| Author: | | New Member Registered: December, 2016 Posts: 22 | | Review Date: February 20, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, compact size, focal lenght, well builded,no CA, tripod mount, one aparature setting, looks cool on camera | | Cons: | Dark, bit heavy, some don't like miror lense donuts bokeh | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 6
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax-K70
| |
Mirror lenses are specific. Some love them some hate them ( mainly because donut bokeh ).
I bought mine very cheap because there was some fungus inside.
First time i took it for shoots i loved it! Focal lenght is everything i need for bird hunting. It's damn sharp and compact size - in compare to "normal", non mirror 500mm lenses. It's also smaller and lighter than some other mirror lenses like mto 500/f8 or rubinar etc.
The one aparature setting is a pro to me - lense is perfectly set for the one and only f/8 ( so there is no chromatic aberration).
The only cons are fact it's a dark lense and sometimes bokeh can kill your photo if there is too many donuts  .
Any other cons are same for all other manual lenses.
For me it might be best option if you can't spend to much money for sigma 150-500 or 50-500. I really wish that some day i could compare Tamron 55b and 55bb for the image quality.
Few shots - some are desized ( because of server mb limit )
      
   | | | | | | | Moderator
Site Supporter Registered: June, 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Posts: 17,377 | | Review Date: June 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Well made, tripod mount | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 7
Value: 7
Camera Used: K20d & K2
| |
I gave this lens an 8 although it probably deserves an 8.5. This is relative to other mirror lenses. I have owned both the 55B and 55BB for several years and can't really say which I like better. This version has an integrated filter system and tripod collar. See my comments in the 55BB review regarding the differences in optical formulae of the 55B and 55BB, they are slightly different. I like the looks of the B better but the BB seems to perform better. At the end of the day, both of these are mirror lenses and the Tamron line is about as good as it gets without spending a lot of money on some of the rare mirrors.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: Vellore, India Posts: 83 | | Review Date: May 15, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $175.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, Weight, Cost | | Cons: | Slow, manual focus | |
I bought this online in ~ 2004-05, and its my only lens in this range. I have seen bird pics by others taken with 70-300 zoom lenses and cropped down, and tried that too with my Sigma 70-300 Macro Super so that I can have the AF advantage. But in my experience its easier to take pics with the Tamron handheld, as the Sigma hunts and hunts, and pics taken with the Tamron are quite good.
This lens has spoilt me; its so easy to carry in the regular camera bag and use handheld, that I now dont want to use a tripod.
For me, the main drawback is its slowness. I do wish to have a better keep ratio. But the reason for a low keep ratio are more than one: I dont use a tripod, and probably dont have the best technique. Why blame the lens, which has given some lovely pics.
The donut bokehs are unavoidable in some circumstances. If you find yourself in such a spot, you will have to move around to change the background.
Contrast and sharpness are acceptable I would say. Focussing is easy and after reading on the forum, I think a split focussing screen change would increase my keep ratio.
I am upgrading from a K100D to a K-x, and am also awaiting my Tokina 400mm SD manual lens (which means I will need a bigger camera bag). I just noticed that there are few small fungal hyphae on the front mirror, which do not affect the image.
Inspite of all the negatives, it has been an easy to use faithful companion and I cant see myself retiring this fellow.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Posts: 3,381 | | Review Date: September 20, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Very good build; light; tripod mount; decent sharpness | | Cons: | Doughnut highlights (annoying to some); fixed aperture; shallow dof | |
I'd recommend it for its' decent sharpness, very good build, cost, and size (very light and easy to carry).
Don't be dissuaded by those who complain about 'doughnut' bokeh. The doughnuts can enhance an image when used effectively and if you don't care for them they can be adjusted/removed with post processing software.
You will need to use good manual focus technique due to the shallow dof and quite a bit of light due to the fixed f8.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2008 Location: UK Posts: 167 | | Review Date: June 24, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Light, compact, sharper than most 500mm mirrors around. | | Cons: | Its fast (F8) so focusing becomes tricky in bad light, doughnut ring boken can be and issue | |
Overall, I would recommend it because the alternatives for decent/good results, at very large focal lengths, are generally orders of magnitude more expensive. It is also small, so easy to carry in your bag.
Advantages:
> Price
> Reach (750mm on Pentax, 1.5x)
> Comparatively small and lightweight
Disadvantages:
> Fixed aperture F8, no control on DOF and makes manual focus difficult.
Check more here and here.
| | | | | Pentaxian
Moderator Emeritus Registered: May, 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Posts: 10,643
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 16, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Well built but very light. has tripod mount. Close focus. Reasonable sharpness | | Cons: | Usual 'doughnut' highlights. Fixed aperture | |
This lens is quite different than the typical fixed length lens. It's a mirror version so there is no aperture ring or blades. It's fixed at f8 making it a bit on the slow side and no control of the DOF.
The biggest advantages are size and weight over a fixed length lens of similar FL. Image quality is very good for an older lens. Suffers from some colour shifting in high contrast scenes (tree branches against the sky). It also has the doughnut shaped highlights in the bokeh when you have highlights in a darker background. Otherwise the sharpness and IQ are very good. Works well in trap focus mode as well.
Great built in lens hood and has a tripod collar but it's light so not a big feature IMO.
Compared to the Sigma 50-500, this lens is slower by one stop but IQ can stand up to the Sigma.
if you want a long, lightweight lens for travel etc then I think it's well worth it.
Possible add ons for it are here:
Mount:
2xTC but this wil make the lens very slow (f16) and only good in bright light:
 | | |
;)
;)
;)
