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03-07-2019, 05:22 AM   #976
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I have cleaned 55BB's by separating the lens at the helicoid (remove the distance scale - small screws). To avoid getting grease off the helicoid onto hands, wipes etc insert a piece of thin card into the lens front half.
IIRC you do need to mark the point of separation. Overall an easy lens to clean.

03-07-2019, 06:39 AM   #977
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QuoteOriginally posted by Skodadriver Quote
Unsure if I am addressing the correct thread for this but I have a couple of questions.
I have just received my Tamron 55BB mirror lens, bought at auction with the fungus described so not disappointed to find lots of spores on the glass.
I have watched a video of how to dismantle the lens and it seems possible even for a clutz like me. (I dismantled my Pentax 80-320 and lost a collar into the lens body and am unable to retrieve it)
Is there any problems I should be aware of if I attempt this?
A few trial images show the lens to be sharper than my also recently acquired Makinon 500mm Mirror that looks in very good condition regarding the optics.
The little filter (with the legend normal) is also not optically perfect, the lens seems to work without it o do I need it?
before attempting your repairs, you may want to review this thread:

Cross-head screws - a caution: - PentaxForums.com
03-07-2019, 09:12 AM   #978
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
before attempting your repairs, you may want to review this thread:

Cross-head screws - a caution: - PentaxForums.com


Thank you aslyfox, I have some JIS screwdrivers. Good point though, my wife has tidied up my coffee table, I wonder where she put them.
03-08-2019, 06:09 PM   #979
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got out today to try out the K 3 and my recently acquired Tamron SP 500 f8 TELE MACRO 55BB [ my first mirror lens ]

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Last edited by aslyfox; 03-10-2019 at 02:36 PM.
03-09-2019, 03:08 AM - 1 Like   #980
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beautiful!

It is easy to fall in love with your first mirror lens!
03-09-2019, 04:12 AM   #981
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thank you

more in my flickr.com Tamron SP 500 F1:8 55BB | Flickr
03-10-2019, 05:10 AM   #982
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QuoteOriginally posted by marcusBMG Quote
I have cleaned 55BB's by separating the lens at the helicoid (remove the distance scale - small screws). To avoid getting grease off the helicoid onto hands, wipes etc insert a piece of thin card into the lens front half.
IIRC you do need to mark the point of separation. Overall an easy lens to clean.

Thank you Marcus for your advice.
I was a bit sceptical of splitting the lens so first I had a go at removing the front element with a lens spanner, cleaned the glass up with meths and refitted it without mishap.
Lens shows a better contrast than when it had fungus though it may be the lighting.
I will be selling the Makinon, it doesn't provide results as good as this Tamron.

03-10-2019, 07:00 AM   #983
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You're welcome. I had a 55BB that showed clear signs of having had its front element removed. Its IQ was sub par. I think the tolerances on these are extremely tight. So I have avoided messing with the front element, IMO it's easier and less risky to separate the lens.
I don't bother with any of the generic mirrors. A sigma 600mm I sold earlier this year was comparable IQ to the tamrons. I'd like to check out a couple more of the soviet ones.
03-10-2019, 10:17 AM   #984
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QuoteOriginally posted by marcusBMG Quote
You're welcome. I had a 55BB that showed clear signs of having had its front element removed. Its IQ was sub par. I think the tolerances on these are extremely tight. So I have avoided messing with the front element, IMO it's easier and less risky to separate the lens.
I don't bother with any of the generic mirrors. A sigma 600mm I sold earlier this year was comparable IQ to the tamrons. I'd like to check out a couple more of the soviet ones.


It rather looks like I may have got rather lucky then, the IQ seems unchanged.
Certainly seems to work fine on number plates.
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03-10-2019, 10:44 AM   #985
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Yep looks good.
03-10-2019, 02:34 PM   #986
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K 3 + Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 500mm f/8 Mirror (55BB)

Female Sumatran Tiger at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center

[ hand held through the glass window of the enclosure ]
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03-12-2019, 05:48 AM   #987
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After having cleaned (probably badly knowing me) my Tamron SP500mm 55BB I am gratified to find the lens much to my liking, even hand held it is capable of some great results. Not that it was bad even with fungus!
I must copy aslyfox and get out to my local zoo this summer or the deer feeding place in the New Forest. This lens with it's shallow depth of field and unique bokeh is going to be fun to use although I am going to have to master leaning myself or the camera on a more stable platform than I can achieve without one.


Gale fore winds and rain here today mean that I have yet to try it out on a monopod in the garden, does a monopod help much with this lens?


Another great value Tamron SP adaptall.
03-12-2019, 06:06 AM   #988
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unusual use of a telephoto

saw the light and grabbed the K 3 + Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 500mm f/8 Mirror (55BB)

crop only

more crop and pp
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03-17-2019, 05:25 AM - 3 Likes   #989
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A bit blustery today but I mounted my K-5 and mirror lens on a tripod and took some images at 500mm and 1000mm (Pentax T6-2x), not bad at all!
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03-17-2019, 09:09 AM   #990
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QuoteOriginally posted by Skodadriver Quote
A bit blustery today but I mounted my K-5 and mirror lens on a tripod and took some images at 500mm and 1000mm (Pentax T6-2x), not bad at all!
Lovely shots. I even like the faint Spaghetti-Os bokeh in the background on the second one.
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