Data sheet: Tamron Auto 70–220 mm f/4 (adapt-a-matic)

Pekka Buttler, 07/2026

Specifications

The table below summarises the lens’ key specifications (measurements based on pictured sample with Canon FD adapter):

Brand:	Tamron	Lens name	Auto 1:4 f=70~220 mm Zoom
Focal length(s) 1	70–220 mm	Angle-of-view 2	34°–11°
Maximum Aperture	f/4	In Production	1972-73
Lens mounts (native)	Tamron Adapt-a-matic	Other lens mounts	See Adapt-a-matic article
Length 3	197 mm (with adapter for Canon FD) 185,2 mm (without adapter)	Diameter 4	71,7 mm
Filter ring diameter	58 mm	Weight	1044 grams
Lens element count	14	Lens group count	11
Aperture blades (S/R/C) 5	9 S	Focus throw	180 °
Minimum focusing distance (measured)	173 cms (@70 mm) 173 cms (@220 mm)	Maximum magnification (measured)	1: 19,4 (@70 mm) 1:6,3 (@220 mm)
Has manual aperture ring	YES	Has manual focus ring	YES
Aperture mechanism type	Automatic	Aperture click stops (on preset ring) 6	4•5.6•8•11•16-22

Further notes:
• This is a tele zoom lens manufactured by Tamron for its Adapt-a-matic intermediate mount. It was introduced 1969 (same year as the Adapt-a-matic mount).
• The zooming motion is internal (i.e. the shape or length of the lens does not change while zooming.
• The length of the lens does however change during focusing and rotating the focus ring also rotates the front filter threads.
• The lens comes with an integrated tripod mount that can be rotated 360° and can be fixed with a thumb screw.
• The inspected sample of this lens is (as far as I can make out) parfocal at both infinity, middle distance (10 m) and MFD.

Versions

According to sources, there are at least three different versions of the Auto Tamron 70–220 mm f/4 with the adapt-a-matic mount:
– version 1 (introduced 1969) has ribbed metal focus and zoom rings. (pictured sample)
– version 2 (introduced 1971 or 1972) has rubber focus rings, but is otherwise similar
– version 3 (introduced 1972 or 1973) is otherwise like version 2, but add slots to the aperture ring base that would have enabled communicating selected aperture to the camera (with a suitable adapter that was never manufactured, instead Tamron discontinued the Adaptall mount in favour of the Adaptall mount.).

Adapting

Given that this lens uses an intermediate mount, there are several ways to go, depending on what your intention is

To film SLRs or dSLRs?
You’re in luck, because there used to be Adapt-a-matic adapters made for pretty much every mainstream SLR system available before the mid-70s, (including at least¹: Canon FD, Exakta, Konica AR, M42, Minolta SR, Miranda, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax K, Petri FT). What you need to do is head to your favourite online classifieds platform and procure an adapter (adapters for dSLR mounts are still available new).

To Mirrorless
Again, not a challenge. If you do not yet have a Adapt-a-matic adapter to an SLR mount, you can buy any combination of an Adapt-a-matic to SLR and SLR to mirrorless adapter.

Footnotes

1. Focal length is (unless stated otherwise) given in absolute terms, and not in Full-frame equivalent. For an understanding of whether the lens is wide/tele, see ‘Angle-of-view’. ↩︎
2. Picture angle is given in degrees and concerns the diagonal picture angle. Rule of thumb:
   > 90 ° ==> Ultra-wide-angle
   70–90 ° ==> Wide-angle
   50–70 ° ==> Moderate wide-angle
   40–50 ° ==> ‘Standard’ or ‘normal’ lens
   20–40 ° ==> Short tele lens
   10-20 ° ==> Tele lens
   5-10 ° ==> Long tele lens
   < 5 ° ==> Ultra-tele lens ↩︎
3. Length is given from the mount flange to the front of lens at infinity. ↩︎
4. Diameter excludes protrusions such as rabbit ears or stop-down levers. ↩︎
5. S=straight; R=rounded; C=(almost)circular at all apertures. ↩︎
6. Numbers equal aperture values on aperture ring; • intermediate click; – no intermediate click. ↩︎
7. This list will only contain adapters that we at JAPB have witnessed.  ↩︎