My de-yellowed SMC Takumar f1.4

[muf]

This is one of my favourite camera's, the Pentax Spotmatic SPII. Great feel, build quality and the shutter just sounds oh so perfect. This one is now sporting the 50mm SMC Takumar f1.4. I noticed when looking through it on to a white piece of paper that it had the infamous 'yellow cast' so I have had a UV light on it for about 300 hours and now it's as clear as a bell. The spotmatic is in full working order and I've had great results from it when using my Zeiss lens. This is the first time I've had the chance to put the Tak on it as I've wanted to get rid of the yellowing first. I'm hoping for some great bokeh using this beauty.

I may have an obsession with P&S camera's but these are in a whole league all their own.

Paul

 

[former member]

That is a great lens, well worth treating. UV treatment seems to be more effective than sunlight, and does not dry out the lubricants.

 

[Spider67]

Thanks for psoting the treatment!
Seems that yellowing also happened to my favourite Helios 44 58mm f2.
Of course I di not call it yellowing but "character"
;o)

 

[muf]

Thanks for the encouraging words. 🙂

The yellowing works a treat for B&W, especially when wanting some definition to the sky. Clouds look great! That is most definitely character. But it doesn't really do it for color plus it's suggested that it would reduce the lens capability to that of a f1.8 depending on how yellow it is. It's been a long 300 hours though...

 

[dogbunny]

I really like the lens, it is on a Honeywell version of the SPII. The body is pretty abused, but the lens is kind. I'm thinking about getting a Takumar 85mm.

 

[kknox]

Have the same combo, a great camera & lens. The photos are great.

 

[LKeithR]

The super Tak 55/1.8 is also a superb little lens if you want to play with screw-mount...

 

[muf]

The super Tak 55/1.8 is also a superb little lens if you want to play with screw-mount...

Yeah, one of my mates got one to use with his Nikon D90 digital SLR. He bought a lens mount off the bay and used it for one day. Out of all the shots he took he only got one really great one, and it really was great too. He couldn't get infinity and couldn't do anything automatic and basically was too lazy to put a bit of effort in. He thought he could fit it and it would do what a modern auto Nikon lens would do. But I told him he got one great shot so it was a success. He wanted 20 or 30 like that one so thought it was a load of crap. Nice lens that I would have bought off him if I didn't already have the Tak 1.4

Paul

 

[nikon_sam]

My 50mm 1.4 Tak has a little yellowing to it but not too much to slow it down...I shoot mainly B&W in the Spotmatic so it's not a problem...
That is one sharp lens...probably the sharpest one of all I currently own...

 

[jwnash1]

I agree that UV treatment is more effective than sunlight. I left my Super Tak 1:4 in the sun for a month and, while it reduced the yellowing to a usable level it did not completely clear it. So, i put it under a UV light and it totally cleared. Of course if you are going to use it strictly for B&W why bother. Your lens has a nice light yellow filter.

 

[dogberryjr]

My Canon FD 55mm 1.2 also suffers from yellowing (I'm told this is caused by thorium glass) and as such, it makes a wonderful B&W lens without requiring a yellow filter. But I found that the yellowing also works well with Kodachrome. I only have a few rolls of PKR left, so I guess it might be time to park the ol' 55mm AL under the UV lamp. Sad on one hand, but it'll be a rebirth on the other.

 

[radiocemetery]

When you guys are talking about using a "UV" lamp, what kind of bulb is it? Is it a blacklight bulb, a flourescent with high Kelvin, or what? Just like to know what type bulb is the most effective to use. I have a pretty yellowed out 50 1.4 super Tak. that needs treatment. Thanks.
Steve

 

[muf]

Mine is this: Prolite 15w Blacklight Compact Fluorescent Lamp

I've attached a piccy.

Paul

 

[charjohncarter]

When you guys are talking about using a "UV" lamp, what kind of bulb is it? Is it a blacklight bulb, a flourescent with high Kelvin, or what? Just like to know what type bulb is the most effective to use. I have a pretty yellowed out 50 1.4 super Tak. that needs treatment. Thanks.
Steve

Chinese bulbs work:

 

[radiocemetery]

Alright, Thanks you guys. How is your Oly RC John?
Steve

 

[charjohncarter]

Yes, the RC is great, new bottom plate makes it look new. I used it in Mexico; shot half a roll before I realized the battery was dead, so converted to 'sunny 16.' In a couple of months it will go off to the 'Doctor' for a couple of small repairs. A little crop on this one:

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I WISH, wish, wish that someone would either come up with an RF focus coupler/adapter for M-M42 or that someone would be so kind as to mount this lens in a proper 50mm mount so I can shoot it on my Leica. I've wanted to do this for years, in fact. Tried making an adapter but I just don't have the machine shop available.

The cool thing is that the movement of the lens from infinity to close-focus exactly matches the movement of the DR Summicron. I've measured it maybe 10 times and if there is any difference it is smaller than .02mm which is the accuracy of my calipers. This can make the fabrication of an adapter quite easy since the cam action doesn't need to be changed at all.

Anyone want to take it on? I think there are a few people out there that would take their <$200 50mm f/1.4 Takumar (of any flavor, super, super multi coated or SMC) and have it put into a mount for use on an M. It would still be cheaper than a mint Summilux 50. The only issue is that it would stick out almost as much as a Noctilux since the Takumar is a retrofocal lens.

Phil Forrest

 

[muf]

A Leica body and coupled RF adaptor to use the Tak. Now you are just asking for too much! 😉

Paul