Confused - Need help to understand old Tamron

[guardian]

I am confused by this lens and would appreciate knowing what it is:







The lens appears to be somewhat like an Adapt-A-Matic lens, except it is not a window lens, and that is not an Adapt-A-Matic lens case.

My key question:

In your opinion does this lens pre-date or post-date the Adapt-A-Matic series of lenses (1970-1973)?

[marcusBMG]

Tamron made both adaptamatic and fixed mount versions. Your lens looks like one of the latter and can be considered contemporaneous IMO - late 1960's- early 1970's.

[guardian]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Why do you assume that's the original case? Most likely it's just an aftermarket case someone used with the lens.

[guardian]

Out of continuing curiosity I went and extricated from storage both my 135mm Adapt-A-Matic lenses. They both have rubber focus grips, however I'm aware early Adapt-A-Matic focus grips were metal akin to the lens in the OP.

Both of my lenses are, of course, single window lenses. The colouring of their focus distance scales is the same as the subject lens here, orange over white. But their focus bracketing does not have the same presentation at all.

If the lens in the OP is, indeed, an Adapt-A-Matic, it is possible I guess that absence of a window is attributable somehow to the fixed mount. Also noteworthy, the serial numbers of my two lenses, and of the lens in the OP, are comparable.

I guess the lens in the OP could be a fixed mount Adapt-A-Matic, but I remain uncertain. Such a lens could bite me without my being aware of what it was. Fixed mount Adapt-A-Matic lenses are rare.

[luisalegria]

We have seen quite a number of undocumented Tamron variants.
The information online is very incomplete, even about the premium line of interchangeable mount types.
Something different is always turning up.

This one looks a lot like the Adaptamatic stylistically and is probably from the same era.
I'd guess it is exactly the same lens optically and mechanically, save for the mount.
There are very similar and better known fixed mount variants for the 300/5.6 and 80-250/4
Since the fixed mounts are much less complex than the auto mounts (and the M42 being one of the simplest) this was certainly made for a lower-priced market segment.

Thats about the most we can say.

I speculate that Tamron made quite a lot of small batches for various importers, most in importers brands but some not.
And as they dealt globally the potential number of these variants is very large.

[guardian]

[Minolfan]

I had a Tamron like that in 200mm 3.5 from end sixties with a fixed mount (MD) for my Minolta SRT101.
In that time there was a set of lenses sold by Tamron with fixed mounts and a positiv reputation, after the preset lenses. No Adapt-a-matics yet.
Don't have the lens anymore. Traded in for a Vivitar series-1 70-200mm when that lens came new on the market.

[jamaeolus]

Just to be sure I understand what you are asking, fixed mount means the lens is only set up for one mount, eg minolta. An Adaptamatiic can be used (with appropriate fixture) for many different mounts. It allowed the camera shop to have one lens but be available in many mount options without the associated cost and storage requirements. So a "fixed mount Adaptamatiic" would not exist.

[guardian]

[visualopsins]

Adaptall 1?