Auto Takumars and Super Takumars

How does the semi-automatic "Auto Takumar" work? I assume one "cocked" the lens which closed down when you took the photo and then stayed that way until you cocked it again.

The reason I ask is that I recently got an Auto Takumar 55mm f/1.8 lens (on a Pentax S3) but it works exactly like a Super Takumar. I read somewhere or other that the latest Auto-Takumars were actually Supers with the Auto name on them as they hadn't released the Super range.

I assume that when using a Super Tak on a Auto-Tak era body and using long exposures one would have to use the lens on manual? When checking out my H2 I found that the aperture closed down as one would expect but then opened straight back up again. Not a problem I would guess with a fast shutter speed but a bit of a disaster at 1 second!

Many thanks, Kris.

What you have is recognised as a bit of an oddball - it's badged Auto Takumar but works like a Super Takumar. Not sure about that behaviour though, I've never had that lens or body. There is some research into problems with the lens here which might help.

Info from the MFlenses guys seems to indicate that I indeed have a Auto-Tak labelled Super Tak. The S3 works with this lens (and my other Super Taks and S-M-C Taks) but the H2 requires the lens to be on manual for longer exposures.

Thanks Matt.

K.