Have I stumbled upon a rare lens?

Dom · 12-08-2009, 06:58 AM

I looked up my newly acquired 'F 28-80 1:3.5-4.5' and I notice that it looks a little different to the one in the review database. having done some googling it looks like it could be a Takumar. All the info I can find says that this lens has 5 blades mine has 8. Also the labelling is different.

Here are some pics of said lens.

As you can see 8 blades not 5.

Serial number and Japan.

Any info will be most useful.

bdery · 12-08-2009, 07:27 AM

IIRC, there were three types of Pentax lenses in the F generation. Some were Takumar-F, some were Pentax-F, and some were SMC Pentax-F.

As you can guess, only the SMC version has the flabled coatings, even though the others do have coatings.

Non SMC lenses have been called many names (doorstop comes to mind) but my own experience with two Takumar bayonet lenses tell me that these lenses can be really fine. Your lens is not rare as in "worth a lot of money" rare, but it might be uncommon. It would probably not fetch an amazing price on the marketplace, but the same can be said of most F and FA SMC kit lenses (like the 35-80s).

Dom · 12-08-2009, 07:59 AM

I paid peanuts for it and I'd expacet that's what I'll get for it if I sell.
It's just I can't find any other examples with the 8 blades.

Dom · 12-08-2009, 08:59 AM

Just looked my lens up on Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5 and it says that it's got 6 blades.

Also looked up the Pentax-A 28-80/3.5-4.5 and that has the 8 blades. Walks away scratching head.

GerryL · 12-08-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by Dom

I paid peanuts for it and I'd expacet that's what I'll get for it if I sell.
It's just I can't find any other examples with the 8 blades.

Maybe the peanuts you paid for where for the extra blades.

lesmore49 · 12-08-2009, 10:26 AM

Pentax started issuing the Takumar brand once again in the eighties. I have two. A Takumar 28 mm F 2.8 wide angle and a 50 mm Macro I bought both in around the mid eighties.

I used the 28 Takumar a lot and it was a great lens. Only diff I think between the tak and the Pentax was, as previous poster said...no SMC coatings.

RBellavance · 12-08-2009, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by Dom

Just looked my lens up on Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5 and it says that it's got 6 blades.

Also looked up the Pentax-A 28-80/3.5-4.5 and that has the 8 blades. Walks away scratching head.

FWIW, the FA 28-80 f/3.5-4.7 also has 8 blades.

What's the minumum focus distance on the scale of your lens ?

Dom · 12-08-2009, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by GerryL

Maybe the peanuts you paid for where for the extra blades.

The 8 'peanut' blades hasn't hurt the bokeh in the slightest.

Originally posted by RBellavance

FWIW, the FA 28-80 f/3.5-4.7 also has 8 blades.

What's the minumum focus distance on the scale of your lens ?

Min focus 1m.

Walks away muttering "8 blades" under his breath and scratching his head.

Asahiflex · 12-08-2009, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by Dom

The 8 'peanut' blades hasn't hurt the bokeh in the slightest.

Min focus 1m.

Walks away muttering "8 blades" under his breath and scratching his head.

I have exactly the same lens in my hands now. 8 Blades and all. What's the big deal?

Dom · 12-08-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

I have exactly the same lens in my hands now. 8 Blades and all. What's the big deal?

We now know that there two in existence.

Cool, I'm not the only one. I'm just trying to find out some information on it. I can't find it listed anywhere.

This also discounts my half brain theory that someone has altered my lens.

Blue · 12-08-2009, 01:59 PM

Its listed by dimitrov but says it has 5 blades

F 28-80/3.5-4.5

Non SMC Pentax-F has 6 blades as odes the Takumar-F

Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5

brecklundin · 12-08-2009, 02:22 PM

did Pentax every make a habit of using old versions as test models for the next gen features such as trying out 8-bladed apertures? Maybe near the end of the production life of this lenses it was used to beta/field test new features to be used in future lenses?

It might be realistic since the FA cousin/version has 8-blades.

Dom · 12-09-2009, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by Blue

Its listed by dimitrov but says it has 5 blades

F 28-80/3.5-4.5

Non SMC Pentax-F has 6 blades as odes the Takumar-F

Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5

Yes we had noticed.

Originally posted by brecklundin

did Pentax every make a habit of using old versions as test models for the next gen features such as trying out 8-bladed apertures? Maybe near the end of the production life of this lenses it was used to beta/field test new features to be used in future lenses?

It might be realistic since the FA cousin/version has 8-blades.

That is a very good question, I wonder how many of this version they made.

Asahiflex · 12-09-2009, 06:16 AM

I'll try to compare my non-SMC Pentax-F 28-80 against the FA 28-80 (which I also have).

Blue · 12-09-2009, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by brecklundin

did Pentax every make a habit of using old versions as test models for the next gen features such as trying out 8-bladed apertures? Maybe near the end of the production life of this lenses it was used to beta/field test new features to be used in future lenses?

It might be realistic since the FA cousin/version has 8-blades.

They certainly did that sort of thing with camera bodies in the 60s.

12-08-2009, 06:58 AM	#1
Dom Guest	Have I stumbled upon a rare lens? I looked up my newly acquired 'F 28-80 1:3.5-4.5' and I notice that it looks a little different to the one in the review database. having done some googling it looks like it could be a Takumar. All the info I can find says that this lens has 5 blades mine has 8. Also the labelling is different. Here are some pics of said lens. As you can see 8 blades not 5. Serial number and Japan. Any info will be most useful.

12-08-2009, 01:59 PM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Its listed by dimitrov but says it has 5 blades F 28-80/3.5-4.5 Non SMC Pentax-F has 6 blades as odes the Takumar-F Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5 Last edited by Blue; 12-08-2009 at 02:05 PM.

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12-08-2009, 07:27 AM	#2
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,356	IIRC, there were three types of Pentax lenses in the F generation. Some were Takumar-F, some were Pentax-F, and some were SMC Pentax-F. As you can guess, only the SMC version has the flabled coatings, even though the others do have coatings. Non SMC lenses have been called many names (doorstop comes to mind) but my own experience with two Takumar bayonet lenses tell me that these lenses can be really fine. Your lens is not rare as in "worth a lot of money" rare, but it might be uncommon. It would probably not fetch an amazing price on the marketplace, but the same can be said of most F and FA SMC kit lenses (like the 35-80s).

12-08-2009, 07:59 AM	#3
Dom Guest	I paid peanuts for it and I'd expacet that's what I'll get for it if I sell. It's just I can't find any other examples with the 8 blades.

12-08-2009, 08:59 AM	#4
Dom Guest	Just looked my lens up on Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5 and it says that it's got 6 blades. Also looked up the Pentax-A 28-80/3.5-4.5 and that has the 8 blades. Walks away scratching head.

12-08-2009, 09:03 AM	#5
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by Dom I paid peanuts for it and I'd expacet that's what I'll get for it if I sell. It's just I can't find any other examples with the 8 blades. Maybe the peanuts you paid for where for the extra blades.

12-08-2009, 10:26 AM	#6
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,325	Pentax started issuing the Takumar brand once again in the eighties. I have two. A Takumar 28 mm F 2.8 wide angle and a 50 mm Macro I bought both in around the mid eighties. I used the 28 Takumar a lot and it was a great lens. Only diff I think between the tak and the Pentax was, as previous poster said...no SMC coatings.

12-08-2009, 10:34 AM	#7
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Originally posted by Dom Just looked my lens up on Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5 and it says that it's got 6 blades. Also looked up the Pentax-A 28-80/3.5-4.5 and that has the 8 blades. Walks away scratching head. FWIW, the FA 28-80 f/3.5-4.7 also has 8 blades. What's the minumum focus distance on the scale of your lens ?

12-08-2009, 11:29 AM	#8
Dom Guest	Originally posted by GerryL Maybe the peanuts you paid for where for the extra blades. The 8 'peanut' blades hasn't hurt the bokeh in the slightest. Originally posted by RBellavance FWIW, the FA 28-80 f/3.5-4.7 also has 8 blades. What's the minumum focus distance on the scale of your lens ? Min focus 1m. Walks away muttering "8 blades" under his breath and scratching his head.

12-08-2009, 11:45 AM	#9
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Originally posted by Dom The 8 'peanut' blades hasn't hurt the bokeh in the slightest. Min focus 1m. Walks away muttering "8 blades" under his breath and scratching his head. I have exactly the same lens in my hands now. 8 Blades and all. What's the big deal?

12-08-2009, 12:53 PM	#10
Dom Guest	Originally posted by Asahiflex I have exactly the same lens in my hands now. 8 Blades and all. What's the big deal? We now know that there two in existence. Cool, I'm not the only one. I'm just trying to find out some information on it. I can't find it listed anywhere. This also discounts my half brain theory that someone has altered my lens.

12-08-2009, 02:22 PM	#12
brecklundin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,674	did Pentax every make a habit of using old versions as test models for the next gen features such as trying out 8-bladed apertures? Maybe near the end of the production life of this lenses it was used to beta/field test new features to be used in future lenses? It might be realistic since the FA cousin/version has 8-blades.

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12-09-2009, 04:07 AM	#13
Dom Guest	Originally posted by Blue Its listed by dimitrov but says it has 5 blades F 28-80/3.5-4.5 Non SMC Pentax-F has 6 blades as odes the Takumar-F Pentax-F 28-80/3.5-4.5 Yes we had noticed. Originally posted by brecklundin did Pentax every make a habit of using old versions as test models for the next gen features such as trying out 8-bladed apertures? Maybe near the end of the production life of this lenses it was used to beta/field test new features to be used in future lenses? It might be realistic since the FA cousin/version has 8-blades. That is a very good question, I wonder how many of this version they made.

12-09-2009, 06:16 AM	#14
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	I'll try to compare my non-SMC Pentax-F 28-80 against the FA 28-80 (which I also have).

12-09-2009, 09:31 AM	#15
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by brecklundin did Pentax every make a habit of using old versions as test models for the next gen features such as trying out 8-bladed apertures? Maybe near the end of the production life of this lenses it was used to beta/field test new features to be used in future lenses? It might be realistic since the FA cousin/version has 8-blades. They certainly did that sort of thing with camera bodies in the 60s.