Requesting opinions on Takumar lenses
Posted 24/11/2004 - 20:20
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Of the lenses you list I have tried the 24mm, 28mm, 50mm, 105mm and all of them have been excellent.
Maybe the 28mm and 105mm stand out as particularly fine, but also the 150mm, which you don't mention, is reckoned to be a superb performer.
I don't think you can go far wrong with Super Takumar and later lenses!
Maybe the 28mm and 105mm stand out as particularly fine, but also the 150mm, which you don't mention, is reckoned to be a superb performer.
I don't think you can go far wrong with Super Takumar and later lenses!
Best regards, John
Posted 26/11/2004 - 09:33
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Hi Simon,
About to send an email "off board" with more detail but a couple of general points here. A couple of useful links are here
AOHC site http://www.aohc.it/index.htm
M42 Database ( please send you details if poss ) http://www.m-fortytwo.info/
Favourite Classics (useful repair info as well) http://www.m-fortytwo.info/
I will try and send some other links direct. I am in a major rewrite of the manuals site and will update most of the links there. I seem to be collecting them There doesn't seem to be such a site as Stan's and I haven't time to collate all the info on mine
If you need to link to sort out the "yellow peril", I can supply one but basically the best cure is a week or so in the sunlight and it goes away. You might have to wait a bit though in this country! Of the other lenses, a useful pont to bear in mind is that the early "K" lenses were the SMC Taks with a K mount attached so the results should be very similiar. The SMCs are much better for flare resistance because of the coating but other than this, the later Super Taks were the same optical construction so there should't be a huge difference. There were however, a couple of "dogs", The 20mm being one of them. There were, however, quite a lot of variations in the Taks and Super Taks. If you are interested in performance rather than collecting, I would stick with the SMCs, the 105/2.8 is a cracker and as John said the 150 is pretty good though very close to the 135. Another very good one is the 85/1.8 (How's the wallet?)
I love messing with M42, you never know - the digital guys have got their section, maybe we will get an M42 one!!
Kim
About to send an email "off board" with more detail but a couple of general points here. A couple of useful links are here
AOHC site http://www.aohc.it/index.htm
M42 Database ( please send you details if poss ) http://www.m-fortytwo.info/
Favourite Classics (useful repair info as well) http://www.m-fortytwo.info/
I will try and send some other links direct. I am in a major rewrite of the manuals site and will update most of the links there. I seem to be collecting them There doesn't seem to be such a site as Stan's and I haven't time to collate all the info on mine
If you need to link to sort out the "yellow peril", I can supply one but basically the best cure is a week or so in the sunlight and it goes away. You might have to wait a bit though in this country! Of the other lenses, a useful pont to bear in mind is that the early "K" lenses were the SMC Taks with a K mount attached so the results should be very similiar. The SMCs are much better for flare resistance because of the coating but other than this, the later Super Taks were the same optical construction so there should't be a huge difference. There were however, a couple of "dogs", The 20mm being one of them. There were, however, quite a lot of variations in the Taks and Super Taks. If you are interested in performance rather than collecting, I would stick with the SMCs, the 105/2.8 is a cracker and as John said the 150 is pretty good though very close to the 135. Another very good one is the 85/1.8 (How's the wallet?)
I love messing with M42, you never know - the digital guys have got their section, maybe we will get an M42 one!!
Kim
Posted 02/12/2004 - 07:30
Link
Thanks for the useful info John and Kim.
I was hoping to have gotten out and about with the Spotmatic and Takumar lenses before replying but, as usual, I don't know where my time has gone to.
Good news about the Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4, i don't use sunbeds (at all!) but I might make an appointment for the Takumar, I would never have thought that the lens could be saved. No sledge hammer required then.
Nice idea Kim! A section in this forum for M42 seems like it could be popular enough, it might also encourage more people to try out the older, but super quality, Asahi optics and cameras. Just talking about this has made my trigger finger itchy although a look outside at the overcast sky and the thermometer are deterrents! bbbrrrrrrrr...
Now for something completely different... Does any one know what I have to do to remove the top plate from an MV camera, i have removed the 5 obvious screws but am now puzzling about the next step?
Regards
Simon
I was hoping to have gotten out and about with the Spotmatic and Takumar lenses before replying but, as usual, I don't know where my time has gone to.
Good news about the Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4, i don't use sunbeds (at all!) but I might make an appointment for the Takumar, I would never have thought that the lens could be saved. No sledge hammer required then.
Nice idea Kim! A section in this forum for M42 seems like it could be popular enough, it might also encourage more people to try out the older, but super quality, Asahi optics and cameras. Just talking about this has made my trigger finger itchy although a look outside at the overcast sky and the thermometer are deterrents! bbbrrrrrrrr...
Now for something completely different... Does any one know what I have to do to remove the top plate from an MV camera, i have removed the 5 obvious screws but am now puzzling about the next step?
Regards
Simon
Posted 10/12/2004 - 14:46
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Hi Simon,
I am still getting round to that email and I must have a look at my MV1 for you. A very good source of repair info is on "The Classic Camera Repair Forum" here http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/
In the meantime, did you have any joy with getting rid of the yellow peril. Having managed to avoid it for a long time, I have just aquired 2 yellow lenses in 2 days! Still in the same time I have also managed to pick up a fully serviced Pentax S with 6 months warranty and the correct lens for £39. You win some and you lose some!
Regards
Kim
I am still getting round to that email and I must have a look at my MV1 for you. A very good source of repair info is on "The Classic Camera Repair Forum" here http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/
In the meantime, did you have any joy with getting rid of the yellow peril. Having managed to avoid it for a long time, I have just aquired 2 yellow lenses in 2 days! Still in the same time I have also managed to pick up a fully serviced Pentax S with 6 months warranty and the correct lens for £39. You win some and you lose some!
Regards
Kim
Posted 13/12/2004 - 14:37
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I've not yet cleared the yellow peril, the sunbeds are booked out through Christmas. It made me wonder also whether you could clear slightly foggy lenses with sustained direct sunlight too.
As for the MV-1 and the other 'M's (I think), they all seem to have 5 obvious screws holding the top in place but then there are hidden screws as well, I am of the strong belief that something lurks within the wind-on lever itself and is hidden beneath the small round plate on top. But will I need another special took from Micro tools to get it off with damage?... that is the question on my lips at the moment.
You had me scampering for my Herbert Keppler book with regards to the Pentax S, you must be talking about the 1957 camera, the book says that the correct lens was the 55mm f/1.8 Takumar. A great find for £39!!!
Right, I 'm off to the Camera Repair Forum.
Regards
Simon
As for the MV-1 and the other 'M's (I think), they all seem to have 5 obvious screws holding the top in place but then there are hidden screws as well, I am of the strong belief that something lurks within the wind-on lever itself and is hidden beneath the small round plate on top. But will I need another special took from Micro tools to get it off with damage?... that is the question on my lips at the moment.
You had me scampering for my Herbert Keppler book with regards to the Pentax S, you must be talking about the 1957 camera, the book says that the correct lens was the 55mm f/1.8 Takumar. A great find for £39!!!
Right, I 'm off to the Camera Repair Forum.
Regards
Simon
Posted 13/12/2004 - 15:31
Link
Hi Simon,
No need for a special tool. Just use a rubber bung to turn it. The trick is that it is reverse threaded! I just grabed a lens bung to try it but anything that will grip the surface will do. There is a collar underneath but your lens spanners should cope with that. It's worth downloading the manuals from Mark Robert's site if you haven't already done so (http://www.robertstech.com/pentax.htm)
As to the "S", there were 2 standard lenses, a 1.8 and a 2.2. Mine came with the 2.2. The focus was a bit stiff but a quick overhaul the same as the 35/4 Tak has cured it. Oh for a nice day to go and play!
Kim
No need for a special tool. Just use a rubber bung to turn it. The trick is that it is reverse threaded! I just grabed a lens bung to try it but anything that will grip the surface will do. There is a collar underneath but your lens spanners should cope with that. It's worth downloading the manuals from Mark Robert's site if you haven't already done so (http://www.robertstech.com/pentax.htm)
As to the "S", there were 2 standard lenses, a 1.8 and a 2.2. Mine came with the 2.2. The focus was a bit stiff but a quick overhaul the same as the 35/4 Tak has cured it. Oh for a nice day to go and play!
Kim
Posted 14/12/2004 - 14:08
Link
Cheers Kim!
Did you just re-lubricate those 2 lenses then? Haven't got round to doing that job yet but I'm sure I will eventually. I do have a stiff focusing ring on an Pentax-F 35-135mm zoom, a bit different to a Tak though.
We had a beautiful day in the South East on Saturday, I was too busy (again!) to get out, but I wish I had. Sunny and crisp but with some mist. I hope some people made use of it.
Simon
Did you just re-lubricate those 2 lenses then? Haven't got round to doing that job yet but I'm sure I will eventually. I do have a stiff focusing ring on an Pentax-F 35-135mm zoom, a bit different to a Tak though.
We had a beautiful day in the South East on Saturday, I was too busy (again!) to get out, but I wish I had. Sunny and crisp but with some mist. I hope some people made use of it.
Simon
Posted 23/02/2005 - 20:28
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Hi Simon,
I have eventually got round to updating the website (or at least parts of it.) The info on the re-lubes is in the repair section. I have a lot more to add such as a complete refurb of an S1a including repaint but if I wait I will never get it done.
If you have any "repair articles" to contribute, I woulld be very happy to include them
Kim
I have eventually got round to updating the website (or at least parts of it.) The info on the re-lubes is in the repair section. I have a lot more to add such as a complete refurb of an S1a including repaint but if I wait I will never get it done.
If you have any "repair articles" to contribute, I woulld be very happy to include them
Kim
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116 posts
22 years
Surrey
I am building a small, working collection of these wonderfully built lenses and so far have the following: smc takumar 24mm f/3.5, super takumar 35mm f/3.5, smc takumar 50mm f/1.4, super takumar 105mm f/2.8, smc takumar 135mm f/2.5, smc takumar 400mm f/5.6. I also have a radio-active super takumar 50mm f/1.4 (nice and yellow, possibly still ok for b/w shooting but dodgy all the same!). If anyone has experiences of any of the above or opinions on the best Takumar lenses ever designed then please share them.
I have just hit upon this site which is pretty good: http://www.shmgo-zwolle.nl/spotmatic/lenses2.htm
Regards
Simon