I just got a Pentax lens that I've never seen anywhere

bdery · 12-21-2016, 06:21 AM

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As a freebie with a purchase of a K50 F1.2 (yay) I received a Takumar bayonet lens. Nothing special here, these lenses are usually decent without being special.

However, this particular lens is a Takumar Bayonet zoom 80-205mm F4.5 macro.

There is a 80-200mm F4.5 (non macro) listed, but not this one, not even on Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page. I looked around, and never found any mention of 205mm macro (not a true macro, it appears to do 1:3).

Here another few shots of the lens:

The 80-200mm version appears surprisingly well-liked. I'm going to run a few tests just for the sake of it, then probably offer it for a song if a collector wants it. I own the DA*60-250 so this one is not needed.

D1N0 · 12-21-2016, 06:40 AM

Looks like a Kiron made lens to me. Is it made in Japan?

**UncleVanya** · 12-21-2016, 06:46 AM

Isn't this it?
Takumar 80-200mm F4.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Edit: nope I see that yours is a macro lens.

**boriscleto** · 12-21-2016, 07:09 AM

It is obviously not an Asahi lens...

For one thing it isn't marked Takumar (Bayonet)...all of the cosmetics are wrong for an Asahi lens...

**UncleVanya** · 12-21-2016, 07:17 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

It is obviously not an Asahi lens...

For one thing it isn't marked Takumar (Bayonet)...all of the cosmetics are wrong for an Asahi lens...

? First picture...

lesmore49 · 12-21-2016, 07:28 AM

I have a couple of bayonet mount Takumars. A 28 and a 50 macro. Bought in the 1980's, new. They were a budget type, stll well made, only differentc I could see was that they had a cheaper lens cap and rear cap. Worked well. Don't know if this lens of yours is from the same series .

**boriscleto** · 12-21-2016, 07:28 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

? First picture...

Asahi used parentheses around Bayonet...

This is a lens made by a third party (maybe Kiron) then relabeled by another third party (probably a mail order seller) to appear to be a Takumar lens. The reseller probably sold them as part of a bundle and these were cheaper than the Asahi Takumar (Bayonet) 80-200...

Not a Number · 12-21-2016, 08:05 AM

The design of the focus/zoom ring looks similar to Kiron design. I don't think they ever put built-in lens hoods on their 80-200 zooms. And Kiron would never use only three screws on the lens mount. Plus Kiron almost always has very highly polished/chromed lens mounts. Still it could be Kino in their later days.

What do the DOF indicators on the barrel look like? Kino had a "look" for these too.

**boriscleto** · 12-21-2016, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by Not a Number

What do the DOF indicators on the barrel look like? Kino had a "look" for these too.

Here's one on evilBay...

X615 - Takumar Bayonet 80-205mm f/4.5 Pentax PK Manual Focus Lens -Very Good

D1N0 · 12-21-2016, 08:35 AM

Aperture and Distance lettering and mount cap look Identical to this Korean made Chinar Chinar Macro Zoom Lens 80-205mm f1:4.5 f=80-205mm with Case | eBay

**boriscleto** · 12-21-2016, 09:06 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

Aperture and Distance lettering and mount cap look Identical to this Korean made Chinar Chinar Macro Zoom Lens 80-205mm f1:4.5 f=80-205mm with Case | eBay

So the gold JCII sticker is another deception...

Ontarian50 · 12-21-2016, 09:28 AM

I'd say you've got a nifty little counterfeit lens there. Its history and provenance are probably more interesting than its optical quality.

It looks very much like the ubiquitous "house brand" tele zooms that were being sold by the bushel in the 1980s. Around here, they were engraved with the names "Ultra", "Image", "Formula 5", "Sears", "JC Penney", "Makinon" - whoever wanted their own budget brand name could order up a thousand or two at a time and package them up with SLR kits. Trying to track their origin is really difficult, as it wasn't unusual to find that 1984's Makinon 80-200 came from a different anonymous supplier to the 1985 model, and so on.

The cool thing here is that someone decided to capitalize on Pentax's disused Takumar brand, and thought they could get away with it. I wonder if they did.

tvdtvdtvd · 12-21-2016, 09:30 AM

A ballsy example of the days when less reputable resellers would advertise a bundle, then swap out the OEM kit lens for
something like a 80-205/4.5 macro zoom.

jack002 · 12-21-2016, 09:40 AM

Getting it for free is a good deal, cause 20 bucks is too high. I had two like it, gave one away and the other I set aside and never used for years. Push-pull film zoom, f4.5. Never got a good shot with it in years, and once decided to try it at f/8, it was ok. So not totally useless. My least favorite lens ever.

D1N0 · 12-21-2016, 10:16 AM

When they copy you that's a good sign isn't it

via mflenses

12-21-2016, 06:21 AM	#1
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	I just got a Pentax lens that I've never seen anywhere Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. As a freebie with a purchase of a K50 F1.2 (yay) I received a Takumar bayonet lens. Nothing special here, these lenses are usually decent without being special. However, this particular lens is a Takumar Bayonet zoom 80-205mm F4.5 macro. There is a 80-200mm F4.5 (non macro) listed, but not this one, not even on Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page. I looked around, and never found any mention of 205mm macro (not a true macro, it appears to do 1:3). Here another few shots of the lens: The 80-200mm version appears surprisingly well-liked. I'm going to run a few tests just for the sake of it, then probably offer it for a song if a collector wants it. I own the DA*60-250 so this one is not needed.

12-21-2016, 06:40 AM	#2
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Looks like a Kiron made lens to me. Is it made in Japan? Last edited by D1N0; 12-21-2016 at 06:58 AM.

12-21-2016, 06:46 AM	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,409	Isn't this it? Takumar 80-200mm F4.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Edit: nope I see that yours is a macro lens. Last edited by UncleVanya; 12-21-2016 at 07:15 AM.

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12-21-2016, 07:09 AM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	It is obviously not an Asahi lens... For one thing it isn't marked Takumar (Bayonet)...all of the cosmetics are wrong for an Asahi lens...

12-21-2016, 07:17 AM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,409	Originally posted by boriscleto It is obviously not an Asahi lens... For one thing it isn't marked Takumar (Bayonet)...all of the cosmetics are wrong for an Asahi lens... ? First picture...

12-21-2016, 07:28 AM	#6
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,345	I have a couple of bayonet mount Takumars. A 28 and a 50 macro. Bought in the 1980's, new. They were a budget type, stll well made, only differentc I could see was that they had a cheaper lens cap and rear cap. Worked well. Don't know if this lens of yours is from the same series .

12-21-2016, 07:28 AM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by UncleVanya ? First picture... Asahi used parentheses around Bayonet... This is a lens made by a third party (maybe Kiron) then relabeled by another third party (probably a mail order seller) to appear to be a Takumar lens. The reseller probably sold them as part of a bundle and these were cheaper than the Asahi Takumar (Bayonet) 80-200...

12-21-2016, 08:05 AM	#8
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	The design of the focus/zoom ring looks similar to Kiron design. I don't think they ever put built-in lens hoods on their 80-200 zooms. And Kiron would never use only three screws on the lens mount. Plus Kiron almost always has very highly polished/chromed lens mounts. Still it could be Kino in their later days. What do the DOF indicators on the barrel look like? Kino had a "look" for these too.

12-21-2016, 08:10 AM	#9
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Not a Number What do the DOF indicators on the barrel look like? Kino had a "look" for these too. Here's one on evilBay... X615 - Takumar Bayonet 80-205mm f/4.5 Pentax PK Manual Focus Lens -Very Good

12-21-2016, 08:35 AM	#10
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Aperture and Distance lettering and mount cap look Identical to this Korean made Chinar Chinar Macro Zoom Lens 80-205mm f1:4.5 f=80-205mm with Case \| eBay

12-21-2016, 09:06 AM	#11
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by D1N0 Aperture and Distance lettering and mount cap look Identical to this Korean made Chinar Chinar Macro Zoom Lens 80-205mm f1:4.5 f=80-205mm with Case \| eBay So the gold JCII sticker is another deception...

12-21-2016, 09:28 AM	#12
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	I'd say you've got a nifty little counterfeit lens there. Its history and provenance are probably more interesting than its optical quality. It looks very much like the ubiquitous "house brand" tele zooms that were being sold by the bushel in the 1980s. Around here, they were engraved with the names "Ultra", "Image", "Formula 5", "Sears", "JC Penney", "Makinon" - whoever wanted their own budget brand name could order up a thousand or two at a time and package them up with SLR kits. Trying to track their origin is really difficult, as it wasn't unusual to find that 1984's Makinon 80-200 came from a different anonymous supplier to the 1985 model, and so on. The cool thing here is that someone decided to capitalize on Pentax's disused Takumar brand, and thought they could get away with it. I wonder if they did.

12-21-2016, 09:30 AM	#13
tvdtvdtvd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,665	A ballsy example of the days when less reputable resellers would advertise a bundle, then swap out the OEM kit lens for something like a 80-205/4.5 macro zoom.

12-21-2016, 09:40 AM	#14
jack002 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Missouri Photos: Albums Posts: 727	Getting it for free is a good deal, cause 20 bucks is too high. I had two like it, gave one away and the other I set aside and never used for years. Push-pull film zoom, f4.5. Never got a good shot with it in years, and once decided to try it at f/8, it was ok. So not totally useless. My least favorite lens ever.

12-21-2016, 10:16 AM	#15
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	When they copy you that's a good sign isn't it via mflenses