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The Perfect Lens for Portraiture
Just as a painter instinctively reaches for the right brush, a portrait artist reaches for an 85mm lens. The focal length is ideal for producing a pleasing image with true-to-life facial features in accurate proportion. While a wide-angle lens makes close objects appear larger than they are, and longer telephotos compress and flatten features, the 85mm medium telephoto is just right. Plus the working distance between you and your subject is perfect for making the personal connection that’s often missing when using a zoom.
The Tamron SP 85mm F/1.8 is the world’s first* 85mm fast-aperture lens with image stabilization. Its unique design allows us to include our VC (Vibration Compensation) system—without the lens becoming too large or heavy. What’s more, our SP 85mm F/1.8 delivers edge-to-edge viewfinder brightness for ease of composition and superior low-light performance. The fast aperture of the F/1.8 also offers the perfect balance of subject sharpness and bokeh, that dreamy blur which separates your portrait subject from the background.
* Among 85mm F/1.8 interchangeable lenses for full-frame DSLR cameras as of January 2016. Data source: Tamron
Unsurpassed Clarity and Color
Chromatic aberration appears as magenta or green color fringing along edges and contours in images, especially against bright backgrounds. It happens, in part, when the optic fails to focus all colors of light on precisely the same point, and is more conspicuous in cameras with high resolution and high pixel densities. The SP 85mm F/1.8 uses LD (Low Dispersion) and XLD (Extra Low Dispersion) glass elements in the optical design to minimize color fringing and to achieve sharp and clear image quality with high color fidelity. In addition, by thoroughly reducing chromatic aberrations (distortion of off-axis point source) and astigmatism, subjects that appear as a distinct point source will be captured as a distinct point source even at the edges and corners of the frame.
Sharpness in Balance with Bokeh
The SP 85mm F/1.8 is designed to provide tack-sharpness of the subject for stunning clarity and flawless image quality. At the same time, Tamron’s design philosophy embraces the notion that photographers—particularly portrait photographers—use background blur, bokeh, as a creative element to concentrate emphasis on the subject. Through numerous simulations conducted for wide-ranging blur effects, such as a gentle, melting transition from the focused to the out-of-focus areas, Tamron has created a soft, natural blur effect that achieves perfect harmony with the inescapable sharpness.
Hold Steady with Vibration Compensation
The SP 85mm F/1.8 is the world’s first* lens with a fixed focal length of 85mm and a fast aperture of F/1.8 that’s equipped with the VC system. Camera movement—often too minute to be perceptible to the photographer—is the leading cause of unpleasant photographs. In addition, newer DSLR cameras with higher pixel densities are more susceptible to subtle camera shake.
This technology makes it possible to take photographs handheld in dim light and to make optimal use of slower shutter speeds and increased depth-of-field without extreme increase of the camera’s sensor sensitivity (ISO equivalent). This is especially important in portraiture because lighting is often low and the photographer needs the spontaneity of not using a tripod or disruptive flash units.
* Among 85mm F/1.8 interchangeable lenses for full-frame DSLR cameras as of January 2016. Data source: Tamron
Resists Moisture
Areas of possible ingress surrounding switches and the boundary between the focus ring and the lens barrel are protected by special seals. This provides deterrence against the intrusion of water droplets. This feature provides an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions.