New Member Registered: July, 2014 Posts: 5 | | Review Date: March 17, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $161.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Large AFOV, well-built, high quality optics | | Cons: | 90° prism | | Camera Used: tamron lenses, naked eye, digiscoping with cell phone
Handling: 5
Value: 10
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This may be the most unique, versatile piece of kit that came out of the Tamron 'Adaptall' line.
If you already own vintage Adaptall lenses, this eyepiece adapter is an incredible way to transform them into an array of spotting scopes or telescopes. I have used the adapter for more than a year, and have enjoyed every minute.
For astronomy, the adapter is especially ideal for use with a 300mm f/2.8 lens, which results in a 7mm exit pupil (which is generally the most ideal for nighttime light gathering, as it aligns with the maximum diameter of a human pupil). In fact, this lens combination may actually be too ideal with the 112mm front element of Tamron's 300 f/2.8. Looking at the moon is blindingly bright (with no teleconverters or ND filters). This is (of course) a good problem to have. Everywhere you look in the sky, hundreds of stars appear. Andromeda is faintly visible in the city, mostly blocked by light pollution.
As a spotting scope, the 15x magnification is effective. Images are crisp, immersive, and engaging. The depth of field can be a bit narrow for fast-moving targets, but this depends on the lens. The 90° prism makes this difficult for animals and birds at ground level, but also creates unique opportunities for small tripods, tall trees, and observations in flight. Not recommended for those who don't have a flexible neck 
The most remarkable aspect of this adapter is the eyepiece. It features a fantastically wide field of view, with a surprising amount of clarity even at the edges. I have tried many spotting scopes, and I find this eyepiece one of the most immersive. Moreover, it is durable, made entirely of metal. The eyepiece is actually designed without a rubberized eye cup. At some level, this is a downside as it is less comfortable, and almost requires a tripod for stable viewing. However, I like the openness of the design, and the lack of rubber will certainly extend the shelf-life of the equipment.
In short, this adapter is really a testament to the care and understanding Tamron had for its customers and their needs. The Adaptall line remains one of the most versatile and underrated experiments in the history of consumer photography. Contemporary manufacturers should take note.
For me, it's one of the best purchases I ever made.
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Site Supporter Registered: November, 2012 Location: North Wales Posts: 2,869 | | Review Date: July 25, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, versatility, specs | | Cons: | 45° prism would have been better for general use, not many around. | | Handling: 8
Value: 9
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There are but a few eyepiece adapters on the s/h market, mainly the generic vintage japanese made ones that give focal length/10 magnification. This is far superior to those.
I have mainly been using mine on my 500mm mirror and my 300mm f2.8. Taking the eyepiece adapter means I have spotting scope magnification to back up my binocs with only the need to carry this relatively small item extra. Because the magnification factor with this is the focal length divided by 20 ie 25x with the mirror or 15x with the 300mm, it pays to also have a TC along to to boost the mag. I invariably have the 014F 1.4x on the 300mm anyway, giving 21x. The mirror lens + eyepiece combo is a super-convenient "in your (large) pocket" compact scope.
The images by eye are excellent, fully comparable in resolution to my Opticron HR66 scope. In terms of fringing the eyepiece adapter + either of the lenses mentioned is better (no LD glass in my old model scope), and the 300mm with its 104mm objective knocks the socks off the HR66 in low light. Exit pupil is wide and the eye relief is generous, unlike those generic eyepieces I mentioned. And there is a built in diopter adjust, though with the lens focus you only need that for infinity focus. But it does make a useful fine focus/quick adjust as well.
So far so excellent, but if I have a gripe it is the 90° prism these have. Perfect for moon gazing, not so good for general use. With my 300mm f2.8 it is easy to rotate the lens + eyepiece 90° in its tripod ring, and look in from the side, the image is still erect and laterally correct. But it takes a bit of getting used to and sighting on to your subject is a hassle, it's all less natural than sighting along a scope and then putting eye to eyepiece.
I also did a few tests using the adapter with my camera - eyepiece projection digiscoping (pic link above). Results were pretty comparable to using the 01F 2x tc, slightly higher magnification.
Limited of course to adaptall lenses, though it's worth bearing in mind the 49mm thread on the mount facilitates adapting to scopes etc as well (update - see description above).
Strong recomendation if you use adaptall long lenses. But the trick is finding one, and when you do they tend to be around a hundred pounds, so not cheap but worth it IMO.
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