TAMRON 90mm F2.8 Macro F072: 1:1 Macro Lens for Sony E and Nikon Z

A New Generation of the TAMRON 90mm Macro

TAMRON’s 90mm macro lens story began in 1979 with the SP 90mm F/2.5 (Model 52B). Over the years, the company continued developing its 90mm macro lineup, combining close-up capability with the image quality, bokeh and working distance photographers value in a mid-telephoto lens.

The F072 represents the next generation of this legacy. Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, it provides 1:1 macro reproduction, allowing subjects to be recorded on the camera’s image sensor at their actual size.

This makes the lens particularly useful for photographing flowers, insects, textures, small objects and other subjects where fine detail matters.

True 1:1 Macro Magnification

The defining feature of the 90mm F2.8 Macro F072 is its true 1:1 maximum magnification ratio.

With a minimum object distance of just 0.23m, photographers can move close to their subjects and capture highly detailed images without requiring additional accessories. The 90mm focal length also provides useful working distance compared with shorter macro lenses, making it easier to photograph subjects such as insects and flowers.

The lens maintains its usefulness beyond extreme close-ups, giving photographers a versatile mid-telephoto perspective for portraits, tabletop photography and other subjects.

High Resolution from Center to Edge

The F072 is designed to deliver high optical performance throughout the frame. Its optical construction consists of 15 elements in 12 groups, including four LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements that help control chromatic and spherical aberrations.

TAMRON also developed the lens with strong flat-field performance. This is particularly valuable for macro photography involving relatively flat subjects such as documents, artwork, coins and product packaging.

The highly corrected optical design helps maintain sharpness toward the edges of the frame while minimizing distortion and uneven illumination.

F2.8 Aperture for Macro and Portrait Photography

The F2.8 maximum aperture gives the lens additional versatility beyond traditional macro applications.

At wide apertures, photographers can isolate subjects against a softly blurred background. This makes the F072 well suited to portraits, flowers and other subjects where separation and smooth bokeh are important.

The 90mm focal length also provides a natural mid-telephoto perspective, allowing photographers to transition easily between close-up work and everyday portrait photography.

TAMRON’s First 12-Blade Circular Aperture

The F072 introduces TAMRON’s first 12-blade circular aperture, specifically designed to produce smooth, rounded bokeh.

When shooting at wide apertures, the 12-blade diaphragm helps maintain a nearly circular aperture opening. This contributes to the lens’s smooth background rendering, particularly when working at close focusing distances.

The 12-blade design also creates 12-ray starburst effects when the aperture is stopped down. This can be used creatively when photographing point light sources such as city lights, candles and other bright highlights.

Fast and Precise VXD Autofocus

The VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism provides high-speed, high-precision autofocus.

For macro photography, accurate focusing is particularly important because depth of field can become extremely shallow at close distances. The F072’s autofocus system is designed to help photographers capture important details while also providing reliable focusing performance for portraits and other subjects.

Compact Design for a 90mm Macro Lens

Despite its macro capabilities, the F072 maintains a relatively compact design.

The Sony E version measures 126.5mm in length, with a maximum diameter of 79.2mm and a weight of approximately 630g. The Nikon Z version is 128.5mm long and weighs 640g.

This balance of size and performance makes the lens easier to carry for extended shooting sessions, whether photographing outdoors, in a studio or while traveling.

Convenient Filter Control

The lens features a 67mm filter size, matching the filter diameter used across many TAMRON mirrorless lenses.

A newly designed lens hood includes a sliding window that provides access to the filter without requiring photographers to remove the hood. This is especially useful when using rotating filters such as polarizing or variable filters.

Customize the Lens with TAMRON Lens Utility

The F072 is compatible with TAMRON Lens Utility, allowing photographers to customize supported lens functions and update firmware.

The software can be used to assign functions to the Focus Set Button and adjust focusing behavior. TAMRON Lens Utility Mobile also provides additional options for photographers and videographers who want to customize their shooting experience.

Sony E and Nikon Z Full-Frame Compatibility

The TAMRON 90mm F2.8 Macro F072 is available for both Sony E-mount and Nikon Z mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.

The lens provides the same 90mm focal length and F2.8 maximum aperture across both mounts, while physical dimensions and weight vary slightly between versions.