hard-pressed to surpass its quality of images. I got mine at a very attractive price and haven't regretted the purchase whatsoever.

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

Just as a comparison, here is a recent one of mine with the older manual focus macro lens. Plus I've enabled the download (actually a double download) of a smaller subject that allows one to enlarge the image so as to see the fine detail...Like I said though, most any true macro will deliver as long as one's technique is good.....

(Download)

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

All the Tamron 90mm have been very good lenses (there have been about ten or twelve versions, since the mid-1980s).

There are currently two versions available. Both are fine optically.

Cheaper one ($500) is not an IF (internal focusing) lens, doesn't have image stabilization and uses slower micro motor focus drive.

The more expensive one ($650) is IF, has "VC" image stabilization and uses a faster, quieter "USD" ultrasonic focusing motor.

I think the more expensive version also has a slightly more advanced focus limiter... three-range (full, macro only, non-macro only) versus two range (full, non-macro only).

And I think the more expensive version has better sealing for dust and weather resistance. An IF lens (where the barrel doesn't extend when it's focused closer) certainly is easier to seal than a non-IF lens.

I believe Tamron has a 6-year warranty, too.... which is a lot more than most offer. A negative note, I have a Tamron 60mm macro where the AF recently stopped working. I dug out the original receipt and it turns out I bought it 6 years, 2 months ago! Not saying that's going to happen to any other Tamron lens, probably just be my bad luck! I also have a vintage Tamron 90mm that works just as well as the day it was made some 25 or 30 years ago!

The Micro Nikkor 105mm is a legendary lens... though considerably more expensive at over $800.

Sigma's 105mm is very similar to the Nikkor and used to actually be the most expensive around this focal length range. But lately they've discounted it heavily so that it's one of the most affordable at around $470. Whenever I see Sigma (and some other manufacturers) giving big discounts, I suspect there's a new model coming soon and they are clearing the old stock to make way for it. Still, the current Siggy 105mm is quite good.

The Tokina ATX-Pro 100mm is also very capable and is the least expensive currently available, at around $360. There are some important considerations with it, though... especially the version for Nikon. It's what they call a "D-typle" lens... It has no in-lens focusing motor. It relies upon a focusing motor built into the camera body, which are only found on the D7000 and higher Nikon cameras. D3000-series and D5000-series cameras can use the Tokina 100mm, but it will be manual-focus-only on those cameras. The Toki also uses a unique "focus clutch" mechanism. The entire focus ring slides slightly forward or backward to shift from AF to MF. When it's set to AF, the focus ring is disengaged. So you cannot manually fine tune or override AF, without first shifting the lens into MF mode. All the other lenses above allow you to tweak focus or use a de-focus/re-focus technique or similar at any time. They all have "Full Time Manual" and don't need AF switched off first.

MoT Loc: Barrington, IL

I used one years ago with film and got great results but went to 105 mm nikkor with my Nikon F100 film and 105 mm nikkor on my D600 and D7000. I could not tell the difference between the Tamron and Nikkors. That Tamron was a few thousand clicks ago and still recommend them to those who ask. I have recently traded my Nikon equipment for an Olympus OM-D-E M1 Mark II. Tamron does not make a 4/3 type lens so I bought an Olympus 60 mm f/2.8 1:1 reproduction ratio and hope it does as well as the Tamrons I owned.

RowdyRay Loc: MN

Just trying to nudge you in the right direction:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-611212-1.html