Opinions on Asahi Auto-Takumar 50mm/1.2

**jpzk** · 01-13-2010, 07:41 PM

I have this possible deal to buy an old Asahi Auto-Takumar 50/1.2 lens but I am not sure at all this would be adaptable to a K20D/K7.
Here are two pics of the lens, still attached to an old Pentax film camera:

If anyone has any idea about this, please let me know what that is exactly.

JP

Last edited by jpzk; 08-30-2015 at 06:47 PM.

rhodopsin · 01-13-2010, 08:23 PM

Typos here. The lens is 1:2/55 (55mm f/2) not 1.2/50 (50mm f/1.2). The Auto-Takumar is a manual focus/manual aperture lens; need to use stop down metering on modern Pentax dslr. The lens is screwmount; a k-mount adapter is required to use it on K body. The lens has excellent IQ, however, without lens coatings some care is needed to prevent flare & ghosting.

wallyb · 01-13-2010, 08:39 PM

It's a 55 1:2.0, not a 50 1:1.2......

Pentaxor · 01-13-2010, 09:34 PM

JP, it's a 1:2.

basing from the condition of the lens, I would buy it for 10 bucks. if it's clean and glittering, maybe 40-50 bucks.

**Just1MoreDave** · 01-13-2010, 09:53 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

JP, it's a 1:2.

basing from the condition of the lens, I would buy it for 10 bucks. if it's clean and glittering, maybe 40-50 bucks.

You're too cheap. Just the super-cool cocking mechanism is hours of fun. And look at all the aperture blades - ten? It's worth quite a bit just to be the right lens for a particular camera. I think the photo of the front is mostly showing a dusty filter. With the right golden/purple reflection off the glass, you would be raising your bid.

Blue · 01-13-2010, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by rhodopsin

Typos here. The lens is 1:2/55 (55mm f/2) not 1.2/50 (50mm f/1.2). The Auto-Takumar is a manual focus/manual aperture lens; need to use stop down metering on modern Pentax dslr. The lens is screwmount; a k-mount adapter is required to use it on K body. The lens has excellent IQ, however, without lens coatings some care is needed to prevent flare & ghosting.

The aperture isn't manual. its actually semi-automatic hence the name Auto Takumar. They are cocked with the lever for each photo. This started with the K and evolved into the Super Tak. There is actually an Auto Tak that is actually a Super Tak with the automatic aperture. It is identifiable by the fact it as the A-M switch like the Super Taks have rather than a cocking lever.

Edit: BTW, that is an Asahi H2 body in the pic!

Pentaxor · 01-13-2010, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

You're too cheap. Just the super-cool cocking mechanism is hours of fun. And look at all the aperture blades - ten? It's worth quite a bit just to be the right lens for a particular camera. I think the photo of the front is mostly showing a dusty filter. With the right golden/purple reflection off the glass, you would be raising your bid.

if someone offers it to you for $10 bucks, are you not going to purchase it because it's being sold cheap?

**Just1MoreDave** · 01-13-2010, 11:07 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

if someone offers it to you for $10 bucks, are you not going to purchase it because it's being sold cheap?

I would try really hard not to, because I just got the other kind of Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8 that Blue referred to, without the semi-auto cocking lever. And I have the SMC Takumar 55/2, the K55/1.8, Auto Rikenon 55/1.4, Mamiya 55/1.4, Cosina 55/1.2, a Vivitar 55/2.8 macro and a CZJ Biotar 58/2. I have owned and sold three varieties of Super-Takumar 55/1.8, a Super-Takumar 55/2, the Super-Multi-Coated and SMC Takumar 55/1.8 and a K55/2. I kind of like 55mm.

I don't think I could resist all those aperture blades. The lenses above all have six blades. I'd probably pay $50 without even knowing how the semi-auto feature works on DSLRs.

rhodopsin · 01-13-2010, 11:14 PM

Originally posted by Blue

The aperture isn't manual. its actually semi-automatic hence the name Auto Takumar. They are cocked with the lever for each photo. This started with the K and evolved into the Super Tak. There is actually an Auto Tak that is actually a Super Tak with the automatic aperture. It is identifiable by the fact it as the A-M switch like the Super Taks have rather than a cocking lever.

Edit: BTW, that is an Asahi H2 body in the pic!

OP has K20D/K7, this lens is manual aperture on that camera.

I'm not disagreeing with you; I know what you are saying. Pentax used the term Auto Diaphram in that era; now they use Auto Aperture to describe electronic lens.

Pentaxor · 01-13-2010, 11:23 PM

Originally posted by rhodopsin

OP has K20D/K7, this lens is manual aperture on that camera.

I'm not disagreeing with you; I know what you are saying. Pentax used the term Auto Diaphram in that era; now they use Auto Aperture to describe electronic lens.

I believe JP knows what he's doing. regardless what it does or what Auto means, he would be happy to use set it manually or automatically. setting the aperture is not a difficult thing to do.

Pentaxor · 01-13-2010, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

I would try really hard not to, because I just got the other kind of Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8 that Blue referred to, without the semi-auto cocking lever. And I have the SMC Takumar 55/2, the K55/1.8, Auto Rikenon 55/1.4, Mamiya 55/1.4, Cosina 55/1.2, a Vivitar 55/2.8 macro and a CZJ Biotar 58/2. I have owned and sold three varieties of Super-Takumar 55/1.8, a Super-Takumar 55/2, the Super-Multi-Coated and SMC Takumar 55/1.8 and a K55/2. I kind of like 55mm.

I don't think I could resist all those aperture blades. The lenses above all have six blades. I'd probably pay $50 without even knowing how the semi-auto feature works on DSLRs.

probably we should call you DAVE 55 from now on. anyways, usually with those kinds of of items being sold with dusts on them, you can get them for a real bargain or find them in a garage sale selling for 10 bucks for the whole thing. I do believe that an owner who is much up to what is going on nowadays and keeps his lens in very good condition, knows how much his lenses value are even in today's standards.

all we need is to look for a granpa seller.

**jpzk** · 01-14-2010, 08:16 AM

Ooops! I certainly goofed again: that is a 55/2 and not a 50/1.2.

However, no matter if this is manual/semi-auto or whatever, if it does fit on the K7 and/or K20D, I woulnd't mind having it.
Would be interesting to find out what sort of results one can get with this.
I appreciate the comments and opinions, and especially the friendly reminder that this is not a f1.2 lens.

Cheers to all, and I will report back to this thread if I ever decide to buy it.

JP

indytax · 01-14-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by jpzk

Would be interesting to find out what sort of results one can get with this.

JP, You might consider searching for "auto takumar 55 2" on Flickr; there are many nice results there (although that search catches some non-55/2 shots, too). Forum member Mike Cash has some particularly nice photos with this lens.

Blue · 01-14-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by rhodopsin

OP has K20D/K7, this lens is manual aperture on that camera.

I'm not disagreeing with you; I know what you are saying. Pentax used the term Auto Diaphram in that era; now they use Auto Aperture to describe electronic lens.

Regardless of how the K200d, K20d, K7, K10d, K-x etc work, it is still not a manual diaphragm. For collectors and users of m42 gear, correct terminology does matter especially given the fact that it is on a Pentax Asahi H2 body. This holds true whether you are talking about the m42 lenses, k or M lenses.

Edit: Some of the Auto-Taks are amazingly small compared even to their Super Tak siblings. Look at the K200d camera mount.

Auto-Tak 35mm f3.5 on K200d

Super Tak 35mm f3.5

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-14-2010, 08:35 AM

the ideal 50mm and there are many varients are the F1.4. they come in Takumar, auto takumar, super takumar and SMC takumar varients at least.

01-13-2010, 07:41 PM	#1
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Opinions on Asahi Auto-Takumar 50mm/1.2 I have this possible deal to buy an old Asahi Auto-Takumar 50/1.2 lens but I am not sure at all this would be adaptable to a K20D/K7. Here are two pics of the lens, still attached to an old Pentax film camera: If anyone has any idea about this, please let me know what that is exactly. JP Last edited by jpzk; 08-30-2015 at 06:47 PM.

01-13-2010, 08:23 PM	#2
rhodopsin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Deep Forest Posts: 643	Typos here. The lens is 1:2/55 (55mm f/2) not 1.2/50 (50mm f/1.2). The Auto-Takumar is a manual focus/manual aperture lens; need to use stop down metering on modern Pentax dslr. The lens is screwmount; a k-mount adapter is required to use it on K body. The lens has excellent IQ, however, without lens coatings some care is needed to prevent flare & ghosting. Last edited by rhodopsin; 01-13-2010 at 08:54 PM.

01-14-2010, 08:33 AM	#13
indytax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 312	Originally posted by jpzk Would be interesting to find out what sort of results one can get with this. JP, You might consider searching for "auto takumar 55 2" on Flickr; there are many nice results there (although that search catches some non-55/2 shots, too). Forum member Mike Cash has some particularly nice photos with this lens. Last edited by indytax; 01-14-2010 at 08:41 AM.

01-14-2010, 08:33 AM	#14
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by rhodopsin OP has K20D/K7, this lens is manual aperture on that camera. I'm not disagreeing with you; I know what you are saying. Pentax used the term Auto Diaphram in that era; now they use Auto Aperture to describe electronic lens. Regardless of how the K200d, K20d, K7, K10d, K-x etc work, it is still not a manual diaphragm. For collectors and users of m42 gear, correct terminology does matter especially given the fact that it is on a Pentax Asahi H2 body. This holds true whether you are talking about the m42 lenses, k or M lenses. Edit: Some of the Auto-Taks are amazingly small compared even to their Super Tak siblings. Look at the K200d camera mount. Auto-Tak 35mm f3.5 on K200d Super Tak 35mm f3.5 Last edited by Blue; 01-14-2010 at 08:40 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wanted - Acquired: Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 Lens	MsFabCee	Sold Items	0	09-11-2010 08:56 PM
For Sale - Sold: Asahi Super Takumar 50mm F1.4 Lens $30 (US)	Wsurbier	Sold Items	1	08-08-2010 09:59 AM
For Sale - Sold: Asahi Pentax Spotmatic-F + SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4	loafer	Sold Items	3	09-01-2009 06:58 PM
For Sale - Sold: Asahi Super Takumar 50mm 1:1/4 M42	dragnink	Sold Items	3	07-04-2009 06:48 PM
Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 50mm f/3.5 lens	Voe	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	9	03-13-2009 08:36 AM

01-13-2010, 08:39 PM	#3
wallyb Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Untied States Photos: Albums Posts: 1,881	It's a 55 1:2.0, not a 50 1:1.2......

01-13-2010, 09:34 PM	#4
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	JP, it's a 1:2. basing from the condition of the lens, I would buy it for 10 bucks. if it's clean and glittering, maybe 40-50 bucks.

01-13-2010, 09:53 PM	#5
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by Pentaxor JP, it's a 1:2. basing from the condition of the lens, I would buy it for 10 bucks. if it's clean and glittering, maybe 40-50 bucks. You're too cheap. Just the super-cool cocking mechanism is hours of fun. And look at all the aperture blades - ten? It's worth quite a bit just to be the right lens for a particular camera. I think the photo of the front is mostly showing a dusty filter. With the right golden/purple reflection off the glass, you would be raising your bid.

01-13-2010, 10:10 PM	#6
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by rhodopsin Typos here. The lens is 1:2/55 (55mm f/2) not 1.2/50 (50mm f/1.2). The Auto-Takumar is a manual focus/manual aperture lens; need to use stop down metering on modern Pentax dslr. The lens is screwmount; a k-mount adapter is required to use it on K body. The lens has excellent IQ, however, without lens coatings some care is needed to prevent flare & ghosting. The aperture isn't manual. its actually semi-automatic hence the name Auto Takumar. They are cocked with the lever for each photo. This started with the K and evolved into the Super Tak. There is actually an Auto Tak that is actually a Super Tak with the automatic aperture. It is identifiable by the fact it as the A-M switch like the Super Taks have rather than a cocking lever. Edit: BTW, that is an Asahi H2 body in the pic!

01-13-2010, 10:46 PM	#7
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave You're too cheap. Just the super-cool cocking mechanism is hours of fun. And look at all the aperture blades - ten? It's worth quite a bit just to be the right lens for a particular camera. I think the photo of the front is mostly showing a dusty filter. With the right golden/purple reflection off the glass, you would be raising your bid. if someone offers it to you for $10 bucks, are you not going to purchase it because it's being sold cheap?

01-13-2010, 11:07 PM	#8
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by Pentaxor if someone offers it to you for $10 bucks, are you not going to purchase it because it's being sold cheap? I would try really hard not to, because I just got the other kind of Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8 that Blue referred to, without the semi-auto cocking lever. And I have the SMC Takumar 55/2, the K55/1.8, Auto Rikenon 55/1.4, Mamiya 55/1.4, Cosina 55/1.2, a Vivitar 55/2.8 macro and a CZJ Biotar 58/2. I have owned and sold three varieties of Super-Takumar 55/1.8, a Super-Takumar 55/2, the Super-Multi-Coated and SMC Takumar 55/1.8 and a K55/2. I kind of like 55mm. I don't think I could resist all those aperture blades. The lenses above all have six blades. I'd probably pay $50 without even knowing how the semi-auto feature works on DSLRs.

01-13-2010, 11:14 PM	#9
rhodopsin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Deep Forest Posts: 643	Originally posted by Blue The aperture isn't manual. its actually semi-automatic hence the name Auto Takumar. They are cocked with the lever for each photo. This started with the K and evolved into the Super Tak. There is actually an Auto Tak that is actually a Super Tak with the automatic aperture. It is identifiable by the fact it as the A-M switch like the Super Taks have rather than a cocking lever. Edit: BTW, that is an Asahi H2 body in the pic! OP has K20D/K7, this lens is manual aperture on that camera. I'm not disagreeing with you; I know what you are saying. Pentax used the term Auto Diaphram in that era; now they use Auto Aperture to describe electronic lens.

01-13-2010, 11:23 PM	#10
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by rhodopsin OP has K20D/K7, this lens is manual aperture on that camera. I'm not disagreeing with you; I know what you are saying. Pentax used the term Auto Diaphram in that era; now they use Auto Aperture to describe electronic lens. I believe JP knows what he's doing. regardless what it does or what Auto means, he would be happy to use set it manually or automatically. setting the aperture is not a difficult thing to do.

01-13-2010, 11:29 PM	#11
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave I would try really hard not to, because I just got the other kind of Auto-Takumar 55mm f1.8 that Blue referred to, without the semi-auto cocking lever. And I have the SMC Takumar 55/2, the K55/1.8, Auto Rikenon 55/1.4, Mamiya 55/1.4, Cosina 55/1.2, a Vivitar 55/2.8 macro and a CZJ Biotar 58/2. I have owned and sold three varieties of Super-Takumar 55/1.8, a Super-Takumar 55/2, the Super-Multi-Coated and SMC Takumar 55/1.8 and a K55/2. I kind of like 55mm. I don't think I could resist all those aperture blades. The lenses above all have six blades. I'd probably pay $50 without even knowing how the semi-auto feature works on DSLRs. probably we should call you DAVE 55 from now on. anyways, usually with those kinds of of items being sold with dusts on them, you can get them for a real bargain or find them in a garage sale selling for 10 bucks for the whole thing. I do believe that an owner who is much up to what is going on nowadays and keeps his lens in very good condition, knows how much his lenses value are even in today's standards. all we need is to look for a granpa seller.

01-14-2010, 08:16 AM	#12
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251 Original Poster	Ooops! I certainly goofed again: that is a 55/2 and not a 50/1.2. However, no matter if this is manual/semi-auto or whatever, if it does fit on the K7 and/or K20D, I woulnd't mind having it. Would be interesting to find out what sort of results one can get with this. I appreciate the comments and opinions, and especially the friendly reminder that this is not a f1.2 lens. Cheers to all, and I will report back to this thread if I ever decide to buy it. JP

01-14-2010, 08:35 AM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	the ideal 50mm and there are many varients are the F1.4. they come in Takumar, auto takumar, super takumar and SMC takumar varients at least.