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martinclayden · 05-15-2022, 12:10 PM

Hope somebody here can help me.

In a house clearance recently I came across an example of this lens.

Identifying marks are a serial / model number of 5573954, the name Asasi Optical. It's a bayonet fit. It's a manual lens

Is this an SMC lens ? I'm assuming it's Pentax. Does it have any particular value ?

TIA

Martin

Attached Images

**c.a.m** · 05-15-2022, 12:16 PM

Hi Martin,

Welcome to Pentax Forums!

There are plenty of user reviews at our lens review page: Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

- Craig

martinclayden · 05-15-2022, 12:23 PM

Thanks Craig,

So this is not an SMC lens. It's ok, but not to the standard of Pentax branded SMC lenses.

Regards

Martin

**GUB** · 05-15-2022, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by martinclayden

Hope somebody here can help me.

In a house clearance recently I came across an example of this lens.

Identifying marks are a serial / model number of 5573954, the name Asasi Optical. It's a bayonet fit. It's a manual lens

Is this an SMC lens ? I'm assuming it's Pentax. Does it have any particular value ?

TIA

Martin

There seems to be some duds out there but judge your one on it's merits. I suspect you are going to find it is superb.
Most people make the mistake of thinking because it was an entry level lens it can't be any good. (but it can certainly be great )
An interesting facet of the reviews is if you look at the oldest page of reviews they average out with a score just over 6. But the newest page (#1) averages just under 9.
There seemed to be a subjective negativity about this lens in the beginning.
The good news is that means the price of them is still quite cheap last time I looked. I think still cheaper than a M42Takumar 135mm f3.5 but with the open performance of a M42 tak 2.5

**UncleVanya** · 05-15-2022, 08:07 PM

I own a pristine copy. It’s an ok lens with good qualities but also some warts including purple fringing in high contrast. It isn’t smc but is coated. It has some loss of contrast likely due to the coatings but can be sharp in the right circumstance.(these are pretty inexpensive on the whole)

martinclayden · 05-21-2022, 10:49 AM

Many thanks for your replies

reh321 · 05-23-2022, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I own a pristine copy. It’s an ok lens with good qualities but also some warts including purple fringing in high contrast. It isn’t smc but is coated. It has some loss of contrast likely due to the coatings but can be sharp in the right circumstance.(these are pretty inexpensive on the whole)

Is it helped by some kind of filter - perhaps a polarizer?

**UncleVanya** · 05-23-2022, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by reh321

Is it helped by some kind of filter - perhaps a polarizer?

I’ve never tried. I don’t recall anyone else mentioning it.

ZombieArmy · 05-25-2022, 04:20 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I own a pristine copy. It’s an ok lens with good qualities but also some warts including purple fringing in high contrast. It isn’t smc but is coated. It has some loss of contrast likely due to the coatings but can be sharp in the right circumstance.(these are pretty inexpensive on the whole)

I think it's a qc thing. My copy doesn't purple fringe at all (or I'd have to really try), but it does have veiled flare due to the lack of SMC coatings. I find the lens to be a good performer overall at least with my made in japan copy.

Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Can check out my review of it. The optics are certainly better in my opinion than the older 135s like the Pentax M or K.

**UncleVanya** · 05-25-2022, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

I think it's a qc thing. My copy doesn't purple fringe at all (or I'd have to really try), but it does have veiled flare due to the lack of SMC coatings. I find the lens to be a good performer overall at least with my made in japan copy.

Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Can check out my review of it. The optics are certainly better in my opinion than the older 135s like the Pentax M or K.

To be honest the purple fringing was in harsh light on an m43 camera come to think of it. I need to test more with something like my KP or Sony A7R3.

reh321 · 05-25-2022, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

To be honest the purple fringing was in harsh light on an m43 camera come to think of it. I need to test more with something like my KP or Sony A7R3.

To be honest, I was thinking even smaller than MFT - “Q”.
I’m always thinking of about that length - equivalent to about the same as 300mm on “APS-C”.

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05-15-2022, 12:10 PM	#1
martinclayden New Member Join Date: May 2022 Posts: 3	Takumar 135mm F2.5 Hope somebody here can help me. In a house clearance recently I came across an example of this lens. Identifying marks are a serial / model number of 5573954, the name Asasi Optical. It's a bayonet fit. It's a manual lens Is this an SMC lens ? I'm assuming it's Pentax. Does it have any particular value ? TIA Martin Attached Images

05-15-2022, 12:16 PM	#2
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,194	Hi Martin, Welcome to Pentax Forums! There are plenty of user reviews at our lens review page: Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database - Craig

05-15-2022, 12:23 PM	#3
martinclayden New Member Join Date: May 2022 Posts: 3 Original Poster	Thanks Craig, So this is not an SMC lens. It's ok, but not to the standard of Pentax branded SMC lenses. Regards Martin

05-15-2022, 04:41 PM	#4
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,762	Originally posted by martinclayden Hope somebody here can help me. In a house clearance recently I came across an example of this lens. Identifying marks are a serial / model number of 5573954, the name Asasi Optical. It's a bayonet fit. It's a manual lens Is this an SMC lens ? I'm assuming it's Pentax. Does it have any particular value ? TIA Martin There seems to be some duds out there but judge your one on it's merits. I suspect you are going to find it is superb. Most people make the mistake of thinking because it was an entry level lens it can't be any good. (but it can certainly be great ) An interesting facet of the reviews is if you look at the oldest page of reviews they average out with a score just over 6. But the newest page (#1) averages just under 9. There seemed to be a subjective negativity about this lens in the beginning. The good news is that means the price of them is still quite cheap last time I looked. I think still cheaper than a M42Takumar 135mm f3.5 but with the open performance of a M42 tak 2.5

05-15-2022, 08:07 PM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,468	I own a pristine copy. It’s an ok lens with good qualities but also some warts including purple fringing in high contrast. It isn’t smc but is coated. It has some loss of contrast likely due to the coatings but can be sharp in the right circumstance.(these are pretty inexpensive on the whole)

05-21-2022, 10:49 AM	#6
martinclayden New Member Join Date: May 2022 Posts: 3 Original Poster	Many thanks for your replies

05-23-2022, 03:51 PM	#7
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,186	Originally posted by UncleVanya I own a pristine copy. It’s an ok lens with good qualities but also some warts including purple fringing in high contrast. It isn’t smc but is coated. It has some loss of contrast likely due to the coatings but can be sharp in the right circumstance.(these are pretty inexpensive on the whole) Is it helped by some kind of filter - perhaps a polarizer?

05-23-2022, 05:31 PM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,468	Originally posted by reh321 Is it helped by some kind of filter - perhaps a polarizer? I’ve never tried. I don’t recall anyone else mentioning it.

05-25-2022, 04:20 PM	#9
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Originally posted by UncleVanya I own a pristine copy. It’s an ok lens with good qualities but also some warts including purple fringing in high contrast. It isn’t smc but is coated. It has some loss of contrast likely due to the coatings but can be sharp in the right circumstance.(these are pretty inexpensive on the whole) I think it's a qc thing. My copy doesn't purple fringe at all (or I'd have to really try), but it does have veiled flare due to the lack of SMC coatings. I find the lens to be a good performer overall at least with my made in japan copy. Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Can check out my review of it. The optics are certainly better in my opinion than the older 135s like the Pentax M or K.

05-25-2022, 07:17 PM	#10
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,468	Originally posted by ZombieArmy I think it's a qc thing. My copy doesn't purple fringe at all (or I'd have to really try), but it does have veiled flare due to the lack of SMC coatings. I find the lens to be a good performer overall at least with my made in japan copy. Takumar 135mm F2.5 Bayonet Reviews - Non-SMC Pentax Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Can check out my review of it. The optics are certainly better in my opinion than the older 135s like the Pentax M or K. To be honest the purple fringing was in harsh light on an m43 camera come to think of it. I need to test more with something like my KP or Sony A7R3.

05-25-2022, 07:42 PM	#11
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,186	Originally posted by UncleVanya To be honest the purple fringing was in harsh light on an m43 camera come to think of it. I need to test more with something like my KP or Sony A7R3. To be honest, I was thinking even smaller than MFT - “Q”. I’m always thinking of about that length - equivalent to about the same as 300mm on “APS-C”.