Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 70-210mm f/3.5 MACRO (Model 19AH, 1984-1999) -- Best 70-210mm Ever Made?

Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 70-210mm f/3.5 MACRO
(Model 19AH, 1984-1999)

2019.03.12 - Draft

2022.08.04 - Re-written and first published

Tamron Adaptall-2 SP

70-210mm f/3.5 Macro

Nomenclature...

SP = Super Performance

(better than regular Adaptall lenses)
CF = Continuous Focusing

BBAR MC = modern multi coated elements

Years Produced - 1984-1999

Minimum Focusing - 0.85 meters

Macro Magnification - 1:2.66

Focus Type - Varifocal

Zoom Type - One-touch (aka 'push-pull')

Filter Thread Ø - 62mm

Hood - 49FH

Aperture Run - f/3.5 - f/32

Maximum Aperture - f/3.5 (at 70mm or 210mm)

# Diaphragm Blades - 7

Optical Formula - 15 elements, 11 groups

Made in Japan

Product Page

https://www.tamron.co.jp/data/a2-lens/19ah.htm

Versions of the 70-210mm SP:

52A (1979-1984) - f/3.5-4

19AH (1984-1999) - f/3.5 constant

Photo Album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/v4anD2qwhaQYirRJA

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Impressions

Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 70-210mm f/3.5 Macro (19AH) -- the best 70-210mm ever made?

The 19AH had the reputation of being the best zoom lens of its kind... optically and mechanically. Its construction is made of mostly metal, the aperture ring being the only plastic part. This gives the lens quite some weight. The weight itself serves as stabilizer when shooting with this lens, and at the same time, it could be tiring.

The big disadvantage of the weight is that the lens does not have a built-in tripod collar mount, or any space where you can attach one. Try to imagine mounting this huge heavy lens on a tiny mirrorless camera -- the front becomes too heavy, and the camera might break if you mount it on a tripod. In other words, this lens is only for handheld shooting.

The zoom type is called 'one-touch' or better known as 'push-pull' zoom because the focusing and zooming are combined into one convenient control ring. The focusing is 'varifocal', you have to re-adjust the focus every time you zoom. Frankly, this is the type of zoom that you want to shoot manual with because it really is more efficient.

A quirk: When the lens is zoomed to 210mm, the focusing ring extends further than the front element so that it creates a hood. If you are using a screw-in hood, it might become a blockage when you are zooming.

While telephoto zooms of its time commonly had a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 to 2 meters, this Tamron lens can focus as close as 85cm, consistently across the whole zoom range, and there are no stupid extra switches to get to macro mode. It can only go down to 1:2 magnification, but you can use a telephoto extender to reach 1:1

Optically... a superb lens! The lens has a maximum opening of f/3.5, whether at 70mm or at 210mm. f/3.5 is only 2/3 stop from f/2.8, so this might as well be a cheap alternative. Wide open at f/3.5, the lens is thoroughly sharp and has good colors and contrast, at any focal range.

At 210mm, particularly at the macro range (anything closer than 1.5 meters), it seems to have a glow or halo. While at longer distances, my shots look sharp and crispy. I do not know if this is natural to the lens or because my copy has a middle element that has scratches or marks on the coating.

Conclusion: This wonderful Tamron lens boasts to be in its SP line, these are lenses with superior optical quality compared to regular ones. After using this lens, I now understand why it got its reputation as THE if not one of the best 70-210mm's ever made. The only drawback I had with this lens is that it is for handheld shooting only, not for mounting on a tripod, and so you might have trouble shooting videos with it.