M42 Week '09: SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8

M42 Week '09: SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 · 09:31 AM

Decided last week to shoot using only my oft-neglected M42 lenses on my K20D. Involved in the project are:

SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8
Yashinon/Tomioka 60mm f/2.8 Macro
Jupiter-9 85mm f/2
Vivitar 135mm f/2.8

Next up is the SMC Tak 55/1.8, which is hardly an uncommon beast. Many here have used one, and all know of its quality. I was again shooting on rainy, nasty days, so there are still a lot of black & white conversions here. This is definitely my favorite M42 lens with regard to fit and finish and feel in hand. Some shots (some cross-posted from the Takumar Club thread in the lenses forum):

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

**Ash** · 09-03-2009, 09:42 AM

Love these conceptual images.
Clean, crisp and fresh.
Enjoyed looking at them.
Thanks.

deadwolfbones · 09-03-2009, 04:06 PM

Thanks Ash!

metroeloise · 09-03-2009, 05:51 PM

So right on! These are lovely.

I Love this lens. I find it awkward to change the aperture. feels uneven as I focus (my copy is a bit beat up) but I love it.

Matthew Roberts · 09-03-2009, 07:03 PM

Some very very nice and clean streetscapes you have there in the first several shots.

Mechan1k · 09-04-2009, 01:20 AM

NIIIIICE.
Now it makes me sad ... I want to go out and shoot more now.
I wish i had some time .... might try and get out a bit this weekend if i get a chance.
Now that it is Spring here ... I have to get out.

deadwolfbones · 09-04-2009, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by metroeloise

So right on! These are lovely.

I Love this lens. I find it awkward to change the aperture. feels uneven as I focus (my copy is a bit beat up) but I love it.

Originally posted by Matthew Roberts

Some very very nice and clean streetscapes you have there in the first several shots.

Originally posted by Mechan1k

NIIIIICE.
Now it makes me sad ... I want to go out and shoot more now.
I wish i had some time .... might try and get out a bit this weekend if i get a chance.
Now that it is Spring here ... I have to get out.

Thanks a ton, guys!

scott-devon · 09-04-2009, 08:25 AM

Very nice shots!

stevebrot · 09-04-2009, 01:34 PM

Another great series. What you are doing would be the basis for a great mini-challenge/game on this site. The challenge would be to shot a series appropriate for a given lens all shot within the current week. Granted, a game of this sort would favor those with several lenses, but what better way to actually get some use out of all our toys?

Steve

deadwolfbones · 09-04-2009, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by scott-devon

Very nice shots!

Thanks, Scott!

Originally posted by stevebrot

Another great series. What you are doing would be the basis for a great mini-challenge/game on this site. The challenge would be to shot a series appropriate for a given lens all shot within the current week. Granted, a game of this sort would favor those with several lenses, but what better way to actually get some use out of all our toys?

Steve

I agree. Lately I've been basically picking a lens each day and taking it for a walk at lunch, slowly rotating through my entire collection (except for the ones too big to reasonably bring in to work). It's a fun exercise, and you discover a new love basically every day.

artistcjconrad · 09-04-2009, 05:50 PM

Look at the quality of these shots!! This is exactly why I've been shuffling my lens collection and going back to manual lenses and now, I have only two auto focus lenses left in my collection. I hope more people find the joy of using these old glasses.

Regards
cj

K20D, K1000, Spotmatic
A: 24 f2.8, 28 f/2.8, 50 f/1.7, 100 f2.8,
M: 28 f3.5, 35 f2.8, 50 f1.4, 50 f/4 macro, 100 f/4 macro, 135 f/3.5
Takumar: SMC 50 f1.4, 55 f1.8, 105 f2.8, SMC 135 F3.5, 150 f/4, SMC 200 f/4
DA: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II,
FA: 31 f/1.8 limited,
Hellios 58mm f/2
RMC Tokina 400mm f5.6
Vivitar 2x macro focusing teleconverter

Fixcinater · 09-05-2009, 09:54 AM

#7 is just awesome. Really good IQ in all of them, but I react the most to #7.

deadwolfbones · 09-05-2009, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by artistcjconrad

Look at the quality of these shots!! This is exactly why I've been shuffling my lens collection and going back to manual lenses and now, I have only two auto focus lenses left in my collection. I hope more people find the joy of using these old glasses.

Me too!

Originally posted by Fixcinater

#7 is just awesome. Really good IQ in all of them, but I react the most to #7.

It's funny how some people react really strongly to some of these photos, and others to others.

SCguy · 09-05-2009, 07:28 PM

I like #9, but #7 is by far my pick of the bunch (which are all very good!). I'm going to have to break out my Tak 55mm f/2 more often!

RD

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09-03-2009, 09:42 AM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Love these conceptual images. Clean, crisp and fresh. Enjoyed looking at them. Thanks.

09-03-2009, 04:06 PM	#3
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450 Original Poster	Thanks Ash!

09-03-2009, 05:51 PM	#4
metroeloise Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 958	So right on! These are lovely. I Love this lens. I find it awkward to change the aperture. feels uneven as I focus (my copy is a bit beat up) but I love it.

09-03-2009, 07:03 PM	#5
Matthew Roberts Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bertram Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 584	Some very very nice and clean streetscapes you have there in the first several shots.

09-04-2009, 01:20 AM	#6
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	NIIIIICE. Now it makes me sad ... I want to go out and shoot more now. I wish i had some time .... might try and get out a bit this weekend if i get a chance. Now that it is Spring here ... I have to get out.

09-04-2009, 06:47 AM	#7
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450 Original Poster	Originally posted by metroeloise So right on! These are lovely. I Love this lens. I find it awkward to change the aperture. feels uneven as I focus (my copy is a bit beat up) but I love it. Originally posted by Matthew Roberts Some very very nice and clean streetscapes you have there in the first several shots. Originally posted by Mechan1k NIIIIICE. Now it makes me sad ... I want to go out and shoot more now. I wish i had some time .... might try and get out a bit this weekend if i get a chance. Now that it is Spring here ... I have to get out. Thanks a ton, guys!

09-04-2009, 08:25 AM	#8
scott-devon Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,140	Very nice shots!

09-04-2009, 01:34 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Another great series. What you are doing would be the basis for a great mini-challenge/game on this site. The challenge would be to shot a series appropriate for a given lens all shot within the current week. Granted, a game of this sort would favor those with several lenses, but what better way to actually get some use out of all our toys? Steve

09-04-2009, 01:46 PM	#10
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450 Original Poster	Originally posted by scott-devon Very nice shots! Thanks, Scott! Originally posted by stevebrot Another great series. What you are doing would be the basis for a great mini-challenge/game on this site. The challenge would be to shot a series appropriate for a given lens all shot within the current week. Granted, a game of this sort would favor those with several lenses, but what better way to actually get some use out of all our toys? Steve I agree. Lately I've been basically picking a lens each day and taking it for a walk at lunch, slowly rotating through my entire collection (except for the ones too big to reasonably bring in to work). It's a fun exercise, and you discover a new love basically every day.

09-04-2009, 05:50 PM	#11
artistcjconrad Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: La Croche, Quebec; Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 225	Look at the quality of these shots!! This is exactly why I've been shuffling my lens collection and going back to manual lenses and now, I have only two auto focus lenses left in my collection. I hope more people find the joy of using these old glasses. Regards cj K20D, K1000, Spotmatic A: 24 f2.8, 28 f/2.8, 50 f/1.7, 100 f2.8, M: 28 f3.5, 35 f2.8, 50 f1.4, 50 f/4 macro, 100 f/4 macro, 135 f/3.5 Takumar: SMC 50 f1.4, 55 f1.8, 105 f2.8, SMC 135 F3.5, 150 f/4, SMC 200 f/4 DA: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II, FA: 31 f/1.8 limited, Hellios 58mm f/2 RMC Tokina 400mm f5.6 Vivitar 2x macro focusing teleconverter

09-05-2009, 09:54 AM	#12
Fixcinater Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 409	#7 is just awesome. Really good IQ in all of them, but I react the most to #7.

09-05-2009, 06:32 PM	#13
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450 Original Poster	Originally posted by artistcjconrad Look at the quality of these shots!! This is exactly why I've been shuffling my lens collection and going back to manual lenses and now, I have only two auto focus lenses left in my collection. I hope more people find the joy of using these old glasses. Me too! Originally posted by Fixcinater #7 is just awesome. Really good IQ in all of them, but I react the most to #7. It's funny how some people react really strongly to some of these photos, and others to others.

09-05-2009, 07:28 PM	#14
SCguy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Blackville, South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 153	I like #9, but #7 is by far my pick of the bunch (which are all very good!). I'm going to have to break out my Tak 55mm f/2 more often! RD