Tamron 200-400/6.3 early preset zoom

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

This is a well documented lens though not very common.

It is listed on the Tamron site as a PZ-70

http://www.tamron.co.jp/data/old-lens/olm200-400.htm

I now have all but one of the early Tamron preset zooms -
95-205/6.3 - the earliest "consumer" zoom; I have shot a fair bit with it.
95-205/5.6 - mine needs work; I may get another
95-250/5.6 - quite a good performer; I have a portfolio coming on this.

Still missing is the very elusive 55-90/4

It is an early long-tele zoom of course, a preset lens with Tamrons own T-mount interchangeable mount system.
The introduction date is given as 1965, so that would make it a fairly late entry in the T-mount lens series from Tamron,
And that makes sense as the style and finish are significantly different from the other Tamron T-mount primes and zooms.
It also lacks the rear filter tray that was seen in the "premium" early T-mount lens series, though one would expect that Tamron would have considered this lens as something to be proud of. There really weren't many lenses like this in 1965.

It has few features to link it with the Adaptamatic series though, and a very different lens (200-500/6.9) was issued as an Adaptamatic to fill its slot in the product line.

It is very similar in design and construction to the smaller Tamron preset zooms, with the same "trombone" push-pull zoom mechanism, rotating front focus group and rear-set aperture mechanism. It anticipates later Tamrons by having a rather good built-in sliding hood - its extended in the pictures above. Its a fairly light piece, much more so than one would expect, similar to my Komura 400mm prime.

My copy is in fine working condition and nice cosmetic condition. No fungus, dirt, everything works, etc. I count myself lucky with this piece. It came with a semi-destroyed case that obviously gave its life to save the lens. It was covered with dust from the deteriorated foam lining in the case, so its obviously been stored unused for many years.

In use I find this very handy and well balanced, easy to hand hold and does not require a tripod at all, though it does have a rather substantial tripod mount. Its quite ergonomic, the zoom mechanism creeps somewhat but is more stable than one would expect, and focusing seems easier than on many long lenses. Constant aperture while zooming and it also seems to hold focus while zooming. As it is a zoom it has much closer focus than a prime, about 12ft/4m. Not a bad choice at all for long tele street photography, at least to my standards.

Performance - I find it surprisingly good for what it is. I try most of these just for the sake of curiosity, but I think I would consider using this one for just shooting. At 400mm wide open its as good as many 400mm/6.3 primes, and better than some. I don't like some of whats going on with out of focus areas though. No problems with contrast in spite of a much larger number of elements.

Samples -

The bird - f/8 I think

crop -

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

Very interesting. The photos are nice and warm with good contrast and certainly have acceptable or better sharpness. Very good out of focus highlights, too. Yes, I wouldn't be afraid to use this lens, either, based on your examples.

According to a rough calc I made based on the info over at adaptall-2.org it doesn't appear to be all that heavy of a lens. A bit less than 3 pounds, which, considering, isn't all that bad. I have a copy of the 200-500mm f/5.6 -- Tamron's last iteration of their big zoom. The dang thing weighs over twice as much as yours -- almost exactly 6 pounds. It's a great lens but it's so heavy that I find its weight limits its usefulness. Yours is probably still hand-holdable at about 3 pounds.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Wonderful results! I tried this model last year but struggled for light in the UK winter. Thank you for sharing Smile

romasurf · Joined: 14 Sep 2016 Posts: 5

Hi
Over Three years since this post but only just come across this forum so maybe a small chance of help. Alternatively I'll post a new thread and go from there.

I recently purchased the 200-400mm f6.3 Tamron lens and wondered if you could point me in the direction of the mount to a Pentax 35 slr.

I can see it's attached to the lens by three pins so removing the one attached is possible, I just need to locate the correct one for my camera.

Thank you

marcusBMG · Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1318 Location: Conwy N Wales

You just unscrew the mount romasurf - its a t-mount. Then get a PK mount for pentax.

http://www.tremyfoel.co.uk/photography/tmount/t-mount.html

kryss · Expire: 2017-09-18

romasurf.. hi and welcome to the best Forum ever.I have a Tamron PK A adapter if you need,just pm me for details.

romasurf · Joined: 14 Sep 2016 Posts: 5

Thanks for the advice.

The original mount was attached with three screws, took this off and bought a Pentax fit T mount.

The mount came in two parts and assumed removin the threaded section would allow me to attach to the lens in the same way as the original.

Unfortunately not the case as the space left is bigger than the original mount.

Any suggestions on what mount to purchase

romasurf · Joined: 14 Sep 2016 Posts: 5

Just to clarify

There is no threaded section on the lens. If there was it looks like it woul have been easy prays and the mount I bought would have been perfect.

Bit confused to be honest

kryss · Expire: 2017-09-18

romasurf...I offered the solution you need and I have many Tamron to Pentax adapters or you can purchase a cheap one from China and wait 3weeks and hope it works.

romasurf · Joined: 14 Sep 2016 Posts: 5

Hi Kryss

Sorry, I saw your message after I'd purchased an adaptor.

Happy to buy one off you, just to confirm there is no thread on the lens in question, is this a problem?

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

The three screws are not meant to be removed, only loosened.
They are for adusting alignment of the lens so the top of the lens barrel is up.

Put the mount back on and tighten the screws.

A T mount is in two parts, inner ring and outer ring, held together by the three screws.
These should stay together.

To remove a T mount, just unscrew the whole thing.

marcusBMG · Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1318 Location: Conwy N Wales

kryss · Expire: 2017-09-18

romasurf...

Made in japan. genuine tamron-pentax adapters.

PK A
PK 2off
Pentax KM 2off
Pentax M42

Decide which one you want.Regards

romasurf · Joined: 14 Sep 2016 Posts: 5

Thanks everyone,
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