Addicted to Tamron Adaptall-2

[Andreas Thaler]

I confess that I am addicted to Tamron Adaptall-2.

Tamrons are beautiful, they are good, always a little brighter than the competition, even better as SP, and even when you open them you only see quality,

Click here for the shopping list

Tamron Adaptall-2 lenses | Adaptall-2.com

A web resource providing information about vintage Tamron non-AF lenses.

www.adaptall-2.com

Are there any other addicts here?

 

[xkaes]

Thanks for providing that link -- even though the website still is under-construction.

Anyone know of any similar sites for Sigma, Tokina, etc. lens makers????

The only Tamron photo lenses I see missing on the website (excluding scopes and other optics that Tamron also made) are the full series of large format lenses from Tamron -- but I'm not surprised. Very few people even know about them:

http://www.subclub.org/fujinon/colortamron.htm

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Tamron SP 300mm F/5.6 (54B)

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 300mm F/5.6 Model 54B

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 300mm F/5.6 Model 54B

www.adaptall-2.com

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Tamron SP 90/2.5 Tele Macro (52B) and Tokina RMC 17/3.5

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 90mm F/2.5 Model 52B

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 90mm F/2.5 Model 52B

www.adaptall-2.com

Tokina RMC 17mm f/3.5 - Review / Lab Test Report - Analysis

OpticalLimits - Lens reviews and beyond!

www.opticallimits.com

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Tamron 28-50/3.5~4.5 (07A) and Tamron SP 17/3.5 (51B)

Tamron Adaptall-2 28-50mm F/3.5-4.5 Model 07A

Tamron Adaptall-2 28-50mm F/3.5-4.5 Model 07A

www.adaptall-2.com

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 17mm F/3.5 Model 51B

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 17mm F/3.5 Model 51B

www.adaptall-2.com

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Tamron SP 80-200mm/2.8 LD (30A)

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 80-200mm F/2.8 LD Model 30A

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 80-200mm F/2.8 LD Model 30A

www.adaptall-2.com

 

[BMbikerider]

I tend to agree with you, but you have to be careful. There were a number of versions of their well respected 80/210 zoom and one was better than the others and cannot remember which it was. Then there were two versions of the 24mm F2.5 and the better version, again I don't know how to tell them apart but it was VERY good.
I have 35/135 F4 constant aperture which I use on my Nikon F2a as a go anywhere walk-about lens and that is also very good. 12x16 prints just demand to be made from the negatives. I also have a 90mm macro which is also very good, not quite up to the standard of my current 90mm/F2.8AF but at a fraction of the price who's complaining?
I also remember the 28/80 being very sharp too,but with dreadful curvature at the short end - almost like a fisheye lens.

Their big failing for Tamron AD11 against todays lenses has to be the actual weight. That 35/135 is exceptionally well made but is heavier than my 24/110S Nikon lens although the aperture on that lens is the same for both lenses. and the new lens is physically bigger.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

The only Tamron photo lenses I see missing on the website (excluding scopes and other optics that Tamron also made) are the full series of large format lenses from Tamron

That's no surprise, because the page I linked is all about Adaptall-2.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I tend to agree with you, but you have to be careful.

I agree.

That's why I picked out the ones with the best reviews from the Tamron program, and I'll show a few of them here. These lenses are first class in every way. A pleasure to work with.

 

[xkaes]

That's no surprise, because the page I linked is all about Adaptall-2.

That website lists Tamron's T-mount lenses, their Adapt-a-matic lenses, and even their F-seriies (fixed mount) lenses -- not just the Adaptall-2 lenses.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

That website lists Tamron's T-mount lenses, their Adapt-a-matic lenses, and even their F-seriies (fixed mount) lenses -- not just the Adaptall-2 lenses.

It doesn't matter, it's complete now

 

[miha]

This is the Tamron I always lusted for

 

[xkaes]

If you're looking for upper-body exercise, get a gym membership. With the money you save, you can buy a 300mm f4.0 and a 400mm f5.6.

 

[Chuck1]

Adaptall is a dangerous stepping stone, it's just an enabler fos GAS.
You've committed to nikon...
Then you're looking at an LX, or an om3, or an XK or an F1....or a contax S2
The glass is good don't get me wrong, and they are generally reasonably priced
I have the 17,24,28,90,70-210 3.5, 80-200 2.8, 35-105 2.8
The only hoods I absolutely had to have were for the 17 (I have both versions)
Novoflex is equally dangerous, I ended up with a Canon eos mount in that system, an occasionally think about one of those...
I need to have a yard sale....

 

[benjiboy]

I have all the original Canon hoods for my fourteen FD lenses, I also have the original rubber hood for my Tamron SP 17mm F 3.5 lens, it's taken a long time to get them together.

 

[dynachrome]

I have a fair number of Adaptall II lenses and adapters. The ones I don't have yet and will eventually get are the 90/2.8 SP Macro, the 80-200/2.8, the 400/4 and the 180/2.5. I don't think I will be interested in the 300/2.8. The 17 would also be nice, for the mounts where I don't already have a lens that wide. The Tamrons I use most often are the 35-135 (both versions), the 90/2.5 (52B) and the 35-80. The 300/5.6 is handy for close-ups when getting close is difficult. I don't think I will ever find the 70-150/2.8. I've only seen pictures of it.

 

[KinoGrafx]

I had that 300/2.8 and a couple other adaptalls when they were new, and the mounts (nikon) all wiggled-they were never solid or tight. But the 300 was good glass!

 

[Andreas Thaler]

The Adaptall-2 adapters are high-quality precision mechanical pieces. It's worth taking a look inside.

Here I was able to quickly repair an adapter for Minolta MD whose panel lever was stuck:

Tamron Adaptall-2 adapter for Minolta MD: Aperture lever released

The aperture lever on the adapter for Minolta MD is stuck. So I open the beautiful and valuable piece of precision engineering. This retaining ring had become loose. After tightening, the aperture lever works again. +++ All information provided without guarantee and use at your own...

www.photrio.com

 

[xkaes]

I don't think I will ever find the 70-150/2.8. I've only seen pictures of it.

The problem isn't finding one. The problem is affording one. They show up on EBAY even once in a while.

 

[kl122002]

Tamron's lenses are actually GREAT, especially the Adpt-2-all SP series. My most favorite is the 17, 90, 500 and the most frequent used is 28-80. They all really have good glass and I don't understand why they are so underrated today.

My old pals never know I was using Tamron instead of Canon in these areas.

And for the adapters I have m42, Canon FD, Olympus and C/Y . Interesting fact is the older model of Adpt-2-all mount has popped up a housing for a wheel with different naming (e.g, "Canon FD" vs "for Canon FTb ")

 

[xkaes]

That's an important note that you made -- that there are different versions of the Adaptall 2 mounts. I'm only familiar with the Minolta versions -- there were two, one for the later cameras with Shutter-priority and Programmed exposure modes. They are not marked as different, so you have to look closely. I assume this is true for other camera brands as well.

I've been updating the Independent Lens Maker list for Minolta cameras -- over at MINMAN -- as I find time, and making some other improvements. It's a pretty long list -- and growing:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/lenstable.htm

 

[dynachrome]

Another Tamron I used quite a bit was the 80-210 f/3.8. I have copies of both versions. The lens is slow but with the bright finder of a Minolta X-700, it's pleasant enough to use. The lenses also worked well with the Minolta 2X-300S teleconverter. This was only suitable in very good light or with a tripod.

 

[Chuck1]

For nikon anyway the adaptall 2 had two protruding tabs, that engaged in slots on the lens, I once got the SP200-500/3.8-5.6(?) that looked like the most modern version but had only one reciever, my mounts didn't sit right, so I returned it.
Not sure if this is the pre shutter priority/Program version of the lens.

 

[xkaes]

That's my guess. Exactly the same as with the Minolta versions.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Tamron Adaptall Lens Compendium

Tamron built up a unique line of Adaptall and Adaptall-2 lenses with interchangeable mounts. See here how the optics compare.

www.apotelyt.com