Modified Pentax Auto-Takumar 35mm f/2.3 lens

Fenwoodian · 05-12-2018, 04:34 PM - **2 Likes**

.
Some of you already know that I love to modify my lenses.

Just today I inverted the front lens element on one of my Pentax Auto-Takumar 35mm f/2.3 lenses.

Below are a few of the test images that I took with this lens on my K1 camera. I've seen photos of this modified lens on Pentax APS-C bodies, but have never seen any photos taken with this modified lens on the full frame Pentax K1.

I like the swirly bokeh effect this modified lens produces.

Next week I'm traveling to one of my favorite botanical gardens. I'll be sure to take this modified Tak lens with me, as well as my unmodified 35mm f/2.3 lens. It might be interesting to do side-by-side comparisons of images produced by modified and unmodified versions of this lens.

Attached Images

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View Picture EXIF

robiles · 05-12-2018, 04:48 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Fenwoodian

.
Some of you already know that I love to modify my lenses.

Just today I inverted the front lens element on one of my Pentax Auto-Takumar 35mm f/2.3 lenses.

Below are a few of the test images that I took with this lens on my K1 camera. I've seen photos of this modified lens on Pentax APS-C bodies, but have never seen any photos taken with this modified lens on the full frame Pentax K1.

I like the swirly bokeh effect this modified lens produces.

Next week I'm traveling to one of my favorite botanical gardens. I'll be sure to take this modified Tak lens with me, as well as my unmodified 35mm f/2.3 lens. It might be interesting to do side-by-side comparisons of images produced by modified and unmodified versions of this lens.

Really nice pics. I also want to add one to the collection, but a good one is rare. Keep us posted.

Fenwoodian · 05-12-2018, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by robiles

Really nice pics. I also want to add one to the collection, but a good one is rare. Keep us posted.

Indeed, nice copies of this over 50 year old lens are hard to find. I worked for over a year to find my two excellent + copies. Both of my copies are the newer version with the "blue" feet markings, and "yellow" meter markings.

The glass used in this lens is notoreously soft, and it's quite hard to find copies of this lens without significant scraches/rub-marks all over the front element.

This lens has a front element that is extremely easy to invert. All one needs is a spanner wrench to invert it.

On the above photos, in order to achieve a closer focus, I installed an extension tube (the thinnest one of the three that come in the set) between the lens and the m42 adapter.

Robert, after my little side-by-side test next week, if you are still interested in this lens, please let me know as I might be able to help you find one.

swanlefitte · 05-12-2018, 06:03 PM

Very cool. I like the effect with the first and third the best. I like it much better than the m 50 2 i reversed recently.

**niceshot** · 05-13-2018, 04:49 AM

HI nice pictures. Did you invert the front Element?? I have two of these Lens , and rebuilt one to achieve a smooth focus. I love this old Lens.

Master · 05-13-2018, 06:53 AM

How do landscape shots look like with this lens?

Cool mod btw

**niceshot** · 05-13-2018, 07:44 AM

Originally posted by Master

How do landscape shots look like with this lens?

Cool mod btw

Here is one I shot this morning

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

**niceshot** · 05-13-2018, 09:12 AM

Here is one from a normal Lens shot wide open @ 2.3

Fenwoodian · 05-13-2018, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by niceshot

Here is one from a normal Lens shot wide open @ 2.3

Lovely "bokeh balls". A trademark of this wonderful old lens!

Master · 05-13-2018, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by niceshot

Here is one I shot this morning

So the effect of the element reversal is present mostly with macro shots?

**niceshot** · 05-13-2018, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by Master

So the effect of the element reversal is present mostly with macro shots?

I didn't even invert it here, this is straight up stock Lens

**niceshot** · 05-13-2018, 04:00 PM

Here are two more pictures.

---------- Post added 05-13-18 at 07:01 PM ----------

this Lens is a Legend, what I would love to know is who designed it.

Dartmoor Dave · 05-14-2018, 12:56 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by niceshot

this Lens is a Legend, what I would love to know is who designed it.

The designer must be either Mr Ryohei Suzuki or Mr Yasuo Takahashi. Mr Suzuki designed all the original M37 Takumars and some of the early normal and long M42 lenses, while Mr Takahashi created all the wide angle M42 classics. I haven't got any definite information about the 35mm/2.3 but my money would be on Mr Suzuki being the designer. It seems more in his style.

**niceshot** · 05-14-2018, 02:53 AM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

The designer must be either Mr Ryohei Suzuki or Mr Yasuo Takahashi. Mr Suzuki designed all the original M37 Takumars and some of the early normal and long M42 lenses, while Mr Takahashi created all the wide angle M42 classics. I haven't got any definite information about the 35mm/http://www.aohc.it/testi.php?id_testi=532.3 but my money would be on Mr Suzuki being the designer. It seems more in his style.

I think you are right http://www.aohc.it/testi.php?id_testi=53

robiles · 06-11-2018, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by Fenwoodian

Indeed, nice copies of this over 50 year old lens are hard to find. I worked for over a year to find my two excellent + copies. Both of my copies are the newer version with the "blue" feet markings, and "yellow" meter markings.

The glass used in this lens is notoreously soft, and it's quite hard to find copies of this lens without significant scraches/rub-marks all over the front element.

This lens has a front element that is extremely easy to invert. All one needs is a spanner wrench to invert it.

On the above photos, in order to achieve a closer focus, I installed an extension tube (the thinnest one of the three that come in the set) between the lens and the m42 adapter.

Robert, after my little side-by-side test next week, if you are still interested in this lens, please let me know as I might be able to help you find one.

Hello Dave, i am really sorry, i have read your post and wanted to reply, but as it happens all too often, i got carried away with other stuff and totally forgot to reply. Have you made any further experiments with your lenses?

p.s. i might take you up on that offer, if it's still valid.

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05-12-2018, 04:48 PM - 1 Like	#2
robiles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Deva Posts: 311	Originally posted by Fenwoodian . Some of you already know that I love to modify my lenses. Just today I inverted the front lens element on one of my Pentax Auto-Takumar 35mm f/2.3 lenses. Below are a few of the test images that I took with this lens on my K1 camera. I've seen photos of this modified lens on Pentax APS-C bodies, but have never seen any photos taken with this modified lens on the full frame Pentax K1. I like the swirly bokeh effect this modified lens produces. Next week I'm traveling to one of my favorite botanical gardens. I'll be sure to take this modified Tak lens with me, as well as my unmodified 35mm f/2.3 lens. It might be interesting to do side-by-side comparisons of images produced by modified and unmodified versions of this lens. Really nice pics. I also want to add one to the collection, but a good one is rare. Keep us posted.

05-12-2018, 05:23 PM	#3
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,875 Original Poster	Originally posted by robiles Really nice pics. I also want to add one to the collection, but a good one is rare. Keep us posted. Indeed, nice copies of this over 50 year old lens are hard to find. I worked for over a year to find my two excellent + copies. Both of my copies are the newer version with the "blue" feet markings, and "yellow" meter markings. The glass used in this lens is notoreously soft, and it's quite hard to find copies of this lens without significant scraches/rub-marks all over the front element. This lens has a front element that is extremely easy to invert. All one needs is a spanner wrench to invert it. On the above photos, in order to achieve a closer focus, I installed an extension tube (the thinnest one of the three that come in the set) between the lens and the m42 adapter. Robert, after my little side-by-side test next week, if you are still interested in this lens, please let me know as I might be able to help you find one.

05-12-2018, 06:03 PM	#4
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Very cool. I like the effect with the first and third the best. I like it much better than the m 50 2 i reversed recently.

05-13-2018, 04:49 AM	#5
niceshot Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,565	HI nice pictures. Did you invert the front Element?? I have two of these Lens , and rebuilt one to achieve a smooth focus. I love this old Lens.

05-13-2018, 06:53 AM	#6
Master New Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 3	How do landscape shots look like with this lens? Cool mod btw

05-13-2018, 09:34 AM	#9
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,875 Original Poster	Originally posted by niceshot Here is one from a normal Lens shot wide open @ 2.3 Lovely "bokeh balls". A trademark of this wonderful old lens!

05-13-2018, 01:02 PM	#10
Master New Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 3	Originally posted by niceshot Here is one I shot this morning So the effect of the element reversal is present mostly with macro shots?

05-13-2018, 02:52 PM	#11
niceshot Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,565	Originally posted by Master So the effect of the element reversal is present mostly with macro shots? I didn't even invert it here, this is straight up stock Lens

05-14-2018, 12:56 AM - 1 Like	#13
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,890	Originally posted by niceshot this Lens is a Legend, what I would love to know is who designed it. The designer must be either Mr Ryohei Suzuki or Mr Yasuo Takahashi. Mr Suzuki designed all the original M37 Takumars and some of the early normal and long M42 lenses, while Mr Takahashi created all the wide angle M42 classics. I haven't got any definite information about the 35mm/2.3 but my money would be on Mr Suzuki being the designer. It seems more in his style.

05-14-2018, 02:53 AM	#14
niceshot Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,565	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave The designer must be either Mr Ryohei Suzuki or Mr Yasuo Takahashi. Mr Suzuki designed all the original M37 Takumars and some of the early normal and long M42 lenses, while Mr Takahashi created all the wide angle M42 classics. I haven't got any definite information about the 35mm/http://www.aohc.it/testi.php?id_testi=532.3 but my money would be on Mr Suzuki being the designer. It seems more in his style. I think you are right http://www.aohc.it/testi.php?id_testi=53

06-11-2018, 02:13 AM	#15
robiles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Deva Posts: 311	Originally posted by Fenwoodian Indeed, nice copies of this over 50 year old lens are hard to find. I worked for over a year to find my two excellent + copies. Both of my copies are the newer version with the "blue" feet markings, and "yellow" meter markings. The glass used in this lens is notoreously soft, and it's quite hard to find copies of this lens without significant scraches/rub-marks all over the front element. This lens has a front element that is extremely easy to invert. All one needs is a spanner wrench to invert it. On the above photos, in order to achieve a closer focus, I installed an extension tube (the thinnest one of the three that come in the set) between the lens and the m42 adapter. Robert, after my little side-by-side test next week, if you are still interested in this lens, please let me know as I might be able to help you find one. Hello Dave, i am really sorry, i have read your post and wanted to reply, but as it happens all too often, i got carried away with other stuff and totally forgot to reply. Have you made any further experiments with your lenses? p.s. i might take you up on that offer, if it's still valid.