This is the faster version of the 35mm screwmount lens. The Super version came in three productions: an early and a late first model (67mm filter size), and a second model (49mm filter size). The second model was re-issued in a Super-Multi-Coated version.
Variants:
1963: Super-Takumar 1:2/35 - first model, early version - see first lens diagram
1966: Super-Takumar 1:2/35 - first model, late version - see first lens diagram
Weight
Diam x Length
Filter Size
Min. Focus
Max. Magnification
398 g
67 mm
45 cm
0.09x (calculated)
Diagonal FOV (APS-C)
Horizontal FOV (APS-C)
Min. Aperture
Max. Aperture
45 degrees
38 degrees
f/16
f/2
Diagonal FOV (24x36)
Horizontal FOV (24x36)
Diaphragm
Optical Construction
63 degrees
54 degrees
Automatic
8 elements
1967: Super-Takumar 1:2/35 - second model - see second lens diagram
1971: Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:2/35 - see photo and second lens diagram
Weight
Diam x Length
Filter Size
Min. Focus
Max. Magnification
242 g
49 mm
40 cm
0.11x (calculated)
Diagonal FOV (APS-C)
Horizontal FOV (APS-C)
Min. Aperture
Max. Aperture
45 degrees
38 degrees
f/16
f/2
Diagonal FOV (24x36)
Horizontal FOV (24x36)
Diaphragm
Optical Construction
63 degrees
54 degrees
Automatic
8 elements, 7 groups
The lens diagram shown above is for this second version
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
sharp, fast, nice bokeh
Cons:
none that I've seen for myself
I haven't had this lens all that long yet, however it's become my favorite.
It's relatively sharp right from f2, beautiful colors, and plenty of contrast.
The reason why I'm only rating it as an 8 is because of a little research that I did after my purchase.
Apparently the glass on most of these lenses has turned yellow.
Which in turn gives the photographs a yellow tint.
I got lucky, and my glass is as clear as can be, but it's something to watch out for.
If you find a yellow version I would advise for you to still look at it.
See if the store will let you test it, and try to manually configure the white balance. See if that cures any problems.
And if it doesn't help it's still an ideal lens for some B&W conversions.
Registered: September, 2006
Posts: 1225
Location: West Chester, PA
Lens Review Date: November 30, 2007
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $60.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Build quality, nice rendering
Cons:
Flare (on the Super-Takumars), not the sharpest 35mm
I have three of these - an old and new Super-Takumar and a Super-Multi-Coated Takumar. The S-M-C version is better against flare, especially against the old model Super-Takumar with its 67mm front element. Yes, the old model is big and heavy. The late Super-Tak and the S-M-C Tak are quite compact, and all three are build solidly with typical Asahi Takumar aplomb.
None of them are particularly sharp at f/2, but by f/4 they sharpen up nicely. I haven't noticed tremendous CA from any of them. I would rate the bokeh as neutral, not as good as some I've seen from the Zeiss Flektogon, but not too bad either.
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Size, ease of focusing, colors.
Cons:
Somewhat soft at f2.
Just a bit soft wide open, but seems to produce very beautiful colors. Also very fun and easy to focus, it feels wonderful. I have the SMC version. Looking through the viewfinder it seems yellowed, but doesn't seem to reproduce into the image.
Registered: July, 2008
Posts: 126
Location: France
Lens Review Date: August 17, 2008
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $45.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Fast, sharp, nice bokeh
Cons:
Prone to flare when used without hood
I have the SMC version of this lens. Useless to say, it is built like a tank exactly as the other Takumars i use. I like to use it wide open because of its bokeh, although it is a bit soft at f/2.Nevertheless, when stopped down to f/2.8, it becomes incredibly sharp. The only issue i have with it, is the flare that shows up if you have a strong light source near the FOV, an hood is strongly needed/recommended. After spending almost a year with my Flektogon 35 f/2.4, this lens is now becoming my preferred 35mm.
Registered: January, 2007
Posts: 7251
Location: Toronto
Lens Review Date: February 9, 2009
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $70.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
fast (for focal length) and easy to focus
Cons:
purchased this lens to fill out my MF collection as fast K mount primes are getting hard to find.
The lens is easy to use, and the 120 degree focusing collar rotation from minimum to infinity is a good trade off between precision and ease / speed of focusing.
the lens is very well constructed, and focusing is very smooth and consistant over the entire range. Aperature detents are firm and consistent. detents are every 1/2 stop except between F2 to2.8, and F11 to F16 (no intermediate detents)
metering on DSLRs
On the *istD the lens under exposes by about .75 stops wide open with the exposure improving so that when stopped down to F16 it is about .25 stops under exposed. Setting EV compensation to +.7 is a good way to use this lens.
on the K10D the lens under exposes by 1 stop at F2, 1.5 stops at F2.8 rising to over expose by 1 stop at F9.5 and then falling back to about .75 stops at minimum apature
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $80.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
built quality, quick focussing
Cons:
soft wide open
I have this lens for just a few months, but itīs almost one of my favourites. The built quality is outstanding and focusing is as smooth as it can get.
Thereīs also nothing to moan about itīs optical qualitys. But itīs somehow soft wide open... and the bokeh is not the best. Nothing to worry about... just donīt expect any miracles from this approx. 30-40 year old lens.
Registered: August, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Lexington, KY
Lens Review Date: November 20, 2009
I can recommend the S-M-C/Super Takumar 35mm F2: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $125.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Tiny, fast, flare-resistant, S-M-C Takumar
Cons:
None
This is for an S-M-C version on a 14MP 1.5X crop digital. The lens is "minty" except for a tiny nick in the front element, which only shows up as a small dark spot in the PSF (point spread function) -- no worse than dust I've seen in some other lenses. There is no significant yellowing visible for my copy when holding a white sheet of paper behind it.
I have had a 35mm f/3.5 Super Takumar for a while, and it is a remarkable little lens... so I had some doubt that this f/2.0 would be an upgrade... it is!
I've quickly but well tested this lens and it seems to have the same crispness that the f/3.5 does. Colors are similar, but the f/2.0 is less intense and very natural when stopped down, which can be good or bad.
My copy is absolutely fine wide-open, but depth-of-focus is thinner than I expected, which might account for the feelings others expressed about softness wide open. My experiences with yellowed 50mm f/1.4 Taks suggest that yellowed lenses are also optically a tad off (yellowing changes refractive index slightly? -- but UV exposure fixes it), and that's another possible explanation. Anyway, no sharpness problems here. There is the very slightest glow around some high-contrast edges wide open, but its more character than defect. Here's an example:
Click on the image to view it in a larger size
Notice that the transition to out-of-focus is exceptionally smooth, but the bokeh have nasty ring artifacts. This is the result of the combination of a relatively short focal length and a PSF that has both a bright center (good) and relatively subtle build to a very thin outer ring (bad). Overall, it is usually pleasing, but not reliably so -- you have to watch it.
Stopping down increases depth of field and sharpens things a little, especially in the corners. Optimal performance is around f/5.6-f/8, at which point it is outresolving a 14MP APS-C sensor across the frame, but not quite at MTF 50. Stopped-down colors are very neutral and not overly intense as they are with the f/3.5; this looks like a photojournalism lens, which it historically is. For example:
Click on the image to view it in a larger size
Flare resistance is nothing short of spectacular. I could not get more than a single minor spot or a very faint partial ring. Unlike many other Takumars, including the SMC 50mm f/1.4, it never seems to go to a contrast wash-out. What's even more impressive is that I don't even have the hood. Here's a typical sun-in-the-shot image:
Click on the image to view it in a larger size
Although it is much bigger than the f/3.5, this lens is truly tiny for an f/2.0 retrofocus design. Build quality is very smooth and solid... like most other Takumars I own.
Only gripe: price. It took a while for me to find an S-M-C at this cost, whereas the Super Takumar version is sometimes under $100. I'm not sure the S-M-C version is worth the price premium, but flare control is quite remarkable on this lens. Honestly, this lens would not be a bad buy at $200.
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