sharp
color rendition
bokeh

heavy
1:2 ratio for macro

I have the 90mm f:2.5 , tele macro, 52b. It's an heavy but solid metal lens with the famous adaptall mount. I use it with mly K20D since a couple of weeks. Sure it is a nice portrait lens since the bokeh and the color rendition are fantastic. It may be sharp but not as much as the Pentax SMC 4/100mm macro or Kiron 2.8/105mm macro and is has 1:2 ratio only. So you can use it for macro with a 2x rear converter (getting then to 1:1 ratio) or other purposes.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax SMC macro 4/100mm
Rikenon (Kiron) 2.8/105mm

Adaptall mount means you can use this lens on many different SLR systems.

The color rendition is excellent, on par with and consistent with Pentax glass for example. Very high resolution and good contrast, the lens goes out of focus very gracefully and has good bokeh. Focus with a Pentax K100D is secure, however I find with open aperture I tend to focus a bit further than I should.

The SP Tamrons of the 80's and 90's are very well made, I'd say physically on par with Pentax and a cut above Zuiko. I've had the SP 35-80 2.8-3.8 since '85 and never experienced any problems.

Mine is the 52BB version. I have the bayonet shade, but it isn't strictly necessary as the lens front is well recessed.

If getting to 1:1 is important, you'll need the Flat Field converter for this - I have one but haven't yet tried it out. The later f/2.8 version goes to 1:1 but also costs more used.

Certain Adaptall adaptors are getting scarce and expensive, e.g. the Pentax K-A

Excellent manual focus macro lens - for portraits too!