SMC pentax 55mm 1.8

[sanmich]

Hi all

I have been given this lens in excellent condition by my mechanic.
I have no body for it, and it has some light haze, so I would like to ask:

1- How good is it?
2- Would someone know if the elements 2 and 3 from the back are cemented?
I have removed the rear optical block element, removed the rear lens of the latter, and I'm left with a small optical block with haze.
It looks like there are two elements there, and the haze is inside, and it may well be a two metal part assembly, but I can't seem to open it.
Is it glued? are the elements cemented?

thanks!

 

[Noll]

I can't help with the repair question, but to #1 - it is a wonderful lens that is full of character wide open and ridiculously sharp all over from f4 on down.

Not a great photo but it gives you an idea of the character wide open:

As far as sharpness goes, no small jpeg will do it justice, but this is a start:

 

[Pioneer]

It would appear that two of the elements in the rear are cemented.

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/_optics/55f1.8.jpg

EDIT - BTW it is also quite a nice lens. Seems to be quite well regarded by the Pentax users.

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-K-55mm-F1.8-Lens.html

And this guy can give help you regarding repairs. Drop him a note.

http://pentaxs.com/id3.html

 

[f16sunshine]

I can Concur with Noll. It is an excellent lens with all the personality we usually seek in a fast-ish 50ish FL.
Nice bokeh. Sharp at wide open. Sharp edge to edge stopped down just a bit.
Takumar build and SMC coatings make a winner. If you can't clean it up just find another. There are millions of them 🙂

 

[sanmich]

Thanks gentlemen.
It was given to me, and I don't have a body for it.
so... getting another one, just to have to get a body for it doesn't sound the smartest move.. 🙂
Generally, is there a possibility that two elements are touching without actually being cemented?
If not, that would mean that the haze is in the cement, which I find a bit surprising.

 

[mfogiel]

The lens is very nice - if you have the M42 version, you can use it with an adapter on other cameras - on some it will not focus beyond 2m. Here's a shot wide open:


20138022 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[sanmich]

Looks excellent Marek!
Dan, thanks, I've sent a message to Eric asking for info on how to reach the inner surfaces. Let's see if he accepts to help from the distance...

 

[Dirk]

Can't help with the repair question, but the M42 version, SMC Takumar, is optically special. One of my top three 50-ish lenses, ever. For my taste, it beats the fabled 50/1.4 S-M-C Takumar. If you get a new one, get the highest serial number you can find, something starting with 8xxxxxxx would be great. Pentax did improve the coatings over time. The K bayonet version Pentax SMC, while still good, is not as good. It lacks the great micro contrast and color rendition of the screw mount version. I have had half a dozen examples, and that's my personal observation, not based on Internet lore.

 

[Uncle Bill]

I have a late generation M-42 SMC 55 f1.8 Takumar and I think I like more than the 50 f1.4 which in itself is a great lens. The only difference, there's no yellowing to contend with.

 

[Clark.EE]

Take some pics with it.
What camera do you use?
Adaptable?

 

[WJJ3]

Shot with the M42 version. I was very delighted with this inexpensive lens. This is not the best scan of the original film, but shows the character good enough...
stuff129 by WilliamJosephJefferson, on Flickr

 

[peterm1]

I have a few versions of this lens and its cousins (e.g the early f2 version which I believe is more or less identical) including early and late M42 lenses and all are excellent with nice bokeh. Its a lens that is well worth owning. And it si oh so cheap to buy.

 

[Doug]

I have just the ancient Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8, which despite the "Auto" designation is the first Asahi lens having a full-auto diaphragm control like the later Super-Takumar... this being the last Pentacon guided technical evolution at Pentax.

Dating from about 1960, it has 6 elements in 5 groups, and with the aperture ring going backwards from every other Pentax lens I've seen.

It came with a Heiland Pentax H3, possibly original to the camera. I've only used it once, 10 years ago, and didn't make any derogatory comments in the record!

 

[Wulfthari]

My Spotmatic F has the latest tak 55mm f1.8 and my KM and LX came with the K55mm f1.8, optically they are the same, excellent lenses both, physically the K is bigger and takes 52mm filters instead of 49 mm...it 's worth noting they are the same as the cheaper siblings, the tak and K 55mm f2.0 that came with the entry level cameras, the SP1000 and the K1000.

 

[sleepyhead]

About 10 years ago I inherited a black Pentax SV with 55/1.8 and 105/2.8 Takumar lenses from my (deceased) father-in-law. Being a rangefinder shooter, they sat in a drawer unused, unloved, and totally neglegted until about 1 month ago.

For some reason I took the SV out and started playing with, testing the shutter times, etc. It seemed to work perfectly! So last week I took it and the two lenses on vacation in Southern Sweden. I look forwards to developing the Ilford HP5+ films.

 

[Dwig]

I have just the ancient Auto-Takumar 55mm f/1.8, which despite the "Auto" designation is the first Asahi lens having a full-auto diaphragm control like the later Super-Takumar...

It came with a Heiland Pentax H3, possibly original to the camera. ...!

I have the same version, though mine camera on the slightly newer Honeywell Pentax H3 (no difference in the camera other than the naming change). It now lives on an adapter for use with my Pany m4/3s camera. i prefer it to the Leitz Summicron-DR and Summilux lenses that I also use occasionally in m4/3. I only ever seem to use the Leitz lenses to reaffirm my preference for the Takumar.

 

[raid]

I may have such a lens. I will check out my Pentax M42 camera bag!

 

[it'sawhat?]

I have the 55/1.8 in m42 mount and the 55/2 in k mount both are excellent lenses. I like them more than my 8 element 50/ 1.4 and as much as my 50/1.7 which I admit I am sentimentally attached to.

 

[Wulfthari]

Here there is a section of the lens is someone is interested: