Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD £479/$399

A stabilised standard prime

Lens mount s Canon EF, Nikon F ( FX)

Not quite a 50mm lens, the Tamron 45mm gives a slightly more generous viewing angle of 51 degrees rather than the more usual 46 degrees on a full-frame body. Unlike competing Canon and Nikon 50mm lenses, it combines an f/1.8 aperture rating with four-stop stabilisation. Physically, it’s smaller than the Sigma and Zeiss lenses, and rather lighter at 540g.

The Tamron features extensive weather-seals and a fluorine coating on its front element. The ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system enables the usual manual override.

Performance

Sharpness is very good even at wide apertures of f/1.8 to f/2.8, although it loses out slightly to the Sigma and Zeiss lenses. Defocused areas look very soft, and the crossover between sharp and blurred areas has a nicely smooth transition.

Sharpness

Wide-open, the Tamron eases ahead of the Canon 50mm f/1.8 for sharpness.

Fringing 1.01

Both lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberrations are minimal and hard to spot.

Distortion -0.65

There’s less barrel distortion than from the Canon and Nikkor lenses on test.