Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-26-2015, 11:42 PM   #1
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Newcastle
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,954
Is this the oldest Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 eight element?

I stumbled on a black Pentax SL the other day with a 50mm super tak attached. On closer inspection it had a serial number that instantly made me think eight element. Looking at the rear element confirmed this so I grabbed it (bargain).

Anyway here is the lens.

On checking the serial database I could not find an eight element serial that came even close. When I compared this lens with my otehr eight element there was font differences in the numbering, with numbering being more consistent witf the Auto Takumar series.

Anyways I humbly call on all those with an eight element to compare their serial with this to see where it stands in the 'age department'. I suspect that this could be one of hte earliest ever produced, but happy to stand corrected.

Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
IPhone 4S  Photo 
01-26-2015, 11:45 PM   #2
dms
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York, NY
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,192
If you take a photo of the lens aperture ring showing the depth of field markings, and post it, it should be possible to identify it.
01-26-2015, 11:53 PM   #3
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Newcastle
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,954
Original Poster
Definitely an eight element - no doubt about it. I have already pulled it apart and tidied it up with some re-greasing etc.
Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
IPhone 4S  Photo 
01-27-2015, 12:12 AM   #4
HYS
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2013
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 377
Seems to be the older 8-elements one. But your photo is not so informing.

01-27-2015, 12:14 AM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
rayallen's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Forresters Beach, NSW, Australia.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,013
Yes, It is an 8 element version, for sure.
01-27-2015, 12:19 AM   #6
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Newcastle
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,954
Original Poster
I'll post some better photos. Using iPhone in dark living room.

I am without any doubt that this is an eight element. I have seen perhaps 10 or so and currently have three (including this one). What I am keen to know is if this particular copy is the earliest known (by inference through serial numbers).

Last edited by Wild Mark; 01-27-2015 at 12:36 AM. Reason: added additional photos
01-27-2015, 12:37 AM   #7
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Newcastle
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,954
Original Poster
additional photos

Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
IPhone 4S  Photo 
View Picture EXIF
IPhone 4S  Photo 
View Picture EXIF
IPhone 4S  Photo 
01-27-2015, 01:55 AM   #8
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
rayallen's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Forresters Beach, NSW, Australia.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,013
Well, it is a lower serial number than my one but seeing as they were only made during 1964 and 1965 I fail to see why it would make much difference whether it is older or younger. The good thing about the 8 element version is that it does not yellow.
01-27-2015, 02:17 AM   #9
HYS
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2013
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 377
QuoteOriginally posted by rayallen Quote
Well, it is a lower serial number than my one but seeing as they were only made during 1964 and 1965 I fail to see why it would make much difference whether it is older or younger. The good thing about the 8 element version is that it does not yellow.
Maybe the use for a some time the older lanthanum glasses - the so called "radioactive" - is the reason.
The yellow tint I guess is the later edition of the SMC coating.
01-27-2015, 04:37 AM   #10
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Newcastle
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,954
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by rayallen Quote
Well, it is a lower serial number than my one but seeing as they were only made during 1964 and 1965 I fail to see why it would make much difference whether it is older or younger. The good thing about the 8 element version is that it does not yellow.
I got a little excited, but was probably more interested in the difference in text styling. That said 1080230 is a real outlier. Yes, no yellowing is a good thing, but I do wonder what difference the lanthium/ thorium elements make. I wonder what the eight element is missing out on by not have the said radioactive element as more modern lenses have all sorts of special inclusions to improve performance, with this trend starting with the 7 element version ....
01-27-2015, 05:13 AM   #11
Pentaxian
Kozlok's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Albuquerque
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,145
Much lower S/N than mine (147xxxx)
01-27-2015, 06:15 AM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Michigan
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,207
The photo of the 8 element in the Super Takumar service manual shows the serial number X080001 where X is obscured by the ring.

So maybe you have the 229th lens ?
01-27-2015, 06:24 AM   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Newcastle
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,954
Original Poster
Thanks for that - wow - now I am excited

I am assuming that the lens came with the original body (Pentax SL). Very beat up camera body - seen some very serious work.
01-27-2015, 08:26 AM   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 496
Mine is1491817 and it is yellow.
01-27-2015, 08:34 AM   #15
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
boriscleto's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: North Syracuse, NY
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,464
QuoteOriginally posted by HYS Quote
Maybe the use for a some time the older lanthanum glasses - the so called "radioactive" - is the reason.
The yellow tint I guess is the later edition of the SMC coating.
Yellowing is caused by the radioactive decay of Thorium dioxide. Pentax switched to Lanthanum in 1975 with the K series, it is not appreciably radioactive (1/10,000th as radioactive as Thorium).
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
50mm, 50mm 1.4 eight, characteristics, eight, element, elements, front, information, job, k-mount, lens, lenses, line, pentax, pentax lens, photo, plate, post, question, s-m-c, slr lens, sv, takumar, takumar 50mm, test, version
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Is this Super Takumar really the 8-element version? dmbaile2 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 24 12-26-2014 09:29 PM
Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (Early 8-element) samples zantaphia Lens Sample Photo Archive 6 12-07-2014 09:58 AM
Differences in Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 7 element version manntax Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 3 10-26-2013 03:23 PM
Takumar 50mm 1.4 eight element vs Takumar SMC 50mm 1.4 eight leaf Ozfreebird Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 5 02-22-2012 03:41 PM
is this Takumar 50mm 1.4 the old 8 element version? WA-surfer Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 5 02-10-2011 08:40 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:08 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top