Tamron Adaptamatic 135/2.8 - sharp !

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

This is the latest in my collection of old Tamron Adaptamatics -

This is one of the most common of the Adaptamatic primes, but the zooms are more common. These are my Adaptamatic primes so far -

L-R - 35/2.8, 28/2.8, 135/2.8, 200/3.5

Missing are the 21/4, 24/2.8, 105/2.8 and 300/5.6. The two wide angles are quite scarce and tend to go for high prices, $100+. The 105/2.8 is very rare, I only saw one once. Most of the others can be found for next to nothing, $10 would be typical. I think the average cost of my Adaptamatic collection was around $ 10.

As for this one, it came in excellent working condition, just some external wear. As usual with the Adaptamatics, it is very well made and nicely finished, a handsome lens in every way. It is a very typical M42 lens of the time (I use the M42 Adaptamatic mount) with manual-Auto switch and focus down to 5ft/1.5m.

Performance is excellent. I know there are no bad 135's, but not all of them are equal, and this one is better than most, going to the limits of my sensor apparently while wide-open. Its at least as good as the 135/2.8 Tokina T4 for instance. This is one of those lenses that snap into focus.

Experimental shot at a train station -

With extension ring -

The bird -

crop -

yalcinaydin · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 825 Location: Izmir, Turkey

After getting use to Zeiss glasses my sharp lens concept changed but these samples are pretty good.

gil · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject:

Cool Luis. I am just starting with M42 lenses and I already feel the pain in my wallets for so many options to procure. You mention an Adaptamatic M42 adapter. How does it differ from regular M42 adapter? (I am coming from the A-mount).

Those Flamingos from the SF Zoo? I am at San Jose and the last time I was in the SF Zoo was when my kids were still in elementary and now both of them have graduated from college already (thus the renewed interest in pursuing manual lenses, still no money for the good/expensive Sony/CZ AF glasses). Since I am like 70% birder, I just usually visit the Palo Alto Baylands when weather and wife permitting.

My hats off to you on you manual lens adventure.

cheers,
gil

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

Hi Gil,

Yes, thats the SF Zoo.

A wild birder needs more time and patience than I have ! My kids are still in elementary/middle school.

The Tamron Adaptamatics were so called because on these you could swap out the lens mounts - like an early version of the Adaptalls, same idea. You could use the same lens on a Canon FD, Miranda, Exakta, etc., if you had the Adaptamatic gadget for them.

The Adaptamatics had mounts for a lot of obsolete systems, there are no Adaptamatics for Pentax K's, Nikon AI's or EOS. So the best is the M42. If you have an M42 Adaptamatic mount you can use the regular M42->whatever adapters from ebay to put them on DSLR's.

Manual lenses can be VERY cheap. Even usable birder-glass. You can get a quite decent 400/6.3 from ebay for $20. Spiratones were good, I had a nice one.

gil · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:49 am Post subject:

Thanks much Luis.
gil