Tamron beats Nikon

Yes, it does happen. Sometime a 3rd party lens maker gets it right...and charges us less. A LOT Less!
Like many folks, I read the near legendary level ratings on this lens and finally took the leap as I would be able to compare it side by side with a Nikon 105 2.8. I bought the lens from KEH.com for just 329.00, second hand but in like new condition. This is the DI model which is supposed to be optimized for digital. Some people, who have the older version, claim there is little or no difference between them.

Sharpness:
The Tamron 90 will give you incredible sharpness. I believe it's my sharpest lens, easily a match for my 1700 dollar 70-200 VR at 90mm. It's sharper than the Nikon 105 2.8...sharper than the 50mm 1.8 and that's sharp!

Color:
Simply faultless. Again, this lens is astounding in color rendition. Skin tones are fantastic.

Bokeh:
Again, this lens rivals my more expensive zoom, though I slightly prefer the bokeh on the 70-200. The Tamron is far superior to the Nikon 105 Micro for out of focus rendering making it a very viable portrait lens.

Handling:
The lens hood is a bit awkward to get on and off. The auto/manual mode is a push-pull slide color. It works, but it's easy to slip it into either mode by accident. The focus limit switch is a dial, which is odd. Manual focus is excellent on this lens. The lens is mostly plastic and doesn't feel as solid as the Nikon 105, but I hear no stories of the Tamron falling apart either.

Overall:
The Tamron beats Nikon's entry in every area, except build. The Tamron is sharper and has better bokeh. As a portrait lens it does a very good job, though ultimate sharpness is not always desired in model work or even candids. A lot depends on your style. There are certainly lenses like the Nikon 85mm 1.4 which will probably be more flattering to a face. For macro work the Tamron makes no excuses. It focuses down 1:1 nicely and my macro shots have been impressive from the start. Keep in mind that the Tamron 90 is only a 2.8 when shooting objects around 10 feet or further away. Otherwise expect apertures in the 3+ range. This is probably the best macro lens available in the 90-150mm range. I've yet to see any portrait shots from the new Nikon 105mm VR than are it's equal. I give this lens my highest rating.
Capt. RB