Takumar and Summilux 50's

[nobbylon]

I was lucky enough to be given a box of cameras last week by my friend's dad, 'thx Robert'.
Highlights of the box where an EDIXA slr and a CONTAX 159mm with 50mm 1.7 planar. I replaced the seals on both and shot a roll in each this week. With the Edixa came a 50mm 1.4 super takumar 1st version 8 element 1964 version.
I just got the negs back and can't believe how close the takumar images look compared to my 50 pre asph lux. I'm now looking for a cheap spotmatic to go with it.

 

[charjohncarter]

I have the 1969 version, from the beginning (I bought it new). It is a great lenses for an SLR lens, but I bet if you tested it against a Leica of also great quality you would find it isn't as good. It would be close but not as good (as with all SlR lenses). This is just my opinion, I have both and I can't tell the difference unless I shoot the same scene with both and then blow images up to smithereens.

 

[Blank288]

Congratulations with this gift!
In terms of value for money I think you can't do better than with a Spotmatic with Takumar lenses. I have one with Super-Takumar 1,8/50 and I regularly borrow an SMC-Takumar 3,5/35 for it. Shiploads of other M42 lense can be used too, which can be had for kilo-prices.

I didn't have time yet to test the Takumar lenses (or subsequent Pentax-K lenses) against my ('55 - '70) Leica glass. My impressions: Pentax lenses generally offer 'harder', brighter colours and contrast, Leica results are somewhat more subtle and nuanced, and perhaps sharper. Just as others report.

 

[Ronald M]

Do a roll of black and white, home processed and printed if you know what you are doing.
Do half in the EXA+ Takumar and then repeat the same subjects in the Leica.

When you see how different the images are, you will not pursue the Spotmatic.

I tried for decades to make my prints look like the paper sample books and just never could. I used a borrowed Leica M3 and some lenses and got it on the first try, same film, same developer, same paper. Sharp is not the issue. It is how tones are rendered in Japanese glass vs German. All 20 Takumars and 4 bodies were sold within months.

 

[Ronald M]

Read the post from NB23 just a bit further down on 40mm Summicron C Action.