| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2023 Posts: 63 | | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2019 Posts: 34 | | Review Date: October 12, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | lovelly image quality, nice bokeh, useful macro focal distance | | Cons: | too long to fit in my camera bag | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: sony a99
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I really like this lens (I only bought it for the M42 adapter!), and the more I use them the more I like the Tamron adaptall range. They may not have the intense colours of a Pentax lens, but they have a nice pastel effect, especially in the bokeh. This lens although not razor sharp like a dedicated macro, is certainly sharp enough, it has a useful focal length too and lets you get close to subjects for macros. The only drawback is length as it won't fit in my camera bag. For the price you can pick them up for this lens is a steal.
This image is uncropped at maximum macro
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 892 | | Review Date: October 18, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cost, adaptall options. | | Cons: | Purple fringing. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5 & Sony SLT A-37
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The cost of this lens included postage. My awarded points are relative to other manual zooms of a similar range.
My copy is in very good condition and came with a Minolta "A" adapter so it can be used on my Sony too ( and my Canon with a M42 and M42 to EF adapter).
Good points;
Takes nice images, maybe needs the occasional boost of contrast and/or colour.
As with most non SP adaptall zooms, can be found to suit the meanest budgets.
My copy at least has no zoom creep and the focussing ring is well damped.
Makes a good option with the PK-A adapter focussing by eye and focus confirmation.
Did I mention the price?
A great alternative to Tamron 70-210 or 80-210mm, with a fair bit extra at the long end which is sharp enough stopped down.
Not so good points;
Not sharp wide open...no surprise there then.
Not easy to focus by eye on my Sony, no auto stop down either.
Some purple fringing, but I have seen worse on other Tamrons including AF.
Summary;
Like most Tamron adaptalls it is great value for money if cost is a major factor.
I have seldom been disappointed with the old manual focus Tamrons.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2012 Location: North Wales Posts: 2,869
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 19, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | All round quality, good close focus, more range than the 70/80-210's | | Cons: | A certain weight + size penalty, tamrons propensity for PF, but overall none really, not at the price | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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This is 103A/46A's big brother, same looks and style, just a larger 3.3x zoom. The earlier 04A looks almost the same, slight differences in the focus/zoom sleeve, and although adaptall-2.org cites a "heavily revised design" it is the similarities of the 13 element design that are more in evidence to me....but in any case this one is supposed to be an improvement. Pretty much as fast as the 2.6/3x zooms, only dropping down to f4.5 extending to 250mm. I think most readers know what one is getting with adaptalls re mechanics etc so nuff said its all good.
Optically I think this is a sleeper, overlooked in favour of the ubiquitous 103A (an overrated lens IMO - perhaps my copy is a sub par one), or the rep of 19AH. It is significantly better, specifically in terms of contrast and consistency across the zoom and focal range, than the early adaptall 80-250's (thought the later QZ250-M is equal in resolution stopped down). Perhaps a bit soft wide open, but it's fast enough to comfortably go down a half or whole stop. Quite frankly I would be reluctant to necessarily plump 19AH a jump ahead of this. I'll let a few pics make the case...(Samsung GX20, jpg's, tweaked/cropped/resized in Faststone)
crop: you can see a bit of PF down the rhs of the tower.
crop
And for this quality this lens is relatively speaking absurdly cheap, price cited reflects typical auction price on ebay. Though I have to admit, as the first reviewer comments, that between this lens and the 60-300mm 23A, I would probably prefer 23A. And for pure IQ definitely 19AH. But of itself - grab one! | | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 17 | | Review Date: April 18, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good handling. Fast at the long end for a consumer zoom. | | Cons: | Not as sharp as some others. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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I bought this in the hope that it would work well with the Pentax 1.7x AF. It doesn't, but I found that I like it anyway. It isn't as sharp as the Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 DG AF, but it is faster at the long end, and the images have an attractive and dare I say a distinctive quality. The manual focus and the zoom control work very well, and it balances nicely on my Samsung GX-20 and Pentax K-x.
Its optical scheme closely resembles the 103A 80-210mm. I find myself wishing that it had been given a facelift similar to that which led to the development of the 46A from the 103A, since a lens reflecting that degree of improvement would have been something special, but it is still pretty good.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: The 'Stoke, British Columbia Posts: 1,678 | | Review Date: October 10, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $29.99
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Sharp enough, versatile | | Cons: | Close focus macro like the 19AH, slightly soft wide open | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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I picked up this lens for $29.99 (along with a Pentax 70-200 F4 macro for $24.99) with a Canon FD mount (dontated to my nephew with my 19AH attached to it).
I find this lens as nice to work with as the 19AH, although it is a bit slower, being able to reach 250mm I find a bit more usefull. The "close focus" macro is still nothing compared to the 23A's actual macro mode but still reaching 1:3.4 X magnification isn't that bad. Colours render a little bit flatter than the pentax glass, but I was expecting that. I'm happy with this lens, but still having the 23A, I don't know how much use this one will get! Here are a few samples.. sorry I didn't record my settings, but most are @ 250mm - f5.6-f8 ISO 400 1/250s give or take a little.
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