Is anyone familiar with the Tamron SP 300/5.6 lens? I'm asking specifically about the ~SP~ model - apparently Tamron has made other 300/5.6's, too (see below). The full name of this critter would seem to be "Tamron SP 300mm f/5.6 CF Flat-Field Tele-Macro" <phew> (model 54B).
This is an Adaptall lens of unknown (to me) vintage (I'm guessing early 1980's), that, so far, seems to be quite sharp, both at infinity and at close focus distances (down to 1.4 meters, for 1:3.3 magnification). However, judging by its specs, it would not seem to be the same lens mentioned on Robert Monaghan's 3rd-party lens "megasite", where he says: > Tamron 300mm f/5.6 - This Tamron 300mm f/5.6 lens was also sold > under the Accura Diamatic and Spiratone brands, as were many of > Tamron's other lenses from preset lens days forward. This lens can > be close focused to a surprisingly short 5 1/2 feet, thanks to a > long reach helical focusing mount. The lens is eight inches long, > and weighs a hefty 27 ounces. It uses a common 62mm filter thread > size. Cost is often quite low for such a long lens, and it is a > good value for the money (under $100 used). This would certainly seem to be a different lens: The SP lens that I am referring to focuses down to about 4.5 feet (not 5.5 feet), is 6.5 inches long (not 8 inches), weighs 21.5 ounces (not 27 ounces), and has 58mm filter threads (not 62mm). And then, did any of the ol' Spiratone lenses ever use Adaptall mounts? (I have never had any experience with Spiratone lenses.) I am guessing that the vintage is the early 1980's (or possibly the late 1970's). The owners manual has no copyright date or printing date that I can find (shucks). The manual has a table of Adaptall mounts that mentions K-mounts but not Ka-mounts (so pre-1983 or pre-1984, I would say). There are photos and a table of specs for four other SP lenses, the 70-210/3.5-4, the 500/8 mirror, the 90/2.5 macro, and the 17/3.5 - any Tamron expert worth his/her salt could probably date the lens from just that information, right? In any event: 1. Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of this lens to share? 2. Does anyone know of any magazine reviews or any online reviews of it? This "inquiring mind" wants to know... Thanks. Fred
