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01-31-2013, 01:24 PM   #1
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SMC Takumar 50 1,4. Buy or not?

Before, I have been looking for this lens but 1 month ago I came across the
K 55 1,8 in verygood condition for 100 $ (maybe it was a bit over market value but its rare to find)

Now I off course find the Smc tak 1,4/50 for 120 $ in good condition with double caps, metallic hood and original coger.
But is it worth buying compared to the K or will i perhaps be a bit disappointed.

01-31-2013, 03:24 PM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by Cloapex Quote
Before, I have been looking for this lens but 1 month ago I came across the
K 55 1,8 in verygood condition for 100 $ (maybe it was a bit over market value but its rare to find)

Now I off course find the Smc tak 1,4/50 for 120 $ in good condition with double caps, metallic hood and original coger.
But is it worth buying compared to the K or will i perhaps be a bit disappointed.
I think the K55/1.8 is a great lens but IMHO the S-M-C or SMC Tak 50/1.4 is much better. $120 seems like a pretty good price assuming it is in good condition. You will need an M42-K mount adapter to use on a K-mount camera.
01-31-2013, 03:24 PM   #3
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I would have a look at some example photos taken with Tak 1.4 versus the likes of the K/M 50 f1.4.

The two render bokeh a bit different - many prefer the Tak (and it is nice). The build of the Tak is wonderful but personally I preferred the M50 because it is a bit more tolerant to bright light situations and flare.
I now have a A50 f1.4 and I like it better again!

Sorry just saw you were comparing to SMC 55 f1.8 (which I also have). The 55 is a nice lens but I think the Tak 50 f1.4 is a better all round lens.
01-31-2013, 05:35 PM   #4
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Well I bought it, just hope to find a good adapter now. The last one i tested got stuck on my house. :/
I was forced to save it from the dark side (it has been on a nex)

01-31-2013, 08:24 PM   #5
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Each lens has a particular strength. Owning both is justified.

I think the S-M-C Tak 50/1.4 second only to the K50/1.2 for sublime subject isolation - better than the A50/1.4. It MIGHT be the best all-around 50 Pentax ever produced (including the tactile experience of shooting with the lens). The coatings and light transmission / flare resistance changed over time, but perhaps not much between the S-M-C Tak and the earlier K 50's. The 1.8's and M/A 1.7's are sharp and flat across the entire field of view. The K in particular was often used for copipod copy work.

I have a Super Tak 55/1.8, S-M-C Tak 50/1.4, K50/1.4, K55/1.8 and FA50/1.4 - and that's after selling a lot of 50's. I've never felt I had a superfluous 50 (but my wife thought I was crazy)!!
01-31-2013, 09:03 PM   #6
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I agree with monochrome. AFAIC you can never have enough 50s. I sold my K55/1.8 but I have an Auto Takumar 55/1.8 (Ver 2), SMC Takumar 55/1.8, Super Takumar 50/1.4 (8 element), Super Takumar 50/1.4 (7 element), M50/1.7, M50/2, A50/1.4, A50/1.7, A50/2, FA50/1.7, Sears 50/1.7, Mamiya/Sekor 50/2, Sigma A 50/2.8 macro, Helios 44-2 58/2 and Helios 44M 58/2.

I'm currently eyeing a K1000 with a K55/2. I'm waiting for a Sears 55/1.4 to arrive in the mail.
01-31-2013, 09:12 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by monochrome Quote
Each lens has a particular strength. Owning both is justified.
Great justification for LBA.

QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
I agree with monochrome. AFAIC you can never have enough 50s.
Great to have support for the great justification!

You can have too many 50s - when you lose track of them or don't have time to use them. That said, I too have a growing collection of lenses in that ranger. Two copies of SMC Tak 55/2 - one in perfect shape, the other all bashed up but with smooth focusing, Helios 44M and a 44 preset, A50/2 that I may sell someday or may try out on a reversing ring, and a F50/1.7. I can't say I tried to collect them on purpose, but aside from the F50 I doubt I spent more than $30 on any of them. Still looking for a 1.4 in some flavor, but not willing to pay the prices they now fetch.

02-01-2013, 11:00 PM   #8
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Hi Monochrome & boriscleto, ive tested a lot of 50's already (K55 1.8, M50 2, M50 1.7, M50 1.4, A50 1.4, FA50 1.7, FA 50 1.4, Super Tak 50 1.4, SuperTak 55 1.8, SMC Tak 55 2, Helios 44-2, Helios 44m-4, Helios 44, Revuenon 55 1.2, Pancolar 50 1.8, Fujinon 50 1.9 ds, Sears 50 2) and kept only the 44-2.
Now im trying to find another fast normal lens maybe SMC 50 1.4, K50 1.4, MamiyaSekor 55 1.4, Zenitar 50 1.7... which lens would give the best for subject isolation/smoothbokeh/sharpest/good rendering? I saw on your above post tha you own at least 1 of them.
thanks in advance
02-02-2013, 12:58 PM   #9
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Have you try the carl zeiss planar 1.4/50 ?
It's different, but among the best 50s
03-13-2013, 02:19 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by HoBykoYan Quote
Hi Monochrome & boriscleto, ive tested a lot of 50's already (K55 1.8, M50 2, M50 1.7, M50 1.4, A50 1.4, FA50 1.7, FA 50 1.4, Super Tak 50 1.4, SuperTak 55 1.8, SMC Tak 55 2, Helios 44-2, Helios 44m-4, Helios 44, Revuenon 55 1.2, Pancolar 50 1.8, Fujinon 50 1.9 ds, Sears 50 2) and kept only the 44-2.
Now im trying to find another fast normal lens maybe SMC 50 1.4, K50 1.4, MamiyaSekor 55 1.4, Zenitar 50 1.7... which lens would give the best for subject isolation/smoothbokeh/sharpest/good rendering? I saw on your above post tha you own at least 1 of them.
thanks in advance
2 more lenses to add...(owned and tested)
K50 1.4 Smooth bokeh but not sharp enough for me
and my newest fave S-M-C Tak 50 1.4... this one is for keeps and will never ever sell this gem (together with my 44-2)
Sharpest ive ever tested wide-open and sharper still as you stop down (crazy sharp at 2.8, you've got to love this lens) coupled with a very smooth focusing ring
found this lens attached to a spotmatic II...
03-13-2013, 02:22 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by hoanpham Quote
Have you try the carl zeiss planar 1.4/50 ?
It's different, but among the best 50s
Hi hoanpham, ive never seen one but can i use it on k mount? like my previous post i think im sticking with my S-M-C Tak 50 1.4 if i cant find any better lens (but i doubt it) this lens got me excited.
03-13-2013, 02:45 AM - 1 Like   #12
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I think every pentax photographer worth his salt should have a takumar of some sort, pentax made so many of them there should be enough to go around. In comparison to modern lenses many of them deliver excellent performance.

One day when all SLR camera manufactures have long bitten the dust there will still be Pentax takumars.
03-13-2013, 03:13 AM   #13
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The Tak 50/1.4 ( and K-mount 50/1.4s too) is nice, but it is not worth the price difference when compared to the cheaper f/1.7 or f/1.8 Pentax lenses. I would go so far as to say that each is different, but none is better than the other. The 50/1.4s have a huge price premium for being a little faster, but they don't perform better.

My consistently best-performing 50s are the SMC Tak 55/2 and the M 50/1.7, which are just about the cheapest out there.

Having said that, I have three different Pentax 50/1.4s (SMC Tak, K, M) just because I have serious LBA.
03-13-2013, 03:35 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
I think every pentax photographer worth his salt should have a takumar of some sort, pentax made so many of them there should be enough to go around. In comparison to modern lenses many of them deliver excellent performance.

One day when all SLR camera manufactures have long bitten the dust there will still be Pentax takumars.
Agree with you man... After my S-M-C 50 1.4 the next best thing is the Super Tak 55 1.8 followed closely by the SMC Tak 2
03-13-2013, 03:40 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Jonathan Mac Quote
The Tak 50/1.4 ( and K-mount 50/1.4s too) is nice, but it is not worth the price difference when compared to the cheaper f/1.7 or f/1.8 Pentax lenses. I would go so far as to say that each is different, but none is better than the other. The 50/1.4s have a huge price premium for being a little faster, but they don't perform better.

My consistently best-performing 50s are the SMC Tak 55/2 and the M 50/1.7, which are just about the cheapest out there.

Having said that, I have three different Pentax 50/1.4s (SMC Tak, K, M) just because I have serious LBA.
I disagree with the price standpoint man. Ive used FA 50 1.4, M50 1.7 but kept 44-2 and S-M-C Tak 50 1.4. From what ive seen with my S-M-C i can even downgrade my k5 to k-x just to keep my S-M-C. Its all about the best out there in terms of what you really need (for me its sharpness, bokeh, rendering...etc)
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