[cali92rs]

Sorry for my ignorance, but being a pentax newbie, I gotta ask, what is a takumar, a super takumar and how do they differ from "normal" pentax lenses? Thanks in advance.

[Docrwm]

Takumars are lenses, mostly in the M42 mount but a few in the K series mount, that are from Asahi and predate the Pentax name (mostly). They come in a variety of flavors - Takumar, Auto Takumar, Super Takumar, etc.

Check out this thread:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/99767-comprehe...ml#post1026061

And this one:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/31601-takumar-club.html#post285576

[Marc Sabatella]

Also, see Google.

[Just1MoreDave]

[boriscleto]

The original Takumars were for the Asahiflex camera and were M37 mount. Production switched to M42 mount with the introduction of the Pentax in 1957. The Auto-Takumar was introduced in 1958 with the Pentax K. The Super Takumar (with a single coating) was introduced in 1964 with the Spotmatic. Super-Multi-Coated in 1971 and SMC in 1973.

The Takumar Bayonet was introduced as a bargain brand without multi-coatings.

The brand name derives from Japanese painter Takuma Kajiwara who was a relative of both the founder of Asahi (Kumao Kajiwara) and the president of the company (Saburo Matsumoto).

[Docrwm]

.....The brand name derives from Japanese painter Takuma Kajiwara who was a relative of both the founder of Asahi (Kumao Kajiwara) and the president of the company (Saburo Matsumoto).

I did not know that, thanks.

[rhodopsin]

Now the question has been answered I'll take this opportunity to interject some humor:

Q: "What is TAKUMAR?"

A: "I keep buying them trying to answer that for myself!"

[séamuis]

The original Takumars were for the Asahiflex camera and were M37 mount. Production switched to M42 mount with the introduction of the Pentax in 1957. The Auto-Takumar was introduced in 1958 with the Pentax K. The Super Takumar (with a single coating) was introduced in 1964 with the Spotmatic. Super-Multi-Coated in 1971 and SMC in 1973.

The Super-Takumar series was introduced in 1962 with the Asahi Pentax SV/Honeywell Pentax H3v. not in 1964. and the Super-Takumars weren't single coated, they just weren't 'Super-Multi-Coated' which was a special type of multi-coating.

there were also lenses made for other cameras, branded 'Takumar', manufactured by Asahi Optical.

[sergysergy]

As Marc said...Google:

Takumar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[rhodopsin]

The Super-Takumar series was introduced in 1962 with the Asahi Pentax SV/Honeywell Pentax H3v. not in 1964. and the Super-Takumars weren't single coated, they just weren't 'Super-Multi-Coated' which was a special type of multi-coating.

there were also lenses made for other cameras, branded 'Takumar', manufactured by Asahi Optical.

Reference please!

According to Gerjan, the first ST lens is the 1:3.5/35, introduced in 1962. The SV/H3v was supplied in 1962-1964 with Auto-Tak 1:1.4/50, then from 1964, after slight modifications, with the ST 1:1.4/50.

I've seen 3 coatings as the number for ST, S-M-C have 7 (or more) coats.

[séamuis]

Reference please!

According to Gerjan, the first ST lens is the 1:3.5/35, introduced in 1962. The SV/H3v was supplied in 1962-1964 with Auto-Tak 1:1.4/50, then from 1964, after slight modifications, with the ST 1:1.4/50.

I've seen 3 coatings as the number for ST, S-M-C have 7 (or more) coats.

You might want to reread a few sections of the book if you own it because you are pretty far off my friend.

the first super-takumars were introduced in 1962. the first version of the 1:2 super-takumar 55mm and the 1.8 55mm were introduced in 1962. I have his book as well, though I didn't cite it. he lists the 'standard lens' for the SV/H3v to be the Super-Takumar 1.8 55mm. all the brochures and literature I have ever seen shows the SV/H3v with Super-Takumars. (including the SV brochure I own.) the Auto-Takumar series ended in 1962, with the introduction of the SV/H3v. the SV/H3v's were indeed the first models to carry Super-Takumars, and they did so two years before the spotmatic was introduced. thus my original statement is correct.

also there was never an Auto-Takumar 1.4 50. the 50mm 1.4 didn't get introduced until 1964, and the SV/H3v was never supplied with a 1.4/50. as I stated above, the standard lens was the 1.8 55mm. the 50mm 1.4 become the 'standard' with the spotmatic in 1964.

[rhodopsin]

You might want to reread a few sections of the book if you own it because you are pretty far off my friend.

the first super-takumars were introduced in 1962. the first version of the 1:2 super-takumar 55mm and the 1.8 55mm were introduced in 1962. I have his book as well, though I didn't cite it. he lists the 'standard lens' for the SV/H3v to be the Super-Takumar 1.8 55mm. all the brochures and literature I have ever seen shows the SV/H3v with Super-Takumars. (including the SV brochure I own.) the Auto-Takumar series ended in 1962, with the introduction of the SV/H3v. the SV/H3v's were indeed the first models to carry Super-Takumars, and they did so two years before the spotmatic was introduced. thus my original statement is correct.

also there was never an Auto-Takumar 1.4 50. the 50mm 1.4 didn't get introduced until 1964, and the SV/H3v was never supplied with a 1.4/50. as I stated above, the standard lens was the 1.8 55mm. the 50mm 1.4 become the 'standard' with the spotmatic in 1964.

Thanks for being nice. A careful re-reading of what Gerjan wrote shows you are absolutely correct on every point! (Arghh! I must stop attempting technical research 'before coffee'. Poor excuse, eh?)

[RioRico]

The other answer to WHAT ARE TAKUMARS? is: Damn fine little lenses, some of Leica quality optically, usually very solidly built -- and even the less-prized ones are better than most of the competition! Being mostly M42 mount, they are easily adapted to most other (d)SLR cameras (except Nikon), so those damn Canonites and Sonyists keep snatching them up, tearing them from the RIPPED & BLEEDING HANDS OF DESERVING, IMPOVERISHED PENTAXIANS! Oh, the humanity...