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on Oct 19, 2016 21:45:22 GMT
Last Edit: Oct 19, 2016 21:46:31 GMT by biggles3
Here are a few of Tamron's classic lenses - the misunderstood SP 300 f5.6 Macro, the behemoth 70-350 f4.5 and the real surprise, the 85-210 f4.5.
The introduction of the SP 300 f5.6 telephoto was a failure as Tamron failed to capture the imagination of the photographers as they never properly described its remarkable capability. It has always been overshadowed by the SP 300 f5.6 Reflex which is a compact mirror lens with all the issues of mirror lenses. The conventional telephoto is as sharp as they come and where it scores over many other similar lenses is in its macro facility which is truly outstanding. And its other big advantage over the reflex is it's variable aperture range of f5.6 - f32. The key to its quality is a spherical aberration compensation group of elements in the centre of the lens that removes all aberrations when close focusing. It is one of the very best lenses ever produced to allow macro shooting at a great distance from the object being photographed; a few wildlife photographers grasped this but other than the few 'in the know', it never took off commercially. Of course, nowadays it is a much sought after optic.
The first photo shows this lens alongside an older Tamron lens from the original Adaptall range made in around the late 1970s - the 85-210 f4.5. This lens has been a complete revelation as it is sharp throughout the focal range, offers a fixed maximum aperture and delivers chroma-free images - unusual for complex zooms from that era. I was lucky enough to read a user's report on another manufacturer's forum and grabbed one as soon as I saw it; it probably ranks as the best value zoom I own.
The second photo shows an amazing zoom - the 70-350 f4.5. I am lucky to have 2 mint versions in their original carry cases; those cases have protected them from the ravages of time. The lens weighs nearly 5lbs (2.2kgs) and is built to a very high standard. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was by far the most expensive lens in the Tamron line-up, only losing that position with the introduction of the 300 f2.8. It needs a heavy-duty tripod to get the best out of it and there are some photos elsewhere in this Forum showing its quality. I would certainly have designated my copy as a SP lens but I have seen a few reviews in which people were disappointed at the softness of their images. I suspect that they may have been using the first version of the lens or one that has not been kept in its case which prevents any warping of the body or movement of the optics - essential for a 13/15 specification on a 5lb lens! Much as I love them, I will sell one soon as I can't justify two given that I use them only once or twice a year for wildlife work.
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on Oct 19, 2016 23:19:14 GMT
Posted: Oct 19, 2016 23:19:14 GMT
I would vote for the SP 24-48mm as my favourite Tamron. I picked one up in a cutbprice Contax 139 bundle along with a 50/1.7 Planar and some other bits and was very pleasantly surprised by the punch and clarity of that little zoom.
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on Oct 20, 2016 1:06:02 GMT
Posted: Oct 20, 2016 1:06:02 GMT
I would vote for the SP 24-48mm as my favourite Tamron. I picked one up in a cutbprice Contax 139 bundle along with a 50/1.7 Planar and some other bits and was very pleasantly surprised by the punch and clarity of that little zoom. I agree with you that it's a delightful and crisp lens and doesn't induce severe shoulder-ache like some of the older designs. I know a lot of togs who carry one with an adapter in their cases. |
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on Dec 27, 2016 19:07:13 GMT
Posted: Dec 27, 2016 19:07:13 GMT
Sometimes small things make one happy - I had heard that Tamron made an MM version of the c/y mount but until recently had never seen one in the U.K. However a couple of weeks ago one popped up on eBay UK and I won the auction so in the new year I'll get the pleasure of using my 24-48 in all modes in my 159/Aria bodies!
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on Aug 13, 2019 16:48:06 GMT
Posted: Aug 13, 2019 16:48:06 GMT
Re-reading barry_r's comment got me thinking; how common are Tamron Adaptall 2 mounts for the Contax/Yashica with the MM tab?
I have just checked my 35 Tamron lenses and I only have 4 MM-mounts. A glance through Ebay today has revealed no MM-types for sale or auction (though some may be attached to a lens but not photographed in such a way as to reveal the MM connecting tab).
The photo below shows the tab top-centre on the left-hand mount - the little Tamron 28mm f2.5 is attached to the ST with the same MM connector though it's barely visible in the photo.
MM left Standard right
How many of you have that extra tab on your Adaptall 2 mounts?
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on Aug 13, 2019 19:14:51 GMT
Posted: Aug 13, 2019 19:14:51 GMT
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on Aug 14, 2019 9:37:44 GMT
Posted: Aug 14, 2019 9:37:44 GMT
When I had Tamron lenses for my Contax/Yashica's, the mounts were all AE, not MM. My favourites were the 300mm f2.8 Model 60B (mainly because I could not afford the Zeiss!), the 17mm f3.5 Model 151B and the 80-200mm f2.8 Model 30A. They were all from the SP series and I seldom saw an SP lens that disappointed in performance.
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on Aug 14, 2019 9:44:10 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 14, 2019 9:44:51 GMT by biggles3
Hi ariel,
Although not classified as SP, both your lenses offer above-average performance and are great to use.
The little 02B is a great performer between f5.6 and f11 - in fact quite outstanding - and I love its minimalist front. When I use the lens in very bright weather, I either use a Contax 49mm UV filter with their 49-55 Adapter Ring which acts like a shallow lens shade or more commonly, Tamron's uber-rare metal ring set for the 52B 90 f2.5 SP Macro lens. It has a 49mm thread and takes an external ring to provide a shallow hood for close macro work but without the hood, it is the perfect lens shade for the 02B. The combination is shown below:
FX-A Tamron 28mm w 52B Ring
The 40A is capable of producing some great images, especially in its mid-zoom range where between f8 and f11 its performance is exceptional. The only slight downside to this lens is that its predecessor, although larger and not quite as sharp, offered continuous focus macro across the entire focal range. But like you, I'd prefer the enhanced optical quality of the smaller, later design; its quality is attested to in the fact that Tamron kept producing it for 11 years, only discontinuing it in 1996. Quite something given that Tamron had started to produce an AF version at the end of the 1980s - it is a very rare beast though and considered highly desirable for its pictorial quality, even though optically it's not as good as Tamron's later mid-range zooms.
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on Aug 14, 2019 19:13:20 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 14, 2019 19:16:07 GMT by matthiasausk
I really love the 3.5/70-210 SP: adaptall-2.com/lenses/19AH.html And I used the cheap 28-70 for all my old non-Contax-stuff, which was quite OK. Lately I fell over the SP 28-135, which appears to be a very good lens. And together with the 159 its a well-balanced combination. I am dreaming of adaptall-2.com/lenses/63B.html |
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on Aug 16, 2019 13:54:36 GMT
Posted: Aug 16, 2019 13:54:36 GMT
I really love the 3.5/70-210 SP: adaptall-2.com/lenses/19AH.html And I used the cheap 28-70 for all my old non-Contax-stuff, which was quite OK. Lately I fell over the SP 28-135, which appears to be a very good lens. And together with the 159 its a well-balanced combination. I am dreaming of adaptall-2.com/lenses/63B.htmlYes! Hardly an SP lens that ever disappoints … as mentioned earlier. If the 180mm f2.5 63B performs as well as its big brother 300mm f2.8 60B (and it probably will), then it will be excellent! Never owned the 180mm though. |
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on Aug 16, 2019 21:17:31 GMT
Posted: Aug 16, 2019 21:17:31 GMT
Of the 2 Adaptall-2 adapters I have for C/Y mount, neither one has the MM tab - but - by the way it looks to the samples here, I'm not so sure that 1 of them is made by Tamron... Vivitar maybe? I'm wondering if the other 3rd party suppliers followed Tamron's enhancements after each design change.
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on Aug 16, 2019 21:57:37 GMT
Posted: Aug 16, 2019 21:57:37 GMT
Of the 2 Adaptall-2 adapters I have for C/Y mount, neither one has the MM tab - but - by the way it looks to the samples here, I'm not so sure that 1 of them is made by Tamron... Vivitar maybe? I'm wondering if the other 3rd party suppliers followed Tamron's enhancements after each design change. Early producers of adaptable mounts like Tamron's had largely stopped manufacturing them by the time the Contax 159MM appeared. Vivitar was the best known and offered TX and T4 mounts for several cameras, including Contax/Yashica, as well as the usual T2 type. Because they were reliant on other producers for all their lenses, they were forced to stop offering adaptable mounts when those manufacturers decided it was too costly. Thankfully, Tamron continued into the 1990s.
There certainly were a few independent manufacturers that produced lenses with MM-tabs, Sigma being the most prolific. I've attached a piccie showing a Sigma wide-angle that has the tab and displays the f22 in green like the Zeiss. 
28 Sigma MM Macro
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on Aug 19, 2019 19:22:52 GMT
Posted: Aug 19, 2019 19:22:52 GMT
...When I use the lens in very bright weather, I either use a Contax 49mm UV filter with their 49-55 Adapter Ring which acts like a shallow lens shade or more commonly, Tamron's uber-rare metal ring set for the 52B 90 f2.5 SP Macro lens. It has a 49mm thread and takes an external ring to provide a shallow hood for close macro work but without the hood, it is the perfect lens shade for the 02B. The combination is shown below... Nice idea about the step-up ring in combination with a filter as a hood... taking notes  |
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on Aug 25, 2019 18:40:48 GMT
Posted: Aug 25, 2019 18:40:48 GMT
If anyone is looking for a MM specific Adaptall-2 version, a trip to KEH will give you chance at 2 of them... $14 or $16 each. |
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on Sept 2, 2019 0:02:28 GMT
Posted: Sept 2, 2019 0:02:28 GMT
I can't speak to the TWO Tamron Adaptall-2 mounts for Yashica/Contax cameras, but I discovered on my own that there are, similarly, TWO Tamron Adaptall-2 mounts for Minolta/Seagull cameras. The difference is minor, but this probably existed for other camera brands as well.
The two Tamrons I once was interested in were the 70-150mm SP f2.8, and the 200-500mm Adaptall-2 f6.9. The first was just too expensive, and I was turned off by the latter's 82mm filter thread and over six pounds of weight.
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