The Takumar Lenses

This is from June 2010, back when I could still use my hands well enough to develop my own film.

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Asahi Pentax SV
Super-Takumar 55/1.8
Arista Premium 400 in Diafine​
 
lynnb said:
Great pictures Andreas. You're going to inflate Takumar prices with these!
Click to expand...

thank you Lynn. Prices during the last 10 years, I think, have not appreciated. If so these posts won't cause them to neither 😉

( preset ) Takumar f2.8/105mm, tiny for a 105mm

Takumar 105mm f2.8 by andreas, on Flickr, taken with S-M-C Takumar f2.8/105mm on Pentax *istDs

on APS-C Pentax *istDs around Kathmandu, Nepal

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


during Gay Jatra by andreas, on Flickr


Shiv Lingam by andreas, on Flickr


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

on APS-C Pentax K-x

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr, Hanoi 2010


Petronas Tower by andreas, on Flickr, Kuala Lumpur 2010
 
kuuan said:
Takumar f2/58mm

Takumar f2/58mm by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Super Takumar f1.9/85mm, Pentax K-x
Untitled by andreas, on Flickr, on Pentax K-x, Japan 2011
cosmos by andreas, on Flickr, on Sony NEX5n, Austria 2013

used with "shift adapter":
Sakura by andreas, on Flickr, on Sony NEX5n, Japan 2012
Click to expand...

Kuuan I can see how nice these images look. But it is one of the relatively few Takumar lenses I do not own so I cannot judge for myself based on first hand experience. But how do you think this compares with its near contemporary 55mm f1.8/f2/f2.2 versions. And which ones out of all of these do you prefer?
 
Peter
The 58 is a Sonnar, it just seems to melt the background.
It's not the sharpest.. which isn't everything
Unfortunately I don't have access to the others from the same vintage.
Do have the 55/2 Super and 50/1.4 Super / S-M-C
But they don't come close to the look
 
peterm1 said:
Kuuan I can see how nice these images look. But it is one of the relatively few Takumar lenses I do not own so I cannot judge for myself based on first hand experience. But how do you think this compares with its near contemporary 55mm f1.8/f2/f2.2 versions. And which ones out of all of these do you prefer?
Click to expand...

Hi Peter,
there hardly is a objective way to compare these, only can relate some personal observations and preferences. Please take them not too seriously though, I have been called a Pentax fanboy often enough 😉

Really I like all of them! The 55mm Takumars are known to be good but imo not regarded highly enough just because they are plentiful and cheap. - which of course is not true for the f2/58mm which is one of the more rare and expensive Takumars, coveted by collectors for being the "only" normal ( 50mm abouts ) SLR lens ever made that is using the Sonnar lens scheme.

About the f2/58mm I remember once having written somewhere that all one has to do is to point it into flowers or foliage and the result will be beautiful. Hm..now looking for samples to show I realize that I don't have all that many good photos that I have taken with it. Bokeh, as is said of Sonnars, sure is beautiful and that makes for good flower pics:

both on Sony NEX5n:

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

Now thinking of it I'd say it must be specially good for portraits! - though I have hardly done any, here are two ( on Ricoh GXR M )


taken with a rare Takumar f2/58mm that is for sale by andreas, on Flickr


taken with a rare Takumar f2/58mm that is for sale by andreas, on Flickr, Takumar f2/58mm, Ricoh GXR M, Vietnam 2013

( I kept the title as shown on my flickr that says that this copy is for sale. Years ago I used to go to Japan every year and, besides visiting my lovely girl friend then, had been hunting Takumars for myself and to resell too. Now I do not remember if I still have a copy for sale or not, probably, but if so it's back in Austria while I just arrived in Bali )

As mentioned above I very much like all the 55mm Takumars too! Specially the early versions and that because of their individual, a bit different color renditions. Member mpersons13 had noted that too, see post 244: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2865015&postcount=144
there also seen some samples taken with the Auto Takumar f2/55, the earliest of the 55mm Takumar ( together with the Auto Takumar f2.2/55mm which is said to be identical but made slower to have a cheaper alternative on the market ). A manual lens freak to whom I had once recommended the Auto Takumar f2/55 then had tested it on a "FF" camera and told me that it was, together with another, not a lens made by Pentax and I don't remember which, the sharpest across the frame of all!

Next came the Auto Takumar f1.8/55 in "zebra" design. If I am not mistaken Carl Zeiss Jena lenses then came in zebra designs and Pentax may have imitated that


Auto Takumar f1.8/55mm 'Zebra' by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Macro Takumar f4/50mm on Pentax K-x


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr, "zebra" Auto Takumar f1.8/55mm, Pentax K-x

even though it is said that strong outer line of the oof highlights is "not good bokeh", I'd say it's lovely bokeh too 🙂

next came a version of the f1.8/55mm that was the first one that came in a body similar to all later Takumars. Color rendition may have changed to more "neutral" or "balanced".
Nevertheless I consider the colors rendered by later Takumars as very beautiful too 🙂

To mention that, when adapted to mirrorless cameras, I do like the position of the aperture ring "at the front" of the lens as on the earlier Takumars, makes it easier to grab it "blindly"


Auto Takumar f1.8/55mm ( late version ) by andreas, on Flickr, taken with preset Takumar f2.8/105mm on Pentax K-x

a sample taken on Sony A7:

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

then came the Super Takumars, the f1.8/55:

Super Takumar f1.8/55mm by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Nikkor-S f1.4/50mm on Pentax *istDs

a sample taken on Pentax *istDs:

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

The 55mm S-M-C Takumar I do not have, but the again later SMC that is said to be identical optically, incl. the coating, body had changed a bit, now rubberized focus ring instead of fully metal body:


SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Auto Yashinon-DX f1.7/50mm

on Pentax *istDs:

mandi by andreas, on Flickr

best greetings from Bali,
andreas

P.S.: later edit:
oh, and I just remember. I had done sharpness shootouts of 32 old, manual "normal" lenses including all the above
on APS-C sensor with Sony NEX5n: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections/72157632455712332/
and on Sony A7 "FF" 35mm sensor: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuanslenstests/collections/72157670921126335/
 
Andreas, thank you - love the colour rendition and drawing of these lenses. Bokeh looks good to me. the tree shot would be challenging for any lens due to the background.
 
kuuan said:
Hi Peter,
there hardly is a objective way to compare these, only can relate some personal observations and preferences. Please take them not too seriously though, I have been called a Pentax fanboy often enough 😉

Really I like all of them! The 55mm Takumars are known to be good but imo not regarded highly enough just because they are plentiful and cheap. - which of course is not true for the f2/58mm which is one of the more rare and expensive Takumars, coveted by collectors for being the "only" normal ( 50mm abouts ) SLR lens ever made that is using the Sonnar lens scheme.

About the f2/58mm I remember once having written somewhere that all one has to do is to point it into flowers or foliage and the result will be beautiful. Hm..now looking for samples to show I realize that I don't have all that many good photos that I have taken with it. Bokeh, as is said of Sonnars, sure is beautiful and that makes for good flower pics:

(pics removed due to posting limit)

Now thinking of it I'd say it must be specially good for portraits! - though I have hardly done any, here are two ( on Ricoh GXR M )

taken with a rare Takumar f2/58mm that is for sale by andreas, on Flickr

taken with a rare Takumar f2/58mm that is for sale by andreas, on Flickr, Takumar f2/58mm, Ricoh GXR M, Vietnam 2013

( I kept the title as shown on my flickr that says that this copy is for sale. Years ago I used to go to Japan every year and, besides visiting my lovely girl friend then, had been hunting Takumars for myself and to resell too. Now I do not remember if I still have a copy for sale or not, probably, but if so it's back in Austria while I just arrived in Bali )

As mentioned above I very much like all the 55mm Takumars too! Specially the early versions and that because of their individual, a bit different color renditions. Member mpersons13 had noted that too, see post 244: https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2865015&postcount=144
there also seen some samples taken with the Auto Takumar f2/55, the earliest of the 55mm Takumar ( together with the Auto Takumar f2.2/55mm which is said to be identical but made slower to have a cheaper alternative on the market ). A manual lens freak to whom I had once recommended the Auto Takumar f2/55 then had tested it on a "FF" camera and told me that it was, together with another, not a lens made by Pentax and I don't remember which, the sharpest across the frame of all!

Next came the Auto Takumar f1.8/55 in "zebra" design. If I am not mistaken Carl Zeiss Jena lenses then came in zebra designs and Pentax may have imitated that

Auto Takumar f1.8/55mm 'Zebra' by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Macro Takumar f4/50mm on Pentax K-x

Untitled by andreas, on Flickr, "zebra" Auto Takumar f1.8/55mm, Pentax K-x

even though it is said that strong outer line of the oof highlights is "not good bokeh", I'd say it's lovely bokeh too 🙂

next came a version of the f1.8/55mm that was the first one that came in a body similar to all later Takumars. Color rendition may have changed to more "neutral" or "balanced".
Nevertheless I consider the colors rendered by later Takumars as very beautiful too 🙂

To mention that, when adapted to mirrorless cameras, I do like the position of the aperture ring "at the front" of the lens as on the earlier Takumars, makes it easier to grab it "blindly"

Auto Takumar f1.8/55mm ( late version ) by andreas, on Flickr, taken with preset Takumar f2.8/105mm on Pentax K-x

a sample taken on Sony A7:
Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

then came the Super Takumars, the f1.8/55:
Super Takumar f1.8/55mm by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Nikkor-S f1.4/50mm on Pentax *istDs

a sample taken on Pentax *istDs:
Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

The 55mm S-M-C Takumar I do not have, but the again later SMC that is said to be identical optically, incl. the coating, body had changed a bit, now rubberized focus ring instead of fully metal body:
SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 by andreas, on Flickr, taken with Auto Yashinon-DX f1.7/50mm

on Pentax *istDs:
mandi by andreas, on Flickr

best greetings from Bali,
andreas

P.S.: later edit:
oh, and I just remember. I had done sharpness shootouts of 32 old, manual "normal" lenses including all the above
on APS-C sensor with Sony NEX5n: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections/72157632455712332/
and on Sony A7 "FF" 35mm sensor: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuanslenstests/collections/72157670921126335/
Click to expand...

Thanks Kuuan, I do not know where to start in my response.

I have several Takumars in the 50mm range since as with you I really appreciate them and have for a long time. The truth is I have many Takumar lenses in many focal lengths and versions. Originally (some 25 years or more back) I started buying Takumar lenses because I recognised their quality and especially their value - being plentiful they were and are mostly inexpensive so for someone who was just starting out they were a gateway drug. Back then I owned Leica and Pentax - that was it. (How simple my life was back then.)

Of those in the 50mm range I rather like the earlier 55mm lenses, which seem to me to be a little softer and with more pastel color rendering than later ones (which are still excellent) and as a bonus, as you say they favor both flower photos and portrait photos.

Of recent years I have tended to forget my Takumars, however. I have over the years bought many lenses of many types and brands - I am addicted to trying them out and seeing what they excell in (or not). So my attention has for several years been elsewhere.

But I think I can thank you for this thread which has reminded me of just how good my Takumars are, and which has prompted me to start using them more extensively once more - and maybe buying more of them (sigh). In fact one of my most recent lens purchases has been one of the last versions of the 55mm f1.8 - the one with a rubber focus ring which you say you do not have, simply because I want to see how it compares with the earlier ones. Though I recognise that any differences would be due to coatings rather than optical design.

SO maybe I should not be thanking you after all. 🙂

PS Are you in Bali? Bali would have to be one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world for photography. Lovely welcoming people, interesting and unique culture and glorious scenery. Though the last time I went there boy was it crowded. I had not been for maybe the previous 15 years and the changes in that time were like chalk and cheese. Still the last i.e. most recent time I was there in 2016 I did something uncharacteristic of me and spent 95% of my time in a 5 star resort (instead of my more normal / downmarket place) with my feet up, eating and getting fat around a swimming pool. Even my photography suffered relatively speaking though I still got a few shots posted at Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/life_in_shadows/albums/72157673457465878

As we used to complain / joke when I was younger and went on diving trips every year "Another sh*tty day in paradise" 🙂
 
zuikologist said:
Andreas, thank you - love the colour rendition and drawing of these lenses. Bokeh looks good to me. the tree shot would be challenging for any lens due to the background.
Click to expand...

thank you zuikologist!
I agree with your assessments!
and Zuikos...have caught me too, for being even smaller and lighter than most Takumars and optically superb as well. If I may say, a bit less sturdy build though.
A Zuiko MC f2.8/24mm had become a favorite, also a f2/85mm! Specially I got into the Pen-F Zuikos and since I had gone mirrorless they have been, at least during the first few years, my most used lenses! To be able to use them on my Ricoh M module even converted them to Leica M mount
 
Last edited:
charjohncarter said:
Andreas, thanks for the shootout series. I can't believe you could keep track of what you were doing. I found a couple of my lenses there, thanks again.
Click to expand...

Hi John. Can't believe that I could keep track, of what I were doing? Sorry I don't quite understand your meaning, must be because English ( obviously ) isn't my mother tongue.
Did these test when I had been very active in a forum specially dedicated to manual lenses. Nowadays I believe there is only little one can learn from them, like e.g. corner sharpness at wide apertures, of course specially when tested on "FF".
 
kuuan said:
Hi John. Can't believe that I could keep track, of what I were doing? Sorry I don't quite understand your meaning, must be because English ( obviously ) isn't my mother tongue.
Did these test when I had been very active in a forum specially dedicated to manual lenses. Nowadays I believe there is only little one can learn from them, like e.g. corner sharpness at wide apertures, of course specially when tested on "FF".
Click to expand...

Your English is fine, Andreas. I suspect John was expressing surprise that you have recorded exactly which image is made with which lens, especially when so many of them are similar in focal length, optical qualities, and (being manual focus lenses) they do not pipe any info into the camera for automatic recording in the EXIF. Color me impressed too!
 
peterm1 said:
Thanks Kuuan, I do not know where to start in my response.

I have several Takumars in the 50mm range since as with you I really appreciate them and have for a long time. The truth is I have many Takumar lenses in many focal lengths and versions. Originally (some 25 years or more back) I started buying Takumar lenses because I recognised their quality and especially their value - being plentiful they were and are mostly inexpensive so for someone who was just starting out they were a gateway drug. Back then I owned Leica and Pentax - that was it. (How simple my life was back then.)

Of those in the 50mm range I rather like the earlier 55mm lenses, which seem to me to be a little softer and with more pastel color rendering than later ones (which are still excellent) and as a bonus, as you say they favor both flower photos and portrait photos.

Of recent years I have tended to forget my Takumars, however. I have over the years bought many lenses of many types and brands - I am addicted to trying them out and seeing what they excell in (or not). So my attention has for several years been elsewhere.

But I think I can thank you for this thread which has reminded me of just how good my Takumars are, and which has prompted me to start using them more extensively once more - and maybe buying more of them (sigh). In fact one of my most recent lens purchases has been one of the last versions of the 55mm f1.8 - the one with a rubber focus ring which you say you do not have, simply because I want to see how it compares with the earlier ones. Though I recognise that any differences would be due to coatings rather than optical design.

SO maybe I should not be thanking you after all. 🙂

PS Are you in Bali? Bali would have to be one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world for photography. Lovely welcoming people, interesting and unique culture and glorious scenery. Though the last time I went there boy was it crowded. I had not been for maybe the previous 15 years and the changes in that time were like chalk and cheese. Still the last i.e. most recent time I was there in 2016 I did something uncharacteristic of me and spent 95% of my time in a 5 star resort (instead of my more normal / downmarket place) with my feet up, eating and getting fat around a swimming pool. Even my photography suffered relatively speaking though I still got a few shots posted at Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/life_in_shadows/albums/72157673457465878

As we used to complain / joke when I was younger and went on diving trips every year "Another sh*tty day in paradise" 🙂
Click to expand...

Hi Peter,

similar history here. I hope it's not too boring, a resume of my personal history with photography:
Did some as teenager until my early 20s, using a Minolta XG with a f2.8/28mm and a 1.4/50 and my own darkroom doing only B&W. Next I used a bit a small Pentax AF zoom camera and then, for years, mostly stopped photography.
When digital started I first got some small P&S ( Canon something 10 ) later a used Ricoh Caplio R3 really got me started. Soon upgraded to a Konica Minolta A2 which until today I consider the best handling camera I have had the joy to use!! It also taught me to appreciate an EVF, above all an articulating one!! ( some things imo it did better than any later, e.g. when choosing a setting, mode one wants to change, which on this camera I could do blindly, without ever taking off my eye on the EVF, the setting chosen was superimposed but see through, big in the middle of the EVF for just a fraction of a moment long enough to register )

Next I wanted to upgrade to a dSLR, during that time I frequently was in Japan where in shops, unlike any other place I know of, I was able to handle any camera available to find exactly what I liked best. My choice was, for small size factor and very nice handling, a Pentax *istDS ( bought "used", as most usual for me 😉 ) . Cost factor of modern AF lenses felt heavy and I started to get old manual lenses instead and soon enough was hooked on Takumars. Later got some other makes too, mostly to compare and e.g. Vivitars f2/24 and f2/28 for being faster than the equivalent. Takumars but rel. cheap. Handling, build quality, also IQ, specially color rendering of Takumars, for me, hardly was reached by any other I tried though. Became known in some forums as Pentax fanboy and sure enough got pretty much any Takumar that had ever been produced ( still sad I did not get that f2/100 I had once chance to, very rare, and the price was very good, but that time still too expensive for me )

After the upgrade to a Pentax K-x mirrorless cameras started to hit the market. Smaller, lighter, and since I am most often living out of a suitcase just right for me! The small and powerful Sony NEX5n, with articulating EVF (!) soon became my most used camera and the short register distance soon enough had me jump to the smaller lenses it enabled. Pen-F halfframe lenses, main reason first was because they are cheaper than RF glass, soon really dig those!
Widest however is a 20mm, which makes a 30mm in 35mm film or "fullframe" terms, therefore I added a Voigtlaender 15mm, for more crisp images for landscape and architecture, wide views, soon also Voigtlaender 21mm and 25mm.

Next added the Ricoh GXR M, because such a joy to use, very organic, compared to Sony IQ more "warm", even Pentax-like, even converted my Pen-F lenses to Leica M so that I could use them on the Ricoh.

Desire for a "fullframe camera", not the least also for being able to finally use my Takumars on a medium the size they had been made for, started to creep in more and more. Must admit here that I never much got into using film again. Reason being simply convenience, specially when on the road. Long waited and had hoped for a "FF" mirrorless with an articulating EVF, in the end lost hope and did get a Sony A7.

The Pen-F halframe hardly work on them, use of Takumars made a small comeback then but soon got into Canon LTMs which I appreciate a lot. That again had me neglect my Takumars..

So I ended up owning some 150+ lenses..and I am very happy with the selection I have got, Takumars + a few other, interesting SLR lenses, "Pen-F" halframe lenses, C.V. wide angles and Canon LTMS. Since a few years now I have not bought any more lenses.

In case I will buy lenses again it will be AF lenses. Just now, since a few weeks, I an using a Sony RX100iii I bought second hand, AF again, something I hardly have been using since my Konica Minolta A2. Enjoying it, also learning about it's limitations.

That's were I am at.
I believe I never will sell my Takumars. And every time I am using one it feels just right. For me the S-M-C Takumar f1.4/50mm had become, still is and will remain "the" epitome of a photographic lens 🙂

now, has anyone read until here? forgive me for all that personal stuff...

cheers, andreas
 
Papercut said:
Your English is fine, Andreas. I suspect John was expressing surprise that you have recorded exactly which image is made with which lens, especially when so many of them are similar in focal length, optical qualities, and (being manual focus lenses) they do not pipe any info into the camera for automatic recording in the EXIF. Color me impressed too!
Click to expand...

oh, ok, thank you for the clarification Papercut, understood now!
well, this is simple. I am a Takumar fanboy, remember? For years, and before I shifted here because of the focus being more on photography then gear, I had been active in a forum dedicated to manual focus lenses. Which lens used had been very important in that forum and also for me 😉 Photos on my Flickr I have been organizing not only by place and date but also by which lens used, and that seemed a most natural thing to do. ( The Pentax K-x helped, as I could dial in the focus length of the lens used, the in-camera stabilizer needed that to work correctly. At least I had the focal length of the lens used in the EXIF. ) Another thing that helps is that usually I work through and upload some photos on the very same day, or rather night, that I had taken them. This because on the next day I will take other photos again. If I not working on the photos on the same day, when then? 😉
 
kuuan said:
Hi John. Can't believe that I could keep track, of what I were doing? Sorry I don't quite understand your meaning, must be because English ( obviously ) isn't my mother tongue.
Did these test when I had been very active in a forum specially dedicated to manual lenses. Nowadays I believe there is only little one can learn from them, like e.g. corner sharpness at wide apertures, of course specially when tested on "FF".
Click to expand...

I just meant it was a big (too big for my brain) and very appreciated project.
 
charjohncarter said:
I just meant it was a big (too big for my brain) and very appreciated project.
Click to expand...

ah, ok John, thank you again.
Obviously I am both crazy and smart enough to do such ( useless? ) things 😉 Now that you appreciate it it wasn't useless but worth the effort, and I had a good time while doing it
 
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