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Tamron Adaptall SP 300mm F/2.8 LD (IF) 35mm Primes

4.8/5 (5 Reviews)

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length300mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/2.8
    Min Aperturef/32
    Focus TypeManual Focus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    Closest Focusing Distance98.4 in
    Picture Angle8 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size43 mm
    Groups / Elements10 Elements in 7 Groups
    Diameter4.7 in
    Length8.4 in
    Weight79.9 oz
    MPNb36100
    Product ID20724316

Product Description

Manual focus - Adaptall mount

An ultra-high performance, fast telephoto lens to meet the needs of the most demanding professional photographers. This lens is well suited to the fast-action world of sports photography, but the lens bright viewfinder image and fast aperture lends itself excellently to shooting indoor theatrical events. The nine-blade aperture design makes a nearly circular opening for a soft blurred background an ideal effect for portraiture.


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Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Manual Man a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: January 12, 2011

Strengths:    Good contrast, maybe a little cooler then warm in color, precise control, and constructed like Mercedes built a tank. Sharp and sharp enough for those considering it because I don't think a Pro or anyone on an assignment would reading the reviews or considering one. I have captured Eagles in flight hand-held with one.

Weaknesses:    Heavy, aged, and a few samples out there have noticebale wear causing mount issues just because they are well used and aged.

Bottom Line:   
What a lens! I read some opinions on other forums and discovered my fellow Nikon users have stated that the Nikkor version is "Leagues better". One thing for sure is that the Tamron is "Leagues cheaper". There are no "Leagues" of separation, that's false. My opinion is that Tamron has better contrast, is as sharp, and has less chromatic abberation issues on digital. I prefer it. Maybe they were comparing the F/2 version? (that is a legend, "leagues" better, and cost???) If cost is an issue? It's a no-brainer because in this field of manual focus 300mm f/2.8 extra cost isn't going buy you much more on the paper printed in the end. Play around with multipliers - the Vivitar macro versions for the 90mm for instance are excellent with these. Don't discount any until you have tried two of the same in multipliers?

Look through my similar products used list and understand when I hit the outdoors that my feet touch the ground with the Tamron mounted. Although in good light the Nikkor 400mm F/5.6 is superior.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $300.00

Purchased At:   Camera Store

Similar Products Used:   Nikkor 300mm F/2.8, Nikkor 300mm F/4 AF, Nikkor 400mm F/5.6 ED IF manual, Komine/Vivitar 400mm F/5.6, Tokina/Vivitar 300mm, Sigma APO 70-300mm Red Ring, Sigma 70-500mm AF.

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by s23chang a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: October 25, 2006

Strengths:    Compact, well balanced weight, great optics and precise manual focus mechanism .
Works Great with SP 140 1.4X tele-converters. Slightly soft but decent result with 2X teleconverters.
Very 3D look with 2.8 lens vs F4 lens
Well worth the money over F4 lens.

Weaknesses:    Like all the lens shooting with DSLR,
it does show very slight trace of CA in some extreme contrast lighting conditions but easy fix in post processing.
Adaptall adapters for EOS is expensive. However, other adaptall adapters can be found for under $30 shipped ( Olympus/Nikon/Pentax ) + Olympus/Nikon/Pentax to EOS adapter for under $20 shipped.


Bottom Line:   
I shoot a lot of low light photography and this lens definitely comes in handy.
Very good optics with medium high contast. Bokeh is superb.
I have been using Canon EOS lens for over 10 years.
Since I switched back to manual focus lenses, I start noticed that Canon's lenses is too contrast where it filtered out some of the medium dark color tones.
This is what I found with Nikon lens as well.
I love this lens. Light enough for handheld and it is small enough to fit in my camera bag.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $550.00

Purchased At:   e'by

Similar Products Used:   Pentax 300mm F4
Zeiss 300mm F4
Canon EF 70-300mm IS
Tamron SP 200-500mm LD IF Di

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by stigge46 a Expert

Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005

Strengths:    Sharp out in the corners also wide open. Easy focus. Fast.

Weaknesses:    Hewey and bulky, but not worse than other 2.8/300's

Bottom Line:   
This is a first class pro lens that is tack sharp wide open. I have taken pictures of ppeople outdoor with the Tamron 1.4 multiplier wit a chest support that are that sharp. I also got the 2x multiplier in the package deal I did, and are very pleased.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $675.00

Purchased At:   eBsy

Similar Products Used:   Vivitar Series 1 2.8/70-210

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Philip Higgins a Intermediate from Ironbridge U.K.

Date Reviewed: April 4, 2003

Strengths:    Quality and build

Weaknesses:    Heavy but most fast super telephotos are.

Bottom Line:   
Purhased 10 yrs ago along with a sticky aperture diaphram took it to Johnsons for service which was carried out while I waited. I have the 1.4x & 2.0x Tamron converters but also use it with Nikon TC16af converter probably the best lens I have ever had the pleasure of using and will never part with it.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $500.00

Purchased At:   Private sale

Similar Products Used:   Sigma 300 f2.8 AF
Nikon 300 f2.8 AF & MF versions

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Will Morrison a Intermediate from Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada

Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002

Strengths:    Sharp wide open where you need it, eg. sports where shutter speed is more important than F-stop. No problem with the adaptall mounts.Much cheaper than the nikon/canon/pentax version. Worked it hard with no problems!

Weaknesses:    No auto-focus!

Bottom Line:   
This is a sharp, pro grade lens in both construction and optical performance.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $2500.00

Purchased At:   lens and shutter



Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Write a Review >>

  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length300mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/2.8
    Min Aperturef/32
    Focus TypeManual Focus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    Closest Focusing Distance98.4 in
    Picture Angle8 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size43 mm
    Groups / Elements10 Elements in 7 Groups
    Diameter4.7 in
    Length8.4 in
    Weight79.9 oz
    MPNb36100
    Product ID20724316


 

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