Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

For full macro magnification on a tight budget, this Tamron is a smart secondhand buy

Released (year): 2012 Price new: £575/$700 Buy at MPB.com today: Excellent £349/$485 Good £324/$450

Building on the success of Tamron’s original, nonstabilized 90mm macro lens, this one launched with new optical designs, boasting one LD (Low Dispersion) and two XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) elements, along with dual nanostructure and conventional coatings.

Versions of the previous SP AF lens made after 2008 featured a built-in electric autofocus motor, so they could autofocus on any Nikon DSLR, but the VC USD lens has a more refined ring-type ultrasonic system that’s quicker and quieter.

It also adds Vibration Compensation, Tamron’s effective optical stabilization system. Another advantage over the previous lens is that this one has internal focusing, so the front element doesn’t physically extend at shorter focus distances. This lens has been replaced by the latest Tamron 90mm macro.