Tamron 70-210mm F/3.8-4 Model 46A: This lens is the final version of Tamron's affordable short telephoto to medium telephoto lens line which started with the 80-210 model 03A and later the 80-210 model 103A. This lens provides a slightly larger 3X zoom range yet otherwise offers no improvement on the already above average optical performance of the previous model 103A. Optical performance, like the 80-210 model 103A which this lens replaced, is above average. Even the macro performance for a lens of this type is above average. Images are very slightly soft in the corners with the aperture wide open at all zoom settings, with sharpness across the entire film plane improving to very good at F/5.6 and smaller apertures at all zoom settings. Overall size and weight are very similar to the model 103A lens, which is amazing since this lens is a 70-210 versus the older model 103A 80-210.

While both the earlier model 103A 80-210 and this later model 46A 70-210 have very similar optical performance, there are some notable differences between the two lenses. First, the model 46A features a plastic zoom/focus collar with an integral knurled plastic diamond grip. The earlier model 103A had a rubber grip surface atop a metal barrel. Second, the model 46A barrel lacks the depth-of-field scales found on the earlier model 103A. Thus this lens falls into the same cosmetic class as Tamron's Adaptall-2 28-70 model 44A which also featured and all plastic focus collar and grip. In an era where camera manufacturers were rapidly switching to autofocus cameras, Tamron at least tried to offer the general public a couple of lenses which optically were very good yet featured price savings through the use of plastic wherever possible. Unfortunately both lenses looked and felt a bit cheap externally, but still featured very good optics as well as very solid internal construction. Needless to say, this cost savings approach just didn't fly with consumers and both of these very good lenses were discontinued after a few years.

So the question remains as to which lens is better, the earlier 80-210 model 103A or the later 70-210 model 46A? If you want the slightly extra zoom range of the true 3:1 zoom ratio 70-210 and will mainly use your lens on a programmed or shutter priority mode camera, then buy the 70-210 if the plastic zoom/focus grip isn't an issue. If you mainly shoot using aperture priority mode with your camera and are knowledgeable about setting aperture and depth-of-field using the lens's depth-of-field scales, or if you must have an all metal lens with rubber grips, then choose the earlier 80-210 model 103A. Optical performance with either lens is sure to please since the optical performance of both lenses is very similar.

Lens Specifications:

Lens Model	46A
Focal Length	70 — 210mm
Aperture Range	f/3.8~4 — 22, AE
Angle of View	34°~11°
Optical Construction (Groups / Elements)	9 / 12
Min. Focus from Film Plane	35.4" (0.9m)
Macro Mag. Ratio [w/2X Converter]	1:2.9 [1:1.45]
Filter Size	58mm
Diameter	2.6" (66mm)
Length at [w/Nikon mount]	5.5" (139.4mm) [5.7" (143.9mm)]
Weight	20 oz. (580g)
Lens Hood	Screw-in type #84FH, optional.
Accessory	Accepts SP 2X tele-converter #01F? **
** We have NOT verified if this lens can indeed accept the SP 2X tele-converter.