The Takumar Lenses

[kuuan]

Andreas, how does the 85mm 1.8 Super Multi-Coated Takumar compare with the 85mm 1.9 Super Takumar?

Thanks.

- Murray

Murray sorry but I could not tell you. This simply because I hardly have used the S-M-C f1.8.

2 google results that could be of interest: ( Pentaxforum lens review data base should be interesting too, sorry I can't link to it, for some reason right now that site doesn't open for me.)
https://www.flickr.com/groups/47441458@N00/discuss/72157624127085519/
http://forum.mflenses.com/super-tak-85-1-9-against-smc-tak-85-1-8-t19123.html

here and there may be mentioned that the S-M-C is a bit sharper and has a bit better flare resistance, that the Super Taks f1.9 has the smoother bokeh, also that there is little practical difference
Of the f1.9 Super Tak I would concur that the bokeh indeed is nice and that wide open, at least for me, it is plenty sharp. All 3 samples Super Takumar f1.9/85mm on Pentax K-x ( APS-C sensor )


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


street sweeper by andreas, on Flickr


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

cheers, andreas

 

[CMur12]

Thanks for the photos, the links, and your observations, Andreas!


The photos you included are certainly good examples of bokeh and the portrait of the street sweeper is especially striking (soft lighting, composition, and color).


- Murray

 

[Papercut]

If I had seen this thread before getting stuck into Leica, I probably never would have spent so much money on Leica bodies and lenses. Not sure whether to be happy or sad about that observation ...

 

[dourbalistar]

American LaFrance, 900 Series.

Pentax 6x7, S-M-C Takumar 6x7 90mm f/2.8 LS, Ultrafine Xtreme 400, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes.


2018.09.01 Roll #178-02816-Pano-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[kuuan]

Tele Takumar f5.6/200mm - full set - how could I have resisted? 😉


Tele Takumar f5.6/200mm by andreas, on Flickr, taken by preset Macro Takumar f4/50mm on Ricoh GXR M


all on Sony A7:

11 years old drummer with an attitude 🙂 by andreas, on Flickr


Gamelan Jess Jegog by andreas, on Flickr


Bamboo by andreas, on Flickr


super blue moon lunar eclipse January 31st 2018 by andreas, on Flickr

 

[peterm1]

Andreas you were asking for a sample from my auto Takumar 55mm f2.2 that I mentioned in an earlier post.

I like its classic rendering. Not sure that I nailed focus precisely but in any event the lens has that classic sharp / soft rendering and low contrast. And I especially like the way the OOF area looks - a little soft flare from the TV and outside light through a window which somehow adds something and overall is soft, smooth, buttery. It is a nice lens for special uses.

........... and no, I have not been partaking of the sake from the bottle.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

A LNIB Super-Macro-Takumar 50/f4 I stumbled across in the local classifieds. It's the cleanest 'old' lens I've ever seen, and doesn't look like it was ever actually mounted.

 

[CMur12]

Incredible find, Nick!


- Murray

 

[Doug]

Very nice, Nick, this is a great lens. Can certainly be used for general-purpose shooting, not just macro work. I had mine (#3923520) for 26 years and sold it a couple of years after getting a PKA-mount 50mm f/2.8 SMCP-A Macro to replace it.

Pentax ESII, 4/50mm Macro-Takumar, Fuji Neopan 400CN

 

[kuuan]

Andreas you were asking for a sample from my auto Takumar 55mm f2.2 that I mentioned in an earlier post.

I like its classic rendering. Not sure that I nailed focus precisely but in any event the lens has that classic sharp / soft rendering and low contrast. And I especially like the way the OOF area looks - a little soft flare from the TV and outside light through a window which somehow adds something and overall is soft, smooth, buttery. It is a nice lens for special uses.

........... and no, I have not been partaking of the sake from the bottle.

thank you Peter for showing! yes, I also find the rendering of my f2 version, which is said to be the same lens made slower to have a cheaper alternative in the market, very pleasing. It does look a bit soft, interestingly however, as mentioned in my presentation of the f2 lens a befriended lens lover had tested it on "FF" against a number of other 50 and 55mm lenses and had scored it to be the sharpest, specially if considering the edged of the frame, of all together with, if I am not mistaken, Rokkor f1.4/58mm

I have shown my better samples earlier in this thread already, a few more, again all on Pentax K-x ( APS-C sensor ), first two in Kathmandu, Nepal



butter lamps by andreas, on Flickr



Untitled by andreas, on Flickr



Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

A LNIB Super-Macro-Takumar 50/f4 I stumbled across in the local classifieds. It's the cleanest 'old' lens I've ever seen, and doesn't look like it was ever actually mounted.

WOW, indeed an extremely rare find, a pleasure to see!!!, congratulations Nick!

 

[Swift1]

Here's a recent photo from my Pentax SV and S-M-C Takumar 28/3.5, on some 15 years expired Kodak Gold 200 shot at 50.

Untitled by Colton Allen, on Flickr​

 

[kuuan]

Since I have been using mirrorless cams I hardly have been using my Takumars but mostly the smaller "Pen-F" and rangefinder lenses.
The other day however, during the socalled Ogoh Ogoh parade at the Balinese New Year's Eve I used a Super Takumar f1.8/55mm.
Lifeview of mirrorless cams make it so very easy to play with flares:



Ogoh Ogoh by andreas, on Flickr


watching by andreas, on Flickr


torch bearer by andreas, on Flickr


smoke of torch by andreas, on Flickr

all taken with Super Takumar f1.8/55mm on Sony A7, Bali 2019

 

[charjohncarter]

Nice series!

 

[Swift1]

Untitled by Colton Allen, on Flickr
Asahi Pentax SV
S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4
Expired Kodak Gold 200 at 50
Epson V750-M Pro​

 

[kuuan]

Nice series!

thank you John!
a few more from that night taken with the Super Takumar f1.8/55mm on Sony A7:


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr



Untitled by andreas, on Flickr



watching by andreas, on Flickr




watching by andreas, on Flickr, all Bali 2019

 

[Graham Line]

The 85mm 1.8 is my favorite portrait lens and the 35 3.5 is a tack driver

My working kit for several years in newspapers was a 28/3.5, a 50/1.4 and the 85 1.8 with a pair of Spotmatic F bodies. The 85 was amazing.

Finally needed a reliable motor drive and ended up with Nikon FM2 & FE2.

 

[raid]

My working kit for several years in newspapers was a 28/3.5, a 50/1.4 and the 85 1.8 with a pair of Spotmatic F bodies. The 85 was amazing.

Finally needed a reliable motor drive and ended up with Nikon FM2 & FE2.

I still have the Spotmatic F with 28/3.5, 50/1.4 and 85/1.8. I also have a 35/2.

 

[Doug]

...Finally needed a reliable motor drive and ended up with Nikon FM2 & FE2.

Did you look at the Spotmatic Motor Drive model? I have one and the motor, which seems to be the same one to fit my Pentax K2DMD...

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

The 85 was amazing.

I've only recently been getting aquainted with the K85/f1.8 (optically the same as the Super-Multi-Coated Tak) and it is exceptional. Probably the best short tele I've used.

 

[Graham Line]

Did you look at the Spotmatic Motor Drive model? I have one and the motor, which seems to be the same one to fit my Pentax K2DMD...

My memory is fuzzy but iirc, in the mid-70s the only motor available was on a dedicated Spotmatic body with the broomstick handle/battery holder. My usual cleanup/repair guy, who could fix anything but didn't sell cameras, didn't think it would stand up to frequent use.