Photography by Peppy Doggett
This is a great lens but it’s a bit of a clunker. It is large and heavy. However it is one of the best ever made for Sony a-mount cameras. I use it on my Sony SLT A77V camera, as well as my Sony A7R cameras with an adaptor.
More forthcoming
Reviews
Sample images
This is my American Express card (I don’t leave home without it!). It is almost always on one of my A7R cameras and/or in my camera bag. And for good reason. It handles well and gives very sharp photos with nice smooth bokeh.
Professional reviews:
Sample images:
Painted Lady Butterfly
Photographed on 23 August 2025 by a traffic circle near Villa Ndio
Camera: Sony A7RM2 — ILCE-7RM2
Lens: Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD
Settings: f/5.6, 1/2000 sec., ISO-500, 180mm
About this butterfly:
Code: A7250823
Grizzle Skipper
Photographed by the traffic circle near Villa Ndio on 30 August 2025
Camera: Sony A7M3A — ILCE-7RM3A
Lens: Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VC VXD
Settings: f/4.5, 1/6400 sec., ISO-800, 180mm
About the butterfly:
Code: R73250830
Vanessa Atalanta Red Admiral in Cabris
Photographed 22 April 2025
Camera: DSC-RX10M3
Settings: f/4, 1/8000sec., ISO-640, 220mm
About this butterfly
Code: RX10250422
Scabieuse Blossom, also called pincushion
Photographed on 9 September 2025 by the Villa Ndio pool
Camera: Sony A7R2 — ILCE-7RM2
Lens: Tair 11a f2.8
Settings: f/4, 1/400 sec., ISO-800, 135mm
About scabieuse
Code: a7250909
Tair 11A 135mm f2.8
I read about this unique lens with some remarkable characteristics: made in the former USSR; known as a “bokeh monster”; small for a 135mm f2.8 (though still relatively heavy). It’s a novelty lens popular with photo enthusiasts and collectors. Intrigued, I checked it out on ebay and found a good quality copy for a good low price. So I bought it, and I bought an adaptor to marry the m42 screw mount to my Sony A7R cameras. From the serial number I understand it was made in 1988.
I have taken it down off the shelf several times for the fun of it. I would do it more often but the lens is clumsy and not so easy to use. It is manual focus only and the aperture adjustment is complicated by a limiter that has to be adjusted to move freely about the settings. There is no electronic transfer of information from the lens to the camera. I got use to these characteristics in time, and had some pleasant experiences testing out the capabilities and enjoying its features.
Here are some professional reviews:
And here are some sample photos taken by me.
Valezina in flight
Photographed on 30 August 2025 in Peymeinade France
Camera: ILCE-7RM3a Sony A7RM3A
Lens: Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD
Settings: f4.5, 1/6400 sec., ISO-800, 180mm
About this butterfly
Code; R32508301
Spotted Fritillary
Photographed on 31 August 2025 in the MIP gardens, Mouans-Sartoux, France
Camera: Sony A7RM3a — ILCE-R7M3a
Lens: Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD
Settings: f/4, 1/8000 sec., ISO-800
About this butterfly:
Code: R32508312
Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD
Description and review forthcoming
