Tamron SP 70-150 mm f/ 2.8 Soft Adaptall-2 model 51A Lens

• Nice telephoto focal range: 70-150mm
• Not very big and heavy compared to Tamron's SP 80-200mm f/2.8 LD
• Wide aperture: f/2.8
• Easily adaptable to other mounts
• Build all of metal
• Well damped focus and focal rings
• Nice bokeh
• Clicky aperture stops, full and half stops
• Works fine with x2 telephoto adapter for makro shots

Weaknesses:

• A little bit soft wide open, less sharp than Tamron's SP 80-200mm f/2.8 LD
• Soft focus effect is difficult to use
• I preffer push/pull type lens of the era than this two ring sollutions
• The integrated lens hood is too small in my opinnion

Comments:

I used it for portraits and makro shots where I do not need to get ultrasharp pictures. You will get nice pictures wide open, but with little bit unsharp, for candid portraits it is very nice, close it one or two steps to increase contrast and sharpness.

It is a bit tricky to manage, having three rings (focal, focus, aperture) for only one hand. I prefer push-pull type lenses over this type of lens as the push-pull type is more easier and quicker to use in one hand mode.

Regarding bokeh, I like what it offers, it has straight aperture blades so you will get octagonal shaped highlights when closed two steps and further.

The softfocus effect needs some time to get used, it helps to increase the bokeh effect but it will also affect the subject being photographed. In the optical view finder you will not notice the soft effect. So used with care and take your time.

This lens has an integrated lens hood, but in my opinion it is too small/short fo this lens.

This is a rare lens, you will not see it very often on auctions, generally they cost more than Tamron's SP 80-200mm f/2.8 LD, but with patience you can get one for the right price.