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Tamron Adapt-a-Matic interchangeable lens mounts with auto diaphragm
The Tamron Adapt-a-Matic Lens System
Tamron is one of the top Japanese independent lens makers, and Adapt-a-Matic lenses were the company's first automatic types with interchangeable mounts. They were made from around 1969 to 1973, pre-dating the later and more common Adaptall and Adaptall 2 lenses, with which they are NOT compatible. All the mounts had automatic diaphragm, and the lenses had a manual switch for depth of field preview or stopped down metering. Selected mounts allowed full aperture metering (including Minolta, Miranda and Topcon - see the list below), using external coupling rings. The mounts worked on suitable cameras with aperture priority auto exposure such as the Minolta XE-1 and Nikkormat EL, but not with cameras that used shutter priority automation such as Miranda EE or Konica Autoreflex.
Identifying Adapt-a-Matic Lenses
They can be identified by examining the rear with no mount fitted (see picture above). Adapt-a-Matic lenses have a large external screw thread (approximately 57mm in diameter) which accepts the mount's locking collar, whereas Adaptall and Adaptall 2 lenses have an internal bayonet mount with a silver lock release button. Adapt-a-Matic mounts are fitted to the lens by matching the red dots, inserting the auto diaphragm lever into the opening in the lens, and rotating the mount until the lens's locating screw drops into the slot. The locking ring is then screwed onto the rear of the lens, holding the mount in place.
Range of lenses
Adapt-a-Matic lenses included a 21mm f/4.5 ultra wide angle, 24mm f/3.5 extra wide, 28mm and 35mm f/2.8 wide angle, 105mm f/2.5 portrait, 135mm f/2.8, 200mm f/3.5, f/4.5 and 300mm f/5.6 telephoto, plus 70-220mm f/4, 80-250mm f/3.8, 85-205mm f/3.5 and 200-500mm f/6.9 zooms. All of the zooms except the 85-205mm had built-in, rotating tripod mounts - just as well, as they're large and heavy. The earlier lenses (with metal focusing rings) usually may not have the slots required for full aperture metering, whereas the later types (with rubber focusing grips) typically do. A meter coupling ring was sold for the Miranda mount for full aperture metering on Sensorex cameras, and this didn't require the slots - it was aligned manually.
Mounts included the following:
Tamron is one of the top Japanese independent lens makers, and Adapt-a-Matic lenses were the company's first automatic types with interchangeable mounts. They were made from around 1969 to 1973, pre-dating the later and more common Adaptall and Adaptall 2 lenses, with which they are NOT compatible. All the mounts had automatic diaphragm, and the lenses had a manual switch for depth of field preview or stopped down metering. Selected mounts allowed full aperture metering (including Minolta, Miranda and Topcon - see the list below), using external coupling rings. The mounts worked on suitable cameras with aperture priority auto exposure such as the Minolta XE-1 and Nikkormat EL, but not with cameras that used shutter priority automation such as Miranda EE or Konica Autoreflex.
Identifying Adapt-a-Matic Lenses
They can be identified by examining the rear with no mount fitted (see picture above). Adapt-a-Matic lenses have a large external screw thread (approximately 57mm in diameter) which accepts the mount's locking collar, whereas Adaptall and Adaptall 2 lenses have an internal bayonet mount with a silver lock release button. Adapt-a-Matic mounts are fitted to the lens by matching the red dots, inserting the auto diaphragm lever into the opening in the lens, and rotating the mount until the lens's locating screw drops into the slot. The locking ring is then screwed onto the rear of the lens, holding the mount in place.
Range of lenses
Adapt-a-Matic lenses included a 21mm f/4.5 ultra wide angle, 24mm f/3.5 extra wide, 28mm and 35mm f/2.8 wide angle, 105mm f/2.5 portrait, 135mm f/2.8, 200mm f/3.5, f/4.5 and 300mm f/5.6 telephoto, plus 70-220mm f/4, 80-250mm f/3.8, 85-205mm f/3.5 and 200-500mm f/6.9 zooms. All of the zooms except the 85-205mm had built-in, rotating tripod mounts - just as well, as they're large and heavy. The earlier lenses (with metal focusing rings) usually may not have the slots required for full aperture metering, whereas the later types (with rubber focusing grips) typically do. A meter coupling ring was sold for the Miranda mount for full aperture metering on Sensorex cameras, and this didn't require the slots - it was aligned manually.
Mounts included the following:
- C-AF for Canon FP, FT, FX and Pellix (FL fit, usable on many FD cameras with restrictions)
- EX for Exakta cameras (models with external bayonet fitting only)
- K-A for Konica Autoreflex (not suitable for auto exposure)
- M-A for Miranda F, G, Automex Ill and Sensorex (extra coupling ring required for full aperture metering)
- N-IF for Nikon F, F2 and Photomic, Nikkormat FS, FT, FTn, FT2, EL, ELW and Nikkorex F (pre-AI)
- P-CS for Pentax, Praktica, Edixa, Mamiya, Ricoh and other M42 screw cameras
- P-E for Petri FT, Flex, Penta (and other models without auto exposure)
- SR for Minolta SR1, SR2 and SR7 (no meter coupling)
- SR-T for Minolta SR-T, XE, X, XG and others (MC fitting with full aperture metering)
- T-O for Topcon RE Super, RE-2, etc. (full aperture metering)
- A dealer's ad in AP magazine (1973) states there was a mount for Olympus FTL...
Added 10th April 2012
Updated 5th May 2012
Updated 11th April 2013
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