The Takumar Lenses

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
 
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
 
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 ...
 
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.

Fk5Hh1N.jpg
 
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.









 
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.

U77I1366961454.SEQ.1.jpg

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

Fk5Hh1N.jpg

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!
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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