[Prince Harbinger]

I'm interested in two 50mms. I can only choose one. Which one is the best? Pentax SMC Macro Takumar 50mm f/1.4 or Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar electric 1,8/50mm. Samples between the two are welcome. 😎👌🏼

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Last edited by Prince Harbinger; 03-12-2019 at 02:25 PM.

[MarkJerling]

I'm interested in two 50mms. I can only choose one. Which one is the best? Pentax SMC Macro Takumar 50mm f/1.4 or Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar electric 1,8/50mm. Samples between the two are welcome. 😎👌🏼

I'm not aware of an SMC Macro Takumar 50mm F1.4. There is a Takumar 50mm F1.4, but I believe the Macro Takumar is F4. Both are good lenses. Happy to be corrected if there is such a thing as a Macro Tak F1.4.

[Prince Harbinger]

I'm not aware of an SMC Macro Takumar 50mm F1.4. There is a Takumar 50mm F1.4, but I believe the Macro Takumar is F4. Both are good lenses. Happy to be corrected if there is such a thing as a Macro Tak F1.4.

You are correct. The way the seller listed
It threw me off. 😁 Back element looks a little fishy for a near mint. What are those spots?

[MarkJerling]

There is one.😁 Back element looks a little fishy for a near mint. What are those spots?

That's the Macro F4, not F1.4. If it was F1.4, it would say F1:1.4, not F1:4.

Difficult to say what those spots are. Could be a bit of oil, could be something worse!

[Davep]

That is a Macro F4. S-M-C/Super Macro-Takumar 50mm F4 Reviews - M42 Screwmount Normal Primes - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

The 1.4 reads 1:1.4/50

That image is not great, but I agree, I don't like the looks of that rear element.

[vonBaloney]

The macro is f/4, not f1.4. And those are quite different styles of lenses, one of them being a macro and all. I kinda get the feeling that you are getting ahead of yourself. Get a handle on the basics before you go crazy buying lenses. Or at least don't spend too much because you're going to make some mistakes (as we all do).

[Prince Harbinger]

That's the Macro F4, not F1.4. If it was F1.4, it would say F1:1.4, not F1:4.

Difficult to say what those spots are. Could be a bit of oil, could be something worse!

Also noticed the seller has a 95% feedback. I'll have to look for another copy. Still interested in it even if it is slower.

---------- Post added 03-08-19 at 06:53 PM ----------

The Takumar is F4 (not 1.4) and both are different lenses, one is a macro and the other one a regular 50mm (more suitable for portraits), so it depends on what you want it for.

I like to shoot a bit of everything. Some of the best portrait lenses are macros.

[MarkJerling]

Oh, and you'll need a M-42 adapter for those lenses.

Discussed every so often: M-42 adapters - a few questions - PentaxForums.com
And: M to K Adapter - PentaxForums.com
Etc.

[Prince Harbinger]

That is a Macro F4. S-M-C/Super Macro-Takumar 50mm F4 Reviews - M42 Screwmount Normal Primes - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

The 1.4 reads 1:1.4/50

That image is not great, but I agree, I don't like the looks of that rear element.

Unfortunately Ebay compresses the heck out of photos. I'll look for another one.

The sellers listing Grade:**Near Mint**

Appearance of the item
It is in excellent condition cosmetically.
The mount is clean.
It is not sticky.
I cleaned the lens by the disinfectant.


Functional
It works properly.
I checked it at the professional camera shop in japan.
So don't worry about the condition.


Optical system
Glass is great condition.
No noticeable scratches on the lens.
No fungus or haze inside the lens.
I cleaned the lens fungus.
No balsam separation inside the lens.
It has a very very tiny dust.(A photograph does not have influence)

Upload Errors:

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[catfishjohn]

That is in fact an f4, notice the : between the 1 and 4. A !:4 is f4. That is a fine old tak, great color and sharp. I put an m42 to K adapter on mine and gave to my wife. She has some really nice macro bee and butterfly pictures from her flowerbeds. Using a K5iis. The one in your photo does have an issue with something on the rear lens. I would keep looking, that lens is not uncommon and a good one should not be hard to find. Check out the lens data base if you havnt already done so. Its a wonderfull source of lens information. For this lens scroll down to M42 standard and look for ''50 mm f4 macro''. You will find all you need to know.

[ZombieArmy]

F4 Macro aside, the actual 50mm 1.4 Tak is amazing and is a lens everyone should own.

[Prince Harbinger]

F4 Macro aside, the actual 50mm 1.4 Tak is amazing and is a lens everyone should own.

The only Takumar that I have in the 50's range is the 55mm f1.8 Thanks for the suggestion.

---------- Post added 03-08-19 at 08:43 PM ----------

That is in fact an f4, notice the : between the 1 and 4. A !:4 is f4. That is a fine old tak, great color and sharp. I put an m42 to K adapter on mine and gave to my wife. She has some really nice macro bee and butterfly pictures from her flowerbeds. Using a K5iis. The one in your photo does have an issue with something on the rear lens. I would keep looking, that lens is not uncommon and a good one should not be hard to find. Check out the lens data base if you havnt already done so. Its a wonderfull source of lens information. For this lens scroll down to M42 standard and look for ''50 mm f4 macro''. You will find all you need to know.

Sounds great! I love nature! I'm curious how well it performs for portraits too. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Kozlok]

I have a Pancolar. I bought the older, zebra striped version with 8-bladed iris (slightly more expensive on average). It's my favorite 50, but I also like the 8-element Takumar 50/1.4. If I could only keep one, it would be the Pancolar. It focuses close for a 50, but not as closely as that Macro would do.

If you are budget-minded, the Takumar 55mm 1.8 (or 2.0) is an amazing lens for very little money. I still like my Pancolar better, but not by a lot; and the Tak 55 is usually available for something like $35-40.

Some Pancolar Magic: (click for larger in Flickr)













And this is what she looks like all apart to be regreased:

[Prince Harbinger]

I have a Pancolar. I bought the older, zebra striped version with 8-bladed iris (slightly more expensive on average). It's my favorite 50, but I also like the 8-element Takumar 50/1.4. If I could only keep one, it would be the Pancolar. It focuses close for a 50, but not as closely as that Macro would do.

If you are budget-minded, the Takumar 55mm 1.8 (or 2.0) is an amazing lens for very little money. I still like my Pancolar better, but not by a lot; and the Tak 55 is usually available for something like $35-40.

Some Pancolar Magic: (click for larger in Flickr)













And this is what she looks like all apart to be regreased:

Wonderful examples!👌🏼 Looks fairly simple to dissemble too. Only one element on the top that's non cemented. Should be a cakewalk to clean. You should try putting the front element backwards to see what kind of bokeh results you get.🙂 If you do decide to do the mod. Let me see the photo results.

[barry13]

Hi, the SMC Macro 50/4 is a sharp lens. Last I looked they were going for over $100USD.