Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2020 Location: Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago Posts: 39 | Review Date: March 16, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Bokeh, Handling, Build Quality, Character, sharpness. | Cons: | Haven't really found any yet | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-1
| | I had picked up the SMC Pentax M 120mm f2.8 and felt it was slightly lacking wide open. Of course, I had to compare those results with a Takumar! The results are that I find this lens to be sharper, and built better, but depending on the nature of the shoot, I may still reach for the M if for no other reason than weight and a built in hood for just a walk.
Anyways, as usual, here's my Flickr Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordawesome/albums/72177720305666910 | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2020 Location: Kyoto Posts: 3 | Review Date: December 17, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | unique, sharp, fun | Cons: | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony a7ii, Novoflex Adapter
| | 120mm is indeed a unique focal length, but it is very versatile, and there are definitely situations where I have found it to be ideal. For example, I nicknamed this the 'dolphin-show' lens because it is the perfect size for the dolphin show at my local city aquarium. I sit perhaps 20~30 meters away from the dolphin-show pool and with this lens I can comfortably catch the dolphins in mid-air. With my 200mm SMC Takumar I found it much harder to focus, frame and time my shots, and the results are never as good as the SMC 120.
Aside from the unique focal length, this lens stands out among the Takumars for its sharp images and beautiful 3D Pop.
I also enjoy this lens for street photography, portraits, and for Japanese festivals.
The lens itself is small, but being a short telephoto it allows you to capture your subject from a decent distance.
It is especially useful for situations where you are close enough to the scene to see what is going on, but want to remain discrete.
As is the case with most Takumars, the build is exceptional, and the focus ring buttery smooth.
This is a very fun lens to use!
Highly recommended.
| | | | New Member Registered: July, 2015 Location: Durham Posts: 8 | Review Date: April 21, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Compact and easy to carry. A Joy to use | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax-k3
| | This lens is excellent in image quality and can be compared with legendary Takumars like SMC 85 1.8,Super Takumar 50 1.4 and Super Multi Coated Takumar 135 f2.5 (6 Elements) Version.Not a common focal length to use and probably that is the only reason it is not so famous or widely used.You find very few images on the internet when searched for this lens .Hopefully I'll add more images hereafter one my flickr page(link below). https://www.flickr.com/photos/132667593@N08/albums/72157659532946156 | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2014 Posts: 3 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 19, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Very natural and great color, sharp enough | Cons: | little CA | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-01
| | very nice lens, great for portraits, smooth bokeh
with good light its very sharp even at 2.8
here you can see samples at 2.8 girl and at 4 flower IMGP3650 by andreytrn, on Flickr IMGP3784 by andreytrn, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 7 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: February 11, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | durable, bokeh is excellent, not bad for macro shots | Cons: | not as sharp as I hoped | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: 5D Mark II
| | Found this lovely lens for a mere $40.00
It is durable, has a nice weight, great bokeh, and works like magic for macro shots.
Focus is nice and smooth. It's rare to stumble upon a telephoto lens that is f/2.8, so I'd get this one if I was trying to save money. The 120mm is strange choice for a full frame sensor, it's close up, but not enough to get extremely far shots. Bluff Wind by MrSatmary, on Flickr Bench by MrSatmary, on Flickr
| | | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2010 Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France Posts: 363 | Review Date: May 22, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $260.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Great for portraiture (both woman and man) | Cons: | Not extremly sharp at f/2.8 | | Soft enough for woman portraiture at f/2.8 (but it might lack of sharpness for very detailed objects), sharp enough for men portraiture when stopped (f/4 is enough). Bokeh is rather smooth and S-M-C coatings are efficient.
As the 105/2.8 and 135's are often cheaper, I would recommend it only to some one who really need it (for its caracteristics) or a collector.
Some portraits with it : http://kajiwara.weebly.com/takumar-12028.html | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 85 | Review Date: October 26, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | IQ, Build Quaity, Size | Cons: | | | I have owned this lens for about a year now, and I have to tell you, it's probably my favorite Takumar. I have an M42 135mm 2.5 Super Takumar as well, and the 120 2.8 makes the 135 look like garbage on my K200D (Perhaps I have a bad copy of the 135). The 120 2.8 is a lot smaller and lighter than the 135 2.5, and the focal distance is not that much different, so I may be getting rid of the later.
This lens is a decent length for outdoor portrait work, and your subject is sharp even at 2.8. The bokeh from this lens is also very nice.
As the previous reviewer stated, this lens is not too common. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one, I am sure that you'll like it.
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2007 Location: North Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 728 | Review Date: June 13, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Classic Takumar build, IQ and rendering | Cons: | A bit too long for portrait, too short for bird photography | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
| | Another classic long S-M-C Takumar lens. The all metal build quality is very nice, and the lens feels like it is fresh from the factory mounted on my K20D.
This lens is quite fast for its focal length at 2.8, and the photos is shoots wide open are not overly soft at all. By f4 or 5.6 the lens is very sharp and extremely good looking. I think my favorite bit about all the S-M-C Taks is the color rendering. The colors are just beautiful, bokeh is buttery soft and often yields an amazingly 3-d quality to foreground subjects.
I would say this lens would be very suited for longer distance street photography, maybe some portrait photography, and close subject stuff like flowers and butterflies.
I will say the only detraction for this lens is the focal length on a DSLR.... just a bit too long for portrait work and too short for wildlife work (except maybe the zoo).
This lens is rare, but if you can find one it is a very worthy addition to your kit as a long, fast prime! Love that Takumar look!!
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