[Goslett]

New to the forum...

I've been shooting Pentax for a few years now and recently I've been debating picking up at smc Takumar 35mm f.3.5

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using the two together and if they have anything to share about the experience...

Sample images would be greatly appreciated as well

Thanks guys

[summonbaka]

I would say, small and light. More than sharp enough and with awesome colors. Lastly, cheap. If you can find it, you might also take in consideration the M 35/2.8 also really small and light and if you take the adapter for the tak into consideration, both are around the same price.

[Goslett]

Oh **** I forgot I had to buy an adaptor.

any info on that/where to find?

[hangu]

The 35mm 3.5 is the go-to lens in outdoor normal shooting. It's a slow prime lens but it's very sharp. Sharper than most other lenses at f3.5 and higher. You'll be using f3.5 or higher in bright daylight anyway so why not use the sharpest lens? However, I prefer my f1.4 and f2.0 primes for night shooting and in dark bars/restaurants. It's also one of the smallest Takumar lenses and only M series and DA LTD lenses beat it in size. I'd definitely get one for under $50, preferably the SMC version.

Buy the Pentax made adapter for $30 from the Pentax website. None other will come close. The cheap $10 flanged ones won't let you reach infinity focus. And the cheap ones that do, require tools to dismount.

[Goslett]

Good to hear positive reviews of this thing.

Now to find one.....

[hangu]

If you're going to go the Takumar route, these are the lenses I would get:

135mm f3.5
105mm f2.8
SMC 85mm f1.8 or 1.9
SMC 50mm f1.4
SMC 35mm f2.0
SMC 28mm f3.5
SMC 35mm f3.5

The 50mm, 35mm and 85mm are musts.

edit: forgot the macro Tak...

[Goslett]

Apart from the obvious, is there a big difference between the 35 f/2 and f/3.5?

Also, I'd been looking into the 28mm as well. Right now its pretty much which i can find first for a decent price (28 or 35).

And I already have a wicked 50, but thanks for the tip.

Oh, and do I need an adaptor? I do right?

[hangu]

Yes, you do need an adapter. Get the Pentax one from the Pentax website. Don't waste your time elsewhere.

The 35mm f2.0 is bigger and heavier than the f3.5 version, especially the first edition one with its 62mm front filter ring. Later versions used 49mm filter rings instead. The f2.0 version is not as sharp but it is a lot faster and more expensive. f2s typically go for $120-150 minimum on Ebay while the f3.5 would go for $40-50.

If you have the money, get the f2 version, I've got a few very nice shots in low lighting that the f3.5 would have been incapable of.

To be honest, they're all great lenses like most Takumars are and at $50-100 per lens, you can afford to collect them all.

[Goslett]

Found it. I'm assuming its the Mount K Adapter.