Tamron Twin Tele - the lens porn - 6 pix

Dunno if you can make 'porn' out of these since I used natural light from one direction and tungsten from the other.
Either way, it's provided a nice pink cast to everything! I have two of these so I leave one as a 135mm and the other
as a 225mm. The photos show one or both of them.

1 This is the 135 version on a K1. Note the gap by the mount at around 4 o'clock. The lens barrel diameter is such that
it doesn't cover the adapter. There is a similar gap at 10 o'clock, both of which let light in. In practical use, it is
necessary to put the thin (10mm) No.1 extension tube on the mount to cover these holes. The aperture is a pre-set so
that isn't affected at all. (You can use longer tubes if you like to get increasingly pseudo macro effects).



2 Here are the components. The tallest is the entire ensemble at exactly 100mm. This a focal length of 225mm. The
135mm, shorter one is 70mm long. The hood is 35mm with a 43mm (!?) filter thread at the end. The lens filter
thread is an even more curious 37mm. The short bit of zebra tube is an extension lens to make the 135mm into 225mm.



3. Fully assembled, the 225mm version might be considered sexy enough to warrant the term 'porn'. The filter ring
is used as the pre-set ring and the thin knurled one behind it operates the iris from wide (f4.5) open to wherever
the pre-set might be. The fat zebra ring focuses.



4. The iris is set right back inside the tube and has 12 blades, offering an almost circular aperture at all stops.
The front element is indeed right at the front making a hood almost essential and there is only one available!



5. A two in one interchangeable lens was a bit revolutionary in 1959 but the design is decidedly clunky. It
is necessary to remove the custom t2-style mount from one component and replace it onto the other in
order to change focal lengths - hardly convenient.



6. As I commented above, I have two copies so it presents no problem! The whole thing originally came
in a long, thin protective tube, that I do not have. Neither do I have a custom front lens cap - and note that
even the rear caps are custom made. Losses are inevitable so check what parts you are getting if you
should find a set for sale.



It is decidedly vintage, extremely quirky and certainly not a straightforward lens but it IS a quality
piece of glass that can produce exceptionally good results (see earlier posting).

I have what I think must be a later version of this. It is a twin tele again (135 / 225) but it is a bit faster (f/2.8 or f/5.5 when at 225mm) and the 135 mount covers the M42-> adaptor. It still has a mass of aperture blades with a preset aperture ring near the front. It isn't a zebra design though.

I think is still has the clunky mount changing system, however as my M42 adaptor won't screw onto the extension bit.

I hate to say this, but I have never used it in anger, so to speak. I bought it from a forum member because no one else was interested and I felt sorry for this quirky lens.