Auto-Tak or Super-Tak?

Afternoon all.

I recently came into possession of an early S1a with a fitted Super-Takumar 1:2/55. What's piqued my curiosity is that whereas all the other Takumars I've got all have the f-stops on the diaphragm ring running right to left when looking at them from above the camera (clockwise), this lens has them running backwards, left to right (anticlockwise). Also, even though the nominal maximum aperture if f2, there is an additional click stop above this, which presumably means f1.8, although not marked (same as with earlier Auto-Taks). Finally, the Auto/Manual switch is thinner than usual, and like the diaphragm ring is the other way around, with the red 'M' closer to the focus index mark, rather than the 'A'.

After checking on the web about early Takumar lenses, I've seen reference to a transitional lens marked 'Auto-Takumar' that was configured this way, but no reference to one that was marked 'Super-Takumar'.

Am I right in thinking that this lens was right on the cusp of the switchover from Auto to Super?

Thanks.

The Asahi Optical Historical Club have a table of the various M42 mount lenses.

There's also some comment about problems with certain Takumars on certain bodies if you look here - yours may be one of the lenses in question.

Thanks, Matt. I'm away from base at the moment, but don't recall there being any hangups. I'll check when I get back. Thanks for the links - very interesting.

I have a couple of Auto Takumar 55mm lenses, one a standard chrome and black f2 which was missing the trip pin to lock it open and stop it down for shooting, the other a black f2.2 version which is in perfect working order.

Only snag is trying to find a black S1 to go with the latter - the S1 is rare as it is, black ones seem even harder to find. I do have an SV but the shutter has the capping problem, pity as otherwise it's a nice example. I might get it serviced one day, for now the Takumars all go on the Spotmatic.