In praise of Tamron Adaptall SLR Lenses

[johannielscom]

Just secured two Tamron 2x Converters, one is a Tamron BBAR Nikon -> Nikon converter, the other a Tamron SP BBAR Adaptall -> Nikon converter😎😎 I paid EUR 35 for both of them, shipping included 🙂 consider me lucky!

Especially the latter is the one I'm looking forward to, it will turn my highly-respected 80-210mm into a 160-420mm lens 😀 and will surely ROCK on the D600.

 

[nikonosguy]

i have the 500mm mirror and a 80-300? zoom love the mirror lens, but mirror lenses are somewhat finicky

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I've been building a small collection of Tamron AD2 lenses.

Currently I have the 24, SP 35~210, late model 90 and the 103A 80~210. They're all very good and the only one I have a problem with is the 35~210, which I find just a bit too heavy for general use. I also have the Nikon mount 2x SP converter, which is useful in an emergency.

I have them all fitted with N/AI mounts but generally use them on the Canon 5D, via Nikon/Canon adapters.

 

[johannielscom]

Screen shot from the corrected Lightroom file I've been working on tonight.
Nikon D600, Tamron SP BBAR Adaptall-2 24-48mm @ 24mm, f8.0 ISO400 1/250st

Sharp as a tack and low contrast to start out with, so easily enhanced. Gotta love it!

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Johan,
I have the 35-70/3.5 macro zoom. It makes super images. I've used it on the X-Pro1, but now I'm saving up for the D600 in order to give this lens a good workout! 🙂 I'll post something from this lens tomorrow.

 

[dtcls100]

Follow up on Tamron SP 300mm f2.8 (360b -- latest MF version). It is a very sharp and easy focusing lens. The internal focusing allows one to focus with one finger.

 

[dtcls100]

Also have shot a bit with my Tamron SP 17mm. Somewhat soft wide open at f3.5, but much better stopped down to f5.6. By f8, really sharp. Built in filters on the 51b version of this lens very useful. The newer version of this lens (151b) omits the built in filters and is inferior for this reason IMHO. To mount any external filters, you need the dedicated lens hood unless you do a bit of jury rigging. Most of these lenses that I see being sold come without the lens hood.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Calla Lily close-up

Calla Lily close-up

Johan, here's one I made with the Adaptall 2 35-70/2.8 macro zoom mounted on Fuji X-Pro1:

I like this lens a lot because you get high image quality in a very compact, not too heavy package with fairly high speed and a usefull macro function. Excellent all-rounder.

 

[mllanos1111]

I just sold my pristine version of the 35-210 and I have to say it was beautiful. IQ was on par with many top Nikon lenses.
I still have the original SP 90/2.5 and it's amazing and I liked it better than the Nikon 105/2.5.

 

[rbsinto]

My Tamron is the SP 35~105 2.8 manual focus zoom.
Had it for about ten years and it is one of my favorite lenses.
Fast, sharp and today an incredible bargain if you can find one.

 

[JeffL]

I like Tamron as well. I have the SP 70-210 f3.5 and SP 17 f3.5 and think they're very good.

 

[johannielscom]

I just sold my pristine version of the 35-210 and I have to say it was beautiful. IQ was on par with many top Nikon lenses.
I still have the original SP 90/2.5 and it's amazing and I liked it better than the Nikon 105/2.5.

the 2.5/90mm... I'm debating internally which lens to get for some wedding portraits etc, either the Tamron SP 2.5/90mm or the older Nikkor 2.0/85mm, maybe as an AF-D lens.

Guess it depends which I bump into first, for a low price 🙂

 

[raid]

I have the Nikkor too, Johan. I find the macro Tamron 90/2.5 sharper. The Nikkor may be better suited for portraits.

 

[johannielscom]

Thread from the dead!

After a years buying and selling my line-up is now:

• Tamron SP 3.5/17mm BBAR, type 51B (just pulled the trigger on that)
• Tamron SP 3.5-4.5/24-48mm BBAR, type 13A
• Tamron 3.5/35-70mm BBAR Macro, type 17A
• Tamron 3.5/70-150mm BBAR, type 20A
• Tamron 3.8-4.0/80-200mm BBAR, type 103A
• Tamron SP 2x converter BBAR, type 01F

These lenses get regular use on a Nikon D600 (also for filming), a Nikon D700, and a Chinon Memotron CE-II.

 

[Richard Griffith]

Thread from the dead!

After a years buying and selling my line-up is now:

• Tamron SP 3.5/17mm BBAR, type 51B (just pulled the trigger on that)
• Tamron SP 3.5-4.5/24-48mm BBAR, type 13A
• Tamron 3.5/35-70mm BBAR Macro, type 17A
• Tamron 3.5/70-150mm BBAR, type 20A
• Tamron 3.8-4.0/80-200mm BBAR, type 103A
• Tamron SP 2x converter BBAR, type 01F

These lenses get regular use on a Nikon D600 (also for filming), a Nikon D700, and a Chinon Memotron CE-II.

Johan
How do you find the 24-48mm Tamron. I remember that lens from back in the '80's and have been thinking of getting one.

Richard

 

[johannielscom]

Johan
How do you find the 24-48mm Tamron. I remember that lens from back in the '80's and have been thinking of getting one.

Richard

Richard,

I love my 24-48mm. It's not that spectacular at 48mm but at 24mm and stopped down to ~f5.6 it's very sharp, with low contrast. Distortion is non-linear but I like it. Low contrast lenses on DSLRs get me the image quality I look for. So does MF color film. The look can be very similar. In case you also film with your DSLR, the low contrast is great for filming and easily allows for footage correction later. When shooting the lens on my only remaining film camera loaded with B&W film, I find it very easy to adjust contrast to levels I like in post processing (I like my B&W to be high key, high contrast).

I'd try and get a lens with the hood included, the big front element is very flare-prone and contrast disappears instantly when the sun hits the front element.

This page shows a nice comparison in size for similar lenses from other brands... 😎 http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/13A.html

 

[Richard Griffith]

Richard,

I love my 24-48mm. It's not that spectacular at 48mm but at 24mm and stopped down to ~f5.6 it's very sharp, with low contrast. Distortion is non-linear but I like it. Low contrast lenses on DSLRs get me the image quality I look for. So does MF color film. The look can be very similar. In case you also film with your DSLR, the low contrast is great for filming and easily allows for footage correction later. When shooting the lens on my only remaining film camera loaded with B&W film, I find it very easy to adjust contrast to levels I like in post processing (I like my B&W to be high key, high contrast).

I'd try and get a lens with the hood included, the big front element is very flare-prone and contrast disappears instantly when the sun hits the front element.

This page shows a nice comparison in size for similar lenses from other brands... 😎 http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/13A.html

Many thanks Johan for your comments

I have seen one for sale in London which I think I will go for. I'll be using it with film on an OM1

Richard

 

[Luddite Frank]

I had an older version of the 90mm 2.5 Macro, Adaptall2. An absolutely stellar lens that I used on the Panasonic GF1 a while back. Sold it, but it's one I'd be willing to come back to. Not sure what prices are running for it now, but I remember paying less that 150US for a full boxed kit with adapters.

Edit - One more, and it looks like Raid beat me to this one!

Stunning images ! What / where was this production ?

 

[ronnies]

I've since added an SP 28-80 f/3.5-4.2 and a 28-50 f/3.5-4.5. The 28-50 is now my standard lightweight kit for Nikon along with the Nikkor 50-135 f/3.5.

Ronnie

 

[johannielscom]

I've since added an SP 28-80 f/3.5-4.2 and a 28-50 f/3.5-4.5. The 28-50 is now my standard lightweight kit for Nikon along with the Nikkor 50-135 f/3.5.

Ronnie

For a while I had the SP 28-80mm (the macro version, right?) and it was great, I loved it. But, the stops on the focus throw have nylon bushings on them and if you rack the lens to and fro too forceful, these will crack and once they're busted the focus throw develops severe play and will focus past infinity etc.

I went in the lens (not very hard) and saw no way to get the focus mount back into shape without dismantling the whole helicoid.
I still keep mine for parts since the optical unit was clean beyond belief. I'm hoping to run into a lens that has a near-new barrel and focus mount but a scratch or haze, and I can resurrect my 28-80mm!