Last updated on 2026-01-07
A review and photo examples using the Tamron SP 350mm F5.6 (06B) with the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C.
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Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photo taken with the HASSELBLAD X2D.
Review
1．Overview
The SP 350mm F5.6・06B is a 350mm focal length mirror lens manufactured by Tamron.
It has a maximum aperture of F5.6, a minimum focusing distance of 1.1m, and a fixed aperture.
This lens uses Tamron’s proprietary Adaptall 2 mount, which allows it to be used with lenses from various manufacturers’ SLR cameras by simply changing the mount. It can also be used with the latest mirrorless cameras by using an Adaptall 2 adapter, which is widely available for mirrorless cameras such as Nikon F and Canon EF mounts.
Lens filters can be attached to the front and rear, with 82mm filters available for the front lens element and 30.5mm filters available for the rear lens element. The lens hood is a reverse-mountable 82mm screw-in type with internal fringes.
It comes standard with a tripod collar that rotates 90 degrees.
2．Usability
The SP 350mm F5.6・06B has a wide image circle, covering the 44x33mm medium format digital sensor of the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C used here. The focal length is equivalent to 270mm, calculated by multiplying the sensor size by 0.8.
To mount the lens on a Hasselblad X series camera, an Adaptall 2 Leica R adapter is attached to the lens, followed by a Novoflex X-Leica R mount adapter, and the lens is then attached to the camera.
Converting to the Leica R mount also allows the Leica APO-Extender x2 to be used, turning the lens into a telephoto lens with a focal length of 540mm / F11 (actual focal length of 700mm).
The lens features a maximum aperture of F5.6, one stop brighter than the F8 used in 500mm-class mirror lenses. The fixed aperture is due to the difficulty of incorporating an aperture mechanism into mirror lenses.
Although it’s an older lens, you can enjoy sufficiently sharp images as long as you’re careful to avoid camera shake. In the sample image, you can even make out an airplane flying in the photo of Rainbow Bridge. Although not shown in the sample image, it can of course also produce the donut bokeh that’s unique to mirror lenses.
With a minimum focusing distance of 1.1m, it can be considered a telemacro lens, and you need to rotate it around 350 degrees from infinity to the minimum focusing distance of 1.1m, so quick focusing isn’t possible. However, the focal length is easy to fine-tune, so it’s well-suited for fine-tuning the focus.
This is just my personal issue, but perhaps the combination of the subtle movement due to the X2D’s image stabilization and the smooth EVF makes me feel a bit nauseous and motion sick after using it for a few minutes.
This time I used it with the HASSELBLAD X2D-100C medium format digital sensor, but when used with a 35mm full frame sensor the focal length remains the same at 350mm, while with an APS-C size sensor the conversion factor is 1.5 to 1.7 times, extending the telephoto end to 525mm to 595mm. With a Four Thirds sensor the conversion factor is 2 times, so the focal length becomes 700mm, which is no longer a focal length suitable for use around town.
3．Summary
To sum up, the SP 350mm f/5.6-06B is a compact telephoto lens that uses a reflecting mirror.
The ring-shaped bokeh that is unique to mirror lenses can be unsightly depending on the width, and this lens commands a premium price in some circles, but in my honest opinion, it’s not a lens that people would be keen to purchase unless they have a strong attachment to mirror lenses.
Specification
A similar lens, the 300mm f/6.3 mirror lens for Micro Four Thirds released by TOKINA on May 25, 2012, is even more compact than this lens, but this is likely due to different lens specifications and a narrower image circle.
The same Tamron 500mm mirror lens (52B/52BB) has a focal length that’s too long for everyday use, but the 06B’s 350mm is still usable in urban areas.
I had had several opportunities to acquire this lens but never got around to it, and finally acquired it at the end of 2022. It was listed as junk, and although there was a slight amount of mold on the front element, which was a bit of a problem, the helicoid was a comfortable weight, and the rear element was in excellent condition, protected by a 30.5mm filter. The hood, hood cap, and Adaptall 2-M42 were all included, and it was in perfect condition. Since I didn’t have much use for the telephoto lens, I sold it shortly after.
| Item | Tamron SP 350mm | Tokina Reflex 300mm F6.3 MF MACRO |
| focal length(mm) | 350 | 300 |
| Maximum aperture | 5.6(fixed) | 6.3(fixed) |
| Minimum aperture | – | – |
| Lens configuration | 7elements in 4groups | 7elements in 3groups |
| Leaf blade | なし | ← |
| Minimum distance(m) | 1.1 | 0.8 |
| Lens length(mm) | 79 | 66 |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 86 | 66 |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 82 | 55 |
| Lens hood | 19FH | BH552 |
| Weight(g) | 577 | 299 |
| Release date | 1981~1985 | May 25, 2012~(Product ended) |
| Official price | ￥48,400 | ￥40,000 |
Reference links
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Update history
- 2026.1.6
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