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Almost since the inception of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, there have really only been two go-to macro lens options: the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro, typically used via adapters, and the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS. Both of these lenses have been excellent choices, allowing Sony shooters to create world-class images. However, they are both beginning to show their age. The Sony FE 90mm was introduced in 2015, while the Canon EF 100mm arrived way back in 2009.

Finally, in 2024, Tamron stepped up to the plate. Tamron, a company with a long history dating back to 1950, has particularly been making strides in recent years with their lens designs. They’ve developed compelling alternatives to the lenses produced by the industry’s “Big Three”—Canon, Nikon, and Sony—often offering remarkable value. Tamron’s latest macro lens, the 90mm f/2.8 Di III Macro VXD, available in both Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, is a worthy competitor to the Canon and Sony lenses mentioned earlier.

While I would have preferred to see a different focal length introduced, when Tamron reached out to see if I’d be interested in testing their new lens around Florida, I was eager to give it a try. The Sony 90mm is a good lens, but I’ve never been fully satisfied with it. I was curious to see if I might prefer Tamron’s version. I haven’t shot with the Canon EF 100mm in quite some time, so for this review, let’s see how the Tamron stacks up against the older Sony lens.
 

A common octopus suspiciously eyes the Tamron 90mm Di III VXD Macro lens. Perhaps he couldn’t believe how sharp it is! (Sony a1, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro, Isotta housing, dual Kraken Sports KR-S160 strobes with snoots, Kraken Sports 5" monitor, f/4.5, 1/80s, ISO 100)

Build and Features

While build quality is less critical for underwater photographers compared to those shooting topside, where gear is more exposed to the elements, I still appreciate a well-built lens. The Tamron 90mm Di III VXD has a sleek, minimalist design, and it feels sturdier and better constructed in my hands than the Sony counterpart—it has a reassuring heft to it. The focus ring is smooth, easy to adjust, and offers a solid tactile experience. There are just two notable physical features on the lens: a customizable button (which, for underwater shooters, is less relevant), and a focus limiter switch, which I left on the full range setting at all times.

The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (left) has a sleeker and simpler aesthetic than the aging Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS (right)
 

I really appreciated that Tamron didn’t follow Sony's design by using the push/pull manual focus/autofocus switch, which I’ve found problematic in the past. On multiple dives, I’ve accidentally bumped the AF/MF switch on the Sony lens without realizing it until I was underwater. While testing the Tamron lens, I had no such issues, which was a relief. Of course, some test shots after placing the camera in the housing might have caught this, but as the saying goes: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
 

A beautiful female lined seahorse holds fast to a clump of algae. I hugely value being able to shoot at wider apertures underwater and still retain image quality. This is something I’ve never been overly confident with when using the Sony 90mm, but with the Tamron, I had no such concerns. Of course, as with any macro lens behind a flat port, the corners of the frame begin to fall apart a bit, but the Tamron handles this quite well and the subjects are still razor sharp (Sony a9 III, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro, Nauticam housing, dual Backscatter HF-1 strobes, Kraken Sports 5" monitor, f/5.6, 1/40s, ISO 200)
 

Another small but significant feature of the Tamron lens is its slightly shorter length—about 4mm shorter than the Sony 90mm. This makes it compatible with the same ports, but for those using wet optics such as the Nauticam EMWL or SMC, there may be some slight vignetting at the very corners of the frame.

A potential dealbreaker for some photographers is the Tamron’s maximum aperture of f/16. While I personally haven’t needed to shoot beyond f/14 in recent years, I understand that for hardcore macro photographers or those specializing in supermacro work, the inability to stop down to f/22, f/32, and beyond could be limiting. That said, it’s important to note that stopping down to these higher apertures, especially with higher-resolution cameras, can lead to noticeable diffraction, which impacts sharpness and image quality.
 

A lucious-lipped polkadot batfish stands tall and proud on a rubble slope. Because it is ever so slightly shorter in length than the Sony 90mm, the Tamron 90mm can be used behind the same ports but with the Nauticam EMWL, there is some vignetting and loss of image quality in the corners. However, in certain circumstances, you can disguise the corners, crop the vignetting out in post, or as in the case above, shoot the image in APS-C mode and eliminate all the optical issues altogether. The Tamron lens does perform admirably with the EMWL with regards to the center of the frame, and if designated ports are made specifically for it, I imagine it would get even better (Sony a1, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro, Isotta housing, Nauticam EMWL, dual Marelux Apollo III 2.0 strobes, Kraken Sports 5" monitor, f/13, 1/10s, ISO 200)

Autofocus

I only tested the Tamron 90mm macro on the Sony a9 III and the Sony a1, so my experience is limited to those two camera bodies. I can’t speak to how the lens performs on older models, but on the a9 III and a1, the autofocus performance was exceptional. The Tamron lens is incredibly fast and precise. It seems to focus much quicker than the Sony 90mm lens, and I had no trouble focusing on moving subjects even in low-light conditions. While the camera body plays a role in autofocus performance, macro lenses are typically known for their slower focusing speeds, especially in challenging lighting. I encountered no such issues with the Tamron 90mm, which was a real highlight for me.
 

The Tamron lens allows the Sony a1 to flex its autofocus muscles. Razorfish are often quick moving and erratic and the Tamron 90mm just got out of the way and let the a1 do its job. And, of course, even at wider apertures, the eye is razor sharp (Sony a1, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro, Isotta housing, dual Kraken Sports KR-S160 strobes, Kraken Sports 5" monitor, f/4.5, 1/400s, ISO 80)

Image Quality

At the end of the day, the true measure of a lens lies in its image quality. While sharpness is important, the overall rendering and character of the lens are equally crucial. The Tamron 90mm is incredibly sharp. In fact, to my eye, it surpasses the Sony 90mm in sharpness, particularly at wider apertures and when used underwater behind a flat port. This sharpness translates to more detailed, vibrant images with better overall clarity, which is a huge benefit for macro photography, where every tiny detail matters. The lens shows excellent control of chromatic aberration, and behind a flat port, where macro lenses notoriously fall apart at the edges of the frame, the Tamron holds up nicely. It isn’t perfect, but it is better than the Sony in this regard.
 

A male banded jawfish incubating a clutch of nearly-ready-to-hatch eggs (top). Even in low-light situations like poor visibility and underneath a bridge, the Tamron lens focuses quickly and accurately. It is razor sharp and zoomed in (bottom) you can see every eye on the larval fish (Sony a1, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di VXD Macro, Isotta housing, dual Kraken Sports KR-S160 strobes, Kraken Sports 5" monitor, f/8, 1/100s, ISO 100)

Final Thoughts

For underwater photographers considering a move to the Sony ecosystem, or for those searching for an alternative to the Sony FE 90mm Macro or Canon EF 100mm Macro, the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro lens deserves serious consideration. It allows for lightning-quick autofocus, is wonderfully sharp, and comes in at several hundred dollars cheaper than the Canon or Sony offerings.

If you can look past the f/16 maximum aperture, you’d have a hard time finding anywhere the Sony FE 90mm has an advantage. As of the time of this writing, I can say with confidence, if I were in the market for a midrange focal length macro lens for my Sony a1, I would absolutely opt for the Tamron. I am often overcritical of gear and tend to focus on their negative aspects instead of lauding where they come up big. Not so in this case. The value-to-performance ratio is fantastic, and for me, image quality is king and the Tamron truly delivers.
 

A common octopus in space. When shooting extremely close subjects, the vignetting from the Tamron when paired with the EMWL disappears (Sony a9 III, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Macro, Nauticam housing, Nauticam EMWL, dual Backscatter HF-1 strobes, Kraken Sports NR-1800, Kraken Sports 5" monitor, f/14, 1/30s, ISO 250)
 

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