M42 Tamron 35-70


	Tamron 35-70 mm 1:3.5 CF Macro BBAR MC (Adaptall-2)

This is a very nice zoom lens made by Tamron from their Adaptall-2 line of lenses. This means that this lens can be adapted to almost every MF camera system ever made using the respective Adaptall-2 adapter.

This lens has a very nice macro feature I have never seen in any other lens. The minimum focusing distance of this lens is 0.25 metres which is only available at the long end (70 mm). The max. magnification is 1:2.8 which is very useful. At 35 mm the minimum focusing distance is 0.90 m. If you try to focus closer than 0.90 m at the wide end, the zoom ring starts turning and you can bring the lens all the way to the long end (70 mm) by simply focusing to the closest distance of 0.25 m. Please see below for more details about the features of this lens. The macro capabilities of this lens are very usable.

Construction:	7 elements in 7 groups
Angle of View:	64°-34°
Minimum Focusing Distance:	0.25 m (0.82 ft.)
Minimum Aperture:	f/22
Filter Size:	58 mm
Lens Hood:	screw-in (not included)
Weight:	340 g (with M42 adapter)

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M42 Lens Overview

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Special Features of the Tamron 35-70 mm 1:3.5 CF Macro Lens

This lens has a couple of very unique features, the Minimum Object Distance (M.O.D.) Selector System and the Continuous Focsuing (CF) ability. Below is a scan from the original manual for this lens which explains these features in more detail. This Tamron zoom lens has become one of my all-time favorite zoom lenses.


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		The complete package: Tamron zoom lens with original box, lens case, and paperwork.

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	I was able to find this lens in mint condition with the original box with all of the original content as part of a camera set. The manual provides some interesting details about the design of this lens and its many features which I had not known before. The Tamron designation for this lens is also “Model 17A”, so it is a relatively early design.



		The lens design (7 elements in 7 groups)

Sample Pictures Taken With the Tamron 35-70 mm 1:3.5 CF Macro Lens

This Tamron zoom lens has a very good macro feature which enables a maximum magnification of 1:2.8. I was pleasantly surprised by the optical quality when using this lens at the closest focusing distance. Of course, a true macro lens still yields superior results.


		These pictures were taken with the Tamron 35-70 mm 1:3.5 CF Macro lens using the maximum magnification of 1:2.8 at 70 mm

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