The Pentax MX

nickthetasmaniac said:
The optical construction of the M28/f3.5 (6 elements/6 groups) is different to both versions of the Takumar 28/f3.5 (7 elements/6 groups). The Taks are also much bigger lenses (58mm filter vs 49mm). None of these have a particularly good reputation (by Pentax standards), but I can't comment on image quality as I haven't used them.
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Only the very first version of the Takumar 28/3.5 is the 7/6 formula with 58mm filter thread.
The 2nd version Super-Takumar and the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar version are both 7/7 with 49mm filter thread.

In my experience, the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 28/3.5 is an excellent lens.


Untitled by Colton Allen, on Flickr
Asahi Pentax SV
S-M-C Takumar 28/3.5
Kodak Ektar 100
Nikon Coolscan V ED​
 
Swift1 said:
Only the very first version of the Takumar 28/3.5 is the 7/6 formula with 58mm filter thread.
The 2nd version Super-Takumar and the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar version are both 7/7 with 49mm filter thread.
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My mistake, misread the spec sheet. Was looking at the 'late' version of the first version.
 
nickthetasmaniac said:
The K28/f3.5, which came between the Taks and M and has a stellar reputation (one of the highest rated lenses on Pentax Forums) has a different construction again - 8 elements/7 groups. To be honest, I'm curious why they went to so much effort with this lens... These can still be found quite cheap.
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It's funny how we are conditioned with pricing. The 'mint' SMC 28 3.5 was on the high side at $100. And yet 'we' are ok with Leica M 28 2.8 coming in at $2500 +_!
 
Huss said:
It's funny how we are conditioned with pricing. The 'mint' SMC 28 3.5 was on the high side at $100. And yet 'we' are ok with Leica M 28 2.8 coming in at $2500 +_!
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I've been pondering this quite a bit lately. I have very clean examples of some of the best Pentax manual lenses (M28/f2, K50/f1.2, K85/f1.8 and K135/f2.5) and none of them were over $300 (some quite a bit cheaper). Yet I consider all of them 'expensive' lenses, while I still think of my clean 90mm Tele Elmarit as a 'bargain' at $600...
 
Yeah Nick, here I was nickel and dime-ing the purchase of a SMC 28mm, whereas just a lens hood for my ZM Cosina Zeiss 35 1.4 is at least two to three times as much. Just for a lens hood.
 
Huss said:
Nice! Can you show a top view of the MX so I can see how big the 50 1.2 is on it?
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I don't have one on file sorry. I'll try and put one up when I get off work next week.

There's this shot I posted earlier, but it definitely makes the 50/f1.2 seem larger than it actually is...

 
I had both Pentax MX and Olympus OM-1/OM-2 cameras. The MX is very slightly smaller; the Olympus felt better in my hands. Both were excellent cameras.

But honestly, in this camera class, I prefer the Nikon FM2n. And my current small mechanical SLR, the Leica R6.2, is not much larger than the FX if at all, and has the best lenses.

G
 
nickthetasmaniac said:
I've been pondering this quite a bit lately. I have very clean examples of some of the best Pentax manual lenses (M28/f2, K50/f1.2, K85/f1.8 and K135/f2.5) and none of them were over $300 (some quite a bit cheaper). Yet I consider all of them 'expensive' lenses, while I still think of my clean 90mm Tele Elmarit as a 'bargain' at $600...
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The question is, how do these lenses compare with their Leica counterparts? Sure, Leica is expensive and we just accept it, but how much better are they? I haven't shot enough with Pentax K lenses to know.
 
Archiver said:
The question is, how do these lenses compare with their Leica counterparts? Sure, Leica is expensive and we just accept it, but how much better are they? I haven't shot enough with Pentax K lenses to know.
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I honestly haven't shot with enough that are directly comparable to say.

On film I'd say the K85/f1.8 is a better lens than the TE 90/f2.8, but that's based on general 'feel', rather than a direct, side-by-side comparison.

I'll soon be getting my Super-Tak 55/f1.8 back from service and will try and do a bit of a comparison with my 5cm Cron Collapsible. These two are of similar speed and vintage, so it will be interesting to see how they perform.

A bit OT (and not Leica), but a well known bit of Pentax folklore is that the original Super-Takumar 50/f1.4 '8 element' was an all-in, sold-at-a-loss effort to outperform the Zeiss 50mm Planar. My understanding is that they were successful, before quietly switching to a cheaper 7 element design.
 
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