Takumar club

Mike Cash · 08-23-2011, 04:13 AM

Pentax K-5
S-M-C Takumar 35/2

repaap · 08-23-2011, 09:35 PM

Nice statue shots. I don't see these at finlan too often. Here is cropped pic. of quite common flower...

**Pepe Guitarra** · 08-23-2011, 09:49 PM

While driving on Interstate 5 South from downtown Los Angeles, I kept my Kx plust SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 @ f5 ready to shoot prefocussed at 10+ feet. Since the traffic is so bad, stop and go. In every one of the stops, I shot the camera. Here are few examples of the many shots I did.

**Porga** · 08-24-2011, 01:41 AM - **1 Like**

It's been a while...

SMC Takumar 50/1.4
k-x

ducdao · 08-24-2011, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by Pepe Guitarra

While driving on Interstate 5 South from downtown Los Angeles, I kept my Kx plust SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 @ f5 ready to shoot prefocussed at 10+ feet. Since the traffic is so bad, stop and go. In every one of the stops, I shot the camera. Here are few examples of the many shots I did.

Don't drink ...euhh shoot and drive

**Pepe Guitarra** · 08-24-2011, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by ducdao

Don't drink ...euhh shoot and drive

I can tell you have not been to Los Angeles. If you walk you will get faster to your destination. Too many cars, so the average speed is 25 mph in a 50-mile conmute. The stop and go is permanent. So every 20 seconds you have to stop for one to four seconds. Sometimes you have time for more. Some women apply their make up in those stops.

ducdao · 08-24-2011, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by Pepe Guitarra

I can tell you have not been to Los Angeles. If you walk you will get faster to your destination. Too many cars, so the average speed is 25 mph in a 50-mile conmute. The stop and go is permanent. So every 20 seconds you have to stop for one to four seconds. Sometimes you have time for more. Some women apply their make up in those stops.

In fact I've been to LA once. It was unplanned though. I was transiting through LAX and my flight got delayed until the next morning so I had like 12hrs to kill. Ended up wandering in downtown but you're right in the sense that I've never drove on LA highways

vladimiroltean · 08-24-2011, 11:47 AM

Lately I have found my 50mm Tak not so sharp - in good light it would require stopping down to f/5,6 to get tack sharp images, compared to the Pentax-M 50mm f/1,7, which I can use at f/2,8 while maintaining the desired sharpness. At f/1,4, the Takumar is so soft I can barely see any use for it. Last night I did an A-B test between the Tak and a Helios 44M and got the following results:
- both at f/2 (Helios wide open), the Helios is noticeably sharper
- the 8mm more in focal length are noticeable too
- the yellowing seems to affect color balance only, but not the transmittance of the lens (the pictures look exposed the same, at f/2, 1/60 and ISO 1600)

repaap · 08-24-2011, 11:57 AM

For me this is not so surprising... I have found 44M sharper than my M50/1.4 too. Mybe Tak 50/1.4 is sharper than M, but, still Helios is really good at center.

vladimiroltean · 08-24-2011, 12:02 PM

Well, to me it is surprising, given how well-regarded the Takumar is. Don't get me wrong, I still love mine much more than the Helios, which is my father's

, but what I don't understand is the cult following for this lens, and more recently even from Canon guys. Beats me.

ducdao · 08-24-2011, 12:10 PM

Originally posted by kcobain1992

Well, to me it is surprising, given how well-regarded the Takumar is. Don't get me wrong, I still love mine much more than the Helios, which is my father's

, but what I don't understand is the cult following for this lens, and more recently even from Canon guys. Beats me.

You don't rate a lens only base on its level of sharpness. There are many factors to consider such as: boked, CA, vignette, build quality, handling and sharpness.

Also, you're not comparing apple to apple here. For example, focal 50mm vs 58mm and speed f1.4 vs f2. Granted that you compared them at f2 but a lens built at f1.4 certainly has more compromises compared to a lens built at f2.

It's like comparing a Ferrari vs a Ford Focus driving at 35mph in town...

Maybe you just have a bad lens as I would take the Tak over the Helios anytime - don't get me wrong the Helios is not a slouch either.

fikkser · 08-24-2011, 01:09 PM

Just got an eos 5d for my takumars. And I have to say it's perfect (except that some lenses won't work due to mirrorcollision, might fix that later). Now I can actually focus manually, quite accurate even, with no effort. 85mm is usable for walk around, even a good fl indoors. 55 1,8 is amazing, really coming to it's right with ff. Bookeh is different, IQ beats the crap out of my k-7 and the bigger sensor gives awsome 3d/pop.

What are you waiting for? A Pentax ff? Forget it. You know you need ff for your ff lenses...

5d takumar 85 1,9 at 3,5 i think. iso 800 jpg, no pp.

**Pepe Guitarra** · 08-24-2011, 09:27 PM

Originally posted by Pepe Guitarra

While driving on Interstate 5 South from downtown Los Angeles, I kept my Kx plust SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 @ f5 ready to shoot prefocussed at 10+ feet. Since the traffic is so bad, stop and go. In every one of the stops, I shot the camera. Here are few examples of the many shots I did.

The photos I posted of the freeway were taken with a SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 that used to be yellow due to the radioactivity of Thorium. It went through a 2 weeks process of UV under a lamp and cleared up. So the person who sold it to me told me. That person said that the change was substantially big. So, you may want to do the UV treatment, either with the lamp or with the sun.

**Pepe Guitarra** · 08-24-2011, 09:29 PM

I have a Super Tak 35mm f3.5. I want to buy another faster one, such as the Super Tak 35mm f2. However, I am tempted to buy a Vivitar 35mm f1.9 M42 that seems to be in the same league. Does anyone one knows about these two lenses? I appreciate your advise.

Mr. B · 08-24-2011, 09:49 PM

Originally posted by kcobain1992

(the pictures look exposed the same, at f/2, 1/60 and ISO 1600)

Try to do these tests at lower ISO, at daytime, when there's enough natural light. I can see the difference, but ISO1600 isn't really what you go for in comparing lenses.

08-23-2011, 09:49 PM	#8508
Pepe Guitarra Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,223	While driving....! While driving on Interstate 5 South from downtown Los Angeles, I kept my Kx plust SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 @ f5 ready to shoot prefocussed at 10+ feet. Since the traffic is so bad, stop and go. In every one of the stops, I shot the camera. Here are few examples of the many shots I did. Attached Images

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08-23-2011, 04:13 AM	#8506
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Pentax K-5 S-M-C Takumar 35/2

08-23-2011, 09:35 PM	#8507
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Nice statue shots. I don't see these at finlan too often. Here is cropped pic. of quite common flower...

08-24-2011, 01:41 AM - 1 Like	#8509
Porga Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 476	It's been a while... SMC Takumar 50/1.4 k-x

08-24-2011, 07:01 AM	#8510
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by Pepe Guitarra While driving on Interstate 5 South from downtown Los Angeles, I kept my Kx plust SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 @ f5 ready to shoot prefocussed at 10+ feet. Since the traffic is so bad, stop and go. In every one of the stops, I shot the camera. Here are few examples of the many shots I did. Don't drink ...euhh shoot and drive

08-24-2011, 08:13 AM	#8511
Pepe Guitarra Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,223	Originally posted by ducdao Don't drink ...euhh shoot and drive I can tell you have not been to Los Angeles. If you walk you will get faster to your destination. Too many cars, so the average speed is 25 mph in a 50-mile conmute. The stop and go is permanent. So every 20 seconds you have to stop for one to four seconds. Sometimes you have time for more. Some women apply their make up in those stops.

08-24-2011, 09:50 AM	#8512
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by Pepe Guitarra I can tell you have not been to Los Angeles. If you walk you will get faster to your destination. Too many cars, so the average speed is 25 mph in a 50-mile conmute. The stop and go is permanent. So every 20 seconds you have to stop for one to four seconds. Sometimes you have time for more. Some women apply their make up in those stops. In fact I've been to LA once. It was unplanned though. I was transiting through LAX and my flight got delayed until the next morning so I had like 12hrs to kill. Ended up wandering in downtown but you're right in the sense that I've never drove on LA highways

08-24-2011, 11:47 AM	#8513
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Lately I have found my 50mm Tak not so sharp - in good light it would require stopping down to f/5,6 to get tack sharp images, compared to the Pentax-M 50mm f/1,7, which I can use at f/2,8 while maintaining the desired sharpness. At f/1,4, the Takumar is so soft I can barely see any use for it. Last night I did an A-B test between the Tak and a Helios 44M and got the following results: - both at f/2 (Helios wide open), the Helios is noticeably sharper - the 8mm more in focal length are noticeable too - the yellowing seems to affect color balance only, but not the transmittance of the lens (the pictures look exposed the same, at f/2, 1/60 and ISO 1600)

08-24-2011, 11:57 AM	#8514
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	For me this is not so surprising... I have found 44M sharper than my M50/1.4 too. Mybe Tak 50/1.4 is sharper than M, but, still Helios is really good at center.

08-24-2011, 12:02 PM	#8515
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Well, to me it is surprising, given how well-regarded the Takumar is. Don't get me wrong, I still love mine much more than the Helios, which is my father's , but what I don't understand is the cult following for this lens, and more recently even from Canon guys. Beats me.

08-24-2011, 12:10 PM	#8516
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by kcobain1992 Well, to me it is surprising, given how well-regarded the Takumar is. Don't get me wrong, I still love mine much more than the Helios, which is my father's , but what I don't understand is the cult following for this lens, and more recently even from Canon guys. Beats me. You don't rate a lens only base on its level of sharpness. There are many factors to consider such as: boked, CA, vignette, build quality, handling and sharpness. Also, you're not comparing apple to apple here. For example, focal 50mm vs 58mm and speed f1.4 vs f2. Granted that you compared them at f2 but a lens built at f1.4 certainly has more compromises compared to a lens built at f2. It's like comparing a Ferrari vs a Ford Focus driving at 35mph in town... Maybe you just have a bad lens as I would take the Tak over the Helios anytime - don't get me wrong the Helios is not a slouch either.

08-24-2011, 01:09 PM	#8517
fikkser Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Borlänge, Sweden Posts: 373	Just got an eos 5d for my takumars. And I have to say it's perfect (except that some lenses won't work due to mirrorcollision, might fix that later). Now I can actually focus manually, quite accurate even, with no effort. 85mm is usable for walk around, even a good fl indoors. 55 1,8 is amazing, really coming to it's right with ff. Bookeh is different, IQ beats the crap out of my k-7 and the bigger sensor gives awsome 3d/pop. What are you waiting for? A Pentax ff? Forget it. You know you need ff for your ff lenses... 5d takumar 85 1,9 at 3,5 i think. iso 800 jpg, no pp.

08-24-2011, 09:27 PM	#8518
Pepe Guitarra Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,223	Originally posted by Pepe Guitarra While driving on Interstate 5 South from downtown Los Angeles, I kept my Kx plust SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 @ f5 ready to shoot prefocussed at 10+ feet. Since the traffic is so bad, stop and go. In every one of the stops, I shot the camera. Here are few examples of the many shots I did. The photos I posted of the freeway were taken with a SMC Tak 50mm f1.4 that used to be yellow due to the radioactivity of Thorium. It went through a 2 weeks process of UV under a lamp and cleared up. So the person who sold it to me told me. That person said that the change was substantially big. So, you may want to do the UV treatment, either with the lamp or with the sun.

08-24-2011, 09:29 PM	#8519
Pepe Guitarra Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,223	I have a Super Tak 35mm f3.5. I want to buy another faster one, such as the Super Tak 35mm f2. However, I am tempted to buy a Vivitar 35mm f1.9 M42 that seems to be in the same league. Does anyone one knows about these two lenses? I appreciate your advise.

08-24-2011, 09:49 PM	#8520
Mr. B Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Varaždin, Croatia, Europe Photos: Gallery Posts: 295	Originally posted by kcobain1992 (the pictures look exposed the same, at f/2, 1/60 and ISO 1600) Try to do these tests at lower ISO, at daytime, when there's enough natural light. I can see the difference, but ISO1600 isn't really what you go for in comparing lenses.