[Ski Jumper]

Looking for an affordable big lens that is pretty sharp for my k1. The Tammy 200-500 5.6 (31a) adaptall is often available for $400 or less. I've read the older reviews and other than handling, people seem quite pleased. I have a 300da, and an A-400 5.6. Main intention is wildlife (larger birds such as herons, eagles etc) and some action such as race boats (usually at a fair distance). The A400 is fine, it's just a bit finicky and not very flexible. Any users of the tamron on here? Is there another lens worth taking a look at I'm missing? Eventually ill probably unload the lenses and invest in a 150-450. Even thought about trying an smc 500, but it appears the tamron is sharper. But until then, yay or nay?

[vonBaloney]

It is definitely hard to handle with the balance (I used a very long plate with an extra brace to the lens barrel in the small space between the the focus ring and the zoom ring) and also because it is not internal focusing -- you're spinning that big barrel and it extends so the balance is changing all the time too. And it is also definitely quite sharp, but tends to a bit of PF as most of the Adaptalls do. It really comes down to how cheap you can get it and how much you like to play with these difficult old lenses. No way I would pay $400 in today's market but in the $100-$200 range? Maybe. I wouldn't expect any big advantage over what you've got already though -- just another toy.

[Ski Jumper]

It is definitely hard to handle with the balance (I used a very long plate with an extra brace to the lens barrel in the small space between the the focus ring and the zoom ring) and also because it is not internal focusing -- you're spinning that big barrel and it extends so the balance is changing all the time too. And it is also definitely quite sharp, but tends to a bit of PF as most of the Adaptalls do. It really comes down to how cheap you can get it and how much you like to play with these difficult old lenses. No way I would pay $400 in today's market but in the $100-$200 range? Maybe. I wouldn't expect any big advantage over what you've got already though -- just another toy.

Another toy is probably accurate. Near mint tamrons are 350-400. 100-200 gets you scratches and haze. Maybe its best to save for the dfa. Thanks.

[luftfluss]

I have both the Tammy 200-500/5.6 and the Pentax K 500/4.5. At f/8, the Tamron is pretty good, but the Pentax is sharper.

The 31A is obviously large and heavy and therefore best used on a monopod or tripod, but it is not so heavy that it cannot be used hand-held, and obviously the fact that it is a zoom makes it versatile. It also focuses very close, which can be pretty useful.

Edit: First two pics are with the 31A, second is the 31A + Pentax Rear Converter-A 1.4x-S, the rest are 31A alone.

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Last edited by luftfluss; 12-26-2022 at 10:01 AM.

[gatorguy]

I have both the Tammy 200-500/5.6 and the Pentax K 500/4.5. At f/8, the Tamron is pretty good, but the Pentax is sharper.

The 31A is obviously large and heavy and therefore best used on a monopod or tripod, but it is not so heavy that it cannot be used hand-held, and obviously the fact that it is a zoom makes it versatile. It also focuses very close, which can be pretty useful.

I don't see the lens ID'd on these. Which, the Pentax or the Tamron? I'm guessing the Tamron.

[Ski Jumper]

I have both the Tammy 200-500/5.6 and the Pentax K 500/4.5. At f/8, the Tamron is pretty good, but the Pentax is sharper.

The 31A is obviously large and heavy and therefore best used on a monopod or tripod, but it is not so heavy that it cannot be used hand-held, and obviously the fact that it is a zoom makes it versatile. It also focuses very close, which can be pretty useful.

Thanks. Glad to find someone who has both lenses. Reviews on both lenses vary from the pentax 500 not sharp to very sharp and tamron soft at 500 to sharper than a $4000 nikon zoom. Lol. Based on the weight, the 500 pentax is probably not a huge difference in handling vs the a400, which is fairly easy imo.
Thanks again
-jim Fleming

[luftfluss]

I don't see the lens ID'd on these. Which, the Pentax or the Tamron? I'm guessing the Tamron.

All of 'em are the Tamron - the Pentax 500 doesn't transmit the aperture data.

[gatorguy]

All of 'em are the Tamron - the Pentax 500 doesn't transmit the aperture data.

Thanks Luftfluss. That said, I think my K3III would record the aperture data.

[luftfluss]

Thanks. Glad to find someone who has both lenses. Reviews on both lenses vary from the pentax 500 not sharp to very sharp and tamron soft at 500 to sharper than a $4000 nikon zoom. Lol. Based on the weight, the 500 pentax is probably not a huge difference in handling vs the a400, which is fairly easy imo.
Thanks again
-jim Fleming

One thing to watch for with reviews of manual focus lenses is that folks might miss focus a bit and then blame the lens for being soft.

The Pentax K 500 is much larger and heavier than the A 400/5.6, and also has a much longer minimum focus distance.

I'm a fan of the A400 - one of my favorite lenses ever - and a good way to expand its usefulness is with the Rear Converter A 1.4x-L. Very little image degradation, although more demanding on technique.

[Ski Jumper]

One thing to watch for with reviews of manual focus lenses is that folks might miss focus a bit and then blame the lens for being soft.

The Pentax K 500 is much larger and heavier than the A 400/5.6, and also has a much longer minimum focus distance.

I'm a fan of the A400 - one of my favorite lenses ever - and a good way to expand its usefulness is with the Rear Converter A 1.4x-L. Very little image degradation, although more demanding on technique.

I have to admit I've had some difficulty getting sharp images from my 400. But I have improved with it the more I get to know it. Green hexagon is rarely spot on, often I have to be just smidgen back or ahead of focus confirmation. Images clean up nicely in pp though.

[Lowell Goudge]

You should look here

Tamron Adaptall SP 200-500mm F5.6 - PentaxForums.com

This took a 140 mm lens plate to balance on a tripod

[Ski Jumper]

You should look here

Tamron Adaptall SP 200-500mm F5.6 - PentaxForums.com

This took a 140 mm lens plate to balance on a tripod

Thanks for the link. Nice job on the plate. Do you still have and/or use the lens?

[btnapa]

First two pics are with the 31A, second is the 31A + Pentax Rear Converter-A 1.4x-S, the rest are 31A alone.

These are fantastic examples of images done with a long telephoto lens. You have good technique as I know how hard it is to get images like these. With a manual focus lens, it is near impossible.

[Lowell Goudge]

Thanks for the link. Nice job on the plate. Do you still have and/or use the lens?

Still have it am thinking of trying it out with the 1.7x AF adaptor on the newer AF bodies to see how much better the AF is, than K5 which struggled on an F5.6 lens.

One thing to remember is that with the KA mount, it reports wide open if F4. You need to varnish one point on the mount to make the camera read it correctly as F 5.6

[luftfluss]

These are fantastic examples of images done with a long telephoto lens. You have good technique as I know how hard it is to get images like these. With a manual focus lens, it is near impossible.

Thank you! I really dedicated myself to the long manual-focus tele lenses, as I had no AF alternatives.