There is some variation in price depending on where you buy this lens but anything around £350-£400 represents good value for money if you are in the market for a genuine macro lens that can also double-up for high-quality general-purpose photography.

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  True 1:1 macro ratio

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  Average AF performance

As the list of alternatives shows, there is no shortage of options in this macro area. The Tamron lens offered excellent results, and its unique selling feature would be its fast Æ’/2 maximum aperture setting.

I have had this lens for a while. It produces fabulously sharp images and is a joy to use. The internal focussing means that as you focus closer, you don't need to get as close to the object as you do with non-internal focussing lenses.

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  Very sharp, relatively compact, fixed front and rear elements

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  Build quality a little light, not f/2 when focussed closer than 1 metre, AF performance in low light

I use this lens for studio work requiring good definition for web site photos where my zoom lenses although good were not quite up to it. Value for money prime lenses are better as you have to pay a lot for a comparable zoom.

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  Consistent Output, Quick Focus, Sharp Focus, Strong Construction

If you want to get into macro photography without spending big bucks then this could be the lens for you. Excellent sharpness, large focus ring for easy manual focus adjustments and the large maximum aperture of F2 makes it an ideal portrait lens on a crop sensor DSLR.

I bought this lens a few weeks ago which I have used for portraits mainly.<br />The lens is well designed love the idea of manual focusing without having to change the mode to manual.

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  Consistent Output, Easily Interchangeable, Lightweight

I am super impressed with this lens. Excellent bang for you buck if you are into macro photography or like close range portraits with very creamy bokeh in the background. This lens is tack sharp too!

The lens is a recommendable/preferable alternative to Nikon's 60 mm and 85 mm lenses. The Nikon 60 mm AF-S changes the focal distance to somthing like 40 mm when focusing closely, in contrast the Tamron appears to be a true 60 mm lens.

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  large aperture, long working distance, lightweight, compact, nice bokeh

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  none, unless you are looking for an FX lens

EDIT : April 2010. I've been using this lens for five months now and I had a problem with the focusing which I assumed was the lens but has turned out to be the body so I have revised my comments again.

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  Image quality, working distance, fast aperture, macro/portrait lens

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  AF/MF action not quite as good as Nikon AF-S; and some PF CA