Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Review

John Riley reviews the Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 lens on a 36mp Full-Frame Pentax K-1 DSLR.

01/05/2018 - 14:44

Handling and Features
Performance
Verdict
Specification
SMCT 135mm F3,5 On Pentax K1

Even as late as the early 1970s the classic lens set for amateur photographers would be the 35mm, 50mm and 135mm lenses. Very often the 135mm would be the first purchase after the camera body with its ubiquitous 50/55mm lens. Why 135mm? This goes even further back to the Leica, 135mm being the longest lens that can be accurately focused on a rangefinder camera. With longer lenses, the SLR is more accurate. There seems to be an almost unlimited supply of inexpensive 135mm lenses on the second-hand market, some at incredibly low prices. Let's have a closer look at one of the better-known lenses from Asahi Pentax and see how it stacks up on the full frame Pentax K-1 body.

Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Handling and Features

SMCT 135mm F3,5 With Hood On Pentax K1
 

This Super-Multi-Coated version of the 135mm f/3.5 lens from Asahi Optical Co. Ltd. is a 42mm screw thread lens intended for use on the Pentax Spotmatic cameras. Optically it is the same as the Super Takumar Model II that preceded it. This newer version, made from 1971-1975, has the new SMC 7-layer coating, plus the mechanical meter coupling for the Spotmatic F body. This means that, with the right camera, metering can be measured at open aperture without having to stop the lens down to the working aperture. This is no longer supported so stop-down metering needs to be used with the K-1. We also need the Pentax Adapter K to enable the screw thread lens to be used on the bayonet fit camera body. The correct technique is to fit the adapter to the lens and then bayonet onto the body. Screw thread lenses can then be removed and fitted as the camera has in effect been converted temporarily into a screw thread body. As the adapter is flush with the mount there is no problem with infinity focus.

Users of modern lenses may be quite surprised at how slim these lenses are. All metal and glass, although at 340g it feels solid enough. It also looks extremely well made, with high-class engraving and super-smooth operation of the large focusing ring.

There is a 49mm filter thread and a dedicated screw-in lens hood that is used for this lens and also for the 150mm f/4. The hood is, of course, metal. The focusing is so gorgeously smooth that operating it is a tactile pleasure that needs to be experienced. A cut out reveals the focus scale, marked clearly in feet and metres. There is also a meaningful depth of field scale, plus an extra red line that indicates the infra-red focusing position. If using IR film the user would focus and then shift the focusing ring to the IR mark. Lenses were not corrected to focus IR light and visible light at the same point.

Focusing at open aperture, for best results Live View is the most effective method. The focusing screens on AF DSLRs do not have any of the traditional focusing aids such as microprism spots or split image rangefinder spots and so can be quite difficult to use for manual focusing, but a magnified Live View image does the trick. After focusing, the lens needs to be stopped down to the working aperture. Av and M modes will allow metering.

The aperture ring has half stop indents and is smooth in operation, running from f/3.5 to f/16 and then a full stop to f/22. Behind this is the Auto/Manual switch which selects open aperture and closed down aperture. This is very useful for DSLR metering as set to Auto the diaphragm opens to maximum aperture and focusing is easier. The beep of the K-1 focus confirmation is an added guide to getting the focus spot on. For this to work, the camera should be set to AF. When we are ready to shoot the image moving the lever to Manual will stop the lens down to whatever value we have selected. The alternative technique is to leave the switch on Manual and just use the aperture ring to open the lens up, then count down the steps to set whatever working aperture is desired. It should be noted that some A/M levers will only work when the lens is mounted on the camera, so one that is solidly fixed may not indicate a fault.

Optical construction is 4 elements in 4 groups, a classic configuration for a lens of this specification. Focusing is down to 1.5m or 5 feet, which is not really anywhere near as close as we have become used to. Nonetheless, it is much better than the 13 feet minimum focus of some 1950s SLR lenses.

In use, the 135mm could be considered a little too long for some photographers, but it does have good reach and on an APS-C crop sensor camera would have a “35mm format equivalent” field of view of a 200mm lens. On full frame, it is particularly useful for tight portraits, architecture, close sports and landscape.

SMCT 135mm F3,5 Pentax Adapter K

Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Performance

Centrally, sharpness is good at f/3.5, becoming very good from f/5.6 through to f/22. The edges are good at f/3.5, very good from f/5.6 to f/11, good at f/16 but softening at f/22. This results overall in nice crisp images and it does mean that the lens is very usable on DSLRs.

 

Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 MTF Charts

MTF Chart<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/super-multi-coated-takumar_135mm_f35_MTF_graph_1524040141.jpg">High-Res</a>
MTF Chart
High-Res

How to read our MTF charts

The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.

The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution as LW/PH and is described in detail above. The taller the column, the better the lens performance.

For this review, the lens was tested on a Pentax K-1 using Imatest.

 

Central correction of CA is of a very high order, but the edges are rather less well corrected. This could be tackled in software, and to be fair many subjects will not be a problem anyway.

 

Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Chromatic Aberration Charts

CA Chart<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/super-multi-coated-takumar_135mm_f35_CA_chart_1524040150.jpg">High-Res</a>
CA Chart
High-Res

How to read our CA charts

Chromatic aberration (CA) is the lens' inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.

Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more.

For this review, the lens was tested on a Pentax K-1 using Imatest.

 

Distortion correction is very impressive, being a modest +0.09% pincushion.

The bokeh of the lens is a bit more disappointing. It does come from an era where bokeh was not a term used and the quality of the out of focus areas was not discussed in the same way that it is now. The result on digital is a rather “busy” appearance, but again this will depend on the subject matter as well.

The SMC coating was a revelation is 1971 but has constantly progressed and developed since then. This lens controls flare very well, perhaps not quite up to modern standards, but certainly, it is more than adequate. Flare is unlikely to be a problem, especially when the effective lens hood is used.


Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Sample Photos

Against The Light | 1/80 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_against_the_light_1522066472.jpg">High-Res</a>
Against The Light | 1/80 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400
High-Res
Arley Hall | 1/1250 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_arley_hall_1522066497.jpg">High-Res</a>
Arley Hall | 1/1250 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400
High-Res
Bokeh Test | 1/640 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_bokeh_test_1522066521.jpg">High-Res</a>
Bokeh Test | 1/640 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Boundary | 1/8 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_boundary_1522066544.jpg">High-Res</a>
Boundary | 1/8 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Bud | 1/50 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_bud_1522066565.jpg">High-Res</a>
Bud | 1/50 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Busy Bokeh | 1/40 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_busy_bokeh_1522066583.jpg">High-Res</a>
Busy Bokeh | 1/40 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Clock Tower | 1/800 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_clock_tower_1522066607.jpg">High-Res</a>
Clock Tower | 1/800 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400
High-Res
Cricket Pavilion | 1/200 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_cricket_pavilion_1522066632.jpg">High-Res</a>
Cricket Pavilion | 1/200 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Fox Sculpture | 1/30 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_fox_sculpture_1522066655.jpg">High-Res</a>
Fox Sculpture | 1/30 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Garden Shelter | 1/125 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_garden_shelter_1522066678.jpg">High-Res</a>
Garden Shelter | 1/125 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400
High-Res
Portrait | 1/800 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_portrait_1522066703.jpg">High-Res</a>
Portrait | 1/800 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Portrait 2 | 1/200 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 1600<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_portrait_2_1522066723.jpg">High-Res</a>
Portrait 2 | 1/200 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 1600
High-Res
Spring Bud | 1/1600 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_spring_bud_1522066743.jpg">High-Res</a>
Spring Bud | 1/1600 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Spring Daffodils | 1/160 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_spring_daffodils_1522066765.jpg">High-Res</a>
Spring Daffodils | 1/160 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Stone Work | 1/2500 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_stone_work_1522066793.jpg">High-Res</a>
Stone Work | 1/2500 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
Tea Cottage | 1/1250 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_tea_cottage_1522066817.jpg">High-Res</a>
Tea Cottage | 1/1250 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400
High-Res
Texture And Spring Dawning | 1/800 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_texture_and_spring_dawning_1522066844.jpg">High-Res</a>
Texture And Spring Dawning | 1/800 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res
The Green Bench | 1/500 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_the_green_bench_1522066872.jpg">High-Res</a>
The Green Bench | 1/500 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 400
High-Res
Tree Patterns | 1/5 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200<br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/SuperMultiCoated-Takumar-135mm-f35-6825/highres/smc_takumar_135mm_f35_tree_patterns_1522066898.jpg">High-Res</a>
Tree Patterns | 1/5 sec | 135.0 mm | ISO 200
High-Res

 

 

Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Verdict

The sample used for review was found on eBay and purchased for £26 plus shipping. It's a superb lens at that price, fun to use and absolutely viable on a modern DSLR. Manual focus may not suit everyone, but the tactile feel of it is sublime. Well worth a try and this could easily become a firm favourite.

Asahi SMC Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Very good sharpness
  • Very low CA
  • Very low distortion
  • Ultra smooth handling
  • Light and compact

Asahi SMC Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Cons

  • Manual focus won't suit some

Features: 3.5/5
Handling: 4.5/5
Performance: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Overall Verdict
4.5/5

 

Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5 Specifications

General
Lens Mounts
  • Pentax M42
Lens
Focal Length 135mm
Angle of View No Data
Max Aperture f/3.5
Min Aperture f/22
Filter Size 49mm
Stabilised No
35mm equivalent No Data
Internal focusing No Data
Maximum magnification No Data
Focusing
Min Focus 150cm
Construction
Blades No Data
Elements 4
Groups 4
Box Contents
Box Contents No Data
Dimensions
Weight 340g
Height No Data


Related Photos
No related photos found. Check out the Pentax User Gallery.

vic cross

Link Posted 02/05/2018 - 08:44
Hi John. I have the bayonet F2.5 model which I found very good on my APS-C cameras but I haven't tried it on my K1 yet. I bought mine back in the day when I had my Z1p film camera. Mine is in perfect as new condition. Kept in a string pull bag.
CHEERS Vic.
Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

johnriley

Link Posted 02/05/2018 - 13:07
It's worth having a go with Vic.
Best regards, John

mike389

Link Posted 07/12/2018 - 19:27
You provide us with quality reviews of lenses so we make it the best choice for buying the lens. More https://snorkelmaskpro.com share the reviews of mask too.
Add a Comment
You must be registered or logged-in to comment.