Tamron Adaptall 60-300mm f/3.8-5.4

paulfox

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $90.00 from ebay

Summary:
This is a big lens , but built-quality is great ! It's got a very useful focal length, the adaptall makes it usable on all my slr (Contax, Pentax, Canon). I don't use it on the short end that much but mostly on the long end and I find it quite good ! Even wide opened ! Only little vignetting. To avoid flare the hood is recommendable. For transport this can be reverse mounted on the lens. The lens is very good for fine focussing. Did I say that I love the build quality ?

Strengths:
Build quality focal length additional macro-capability optically good results quite cheap when you find it 2nd hand.

Weaknesses:
quite big flare-resistance

Similar Products Used:
Sigma 28-300, 70-300, many 70-210 and 80-200-lenses, Tamron SP 5,6/300, Tokina 5,6/400

Customer Service:
Not needed with this lens (but with the 28-70 : Very good !)

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $215.00 from Ebay

Summary:
Great lens when used with older non AF cameras. Mine has an Olympus OM mount and recently bought a Nikon mount so I can use it with my F100. Excellent sharpness and contrast even wide open for a 300mm zoom. Annoying barrel distortion at 60mm at close distances. At 300mm close focus is limited to 6ft so it is not great for macro shots. Macro setting is available only at 60mm which is not suitable for subjects that will fly away! The latest AF Tamron will give you 1:2 reproduction at 300mm. Sharpness and contrast very good at 300mm for a zoom provided you use a tripod or good handholding techniques.

Strengths:
Adaptall-2 mount makes it fit different cameras. Excellent construction and performance. Godd value when purchased used.

Weaknesses:
Macro only at 60mm: front element gets too close to subject. Flare when shooting into sun/bright lights. Newer Sigma zoom has better flare suppresion. Not recommended for use with teleconverters.

Similar Products Used:
Sigma APO 70-300mm f4-5.6

Customer Service:
Not needed

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
If you use telephotos and don't need AF, this could be a good choice. Good results, not so big lens considering the focal range, and -thanks to Tamron's interchangable mounts- you can share it with your friends or keep it if you change your camera to another brand's.

Strengths:
Those good old metal tubes that lenses used to be... this still is. From almost a normal focal length, to a 300 mm that will be enough for many users.

Weaknesses:
It's good... but I almost don't use lenses longer than 135 mm. So I found it bulky and heavy in my bag. One-touch zooms are faster to handle, but I prefer two-touch as I can precisely adjust focus or zoom without throwing the other off place.

Similar Products Used:
Tamron's tiny 70-210/4-5.6 (see review), 70-210/3.5 SP

Customer Service:
Never needed it-