Takumar club

bradsarno · 07-08-2013, 11:13 AM

I just got my near-mint, $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 lens in the mail about 20 minutes ago. Here's a first shot out in the backyard. This lens is astounding. I do love my SMC 50mm F1.4, but there's something I see with this lens in the many postings here and now with mine, the 55mm has a certain 3D realism and "pop" to it. The bokeh is gorgeous, but there's more to it than that, and I can't really put my finger on it. When I see 55mm shots compared to 50mm shots, the 55mm just does something unique, maybe not better, but special and distinct.

Shot with my K-01.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

Jonathan Mac · 07-08-2013, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by bradsarno

I just got my near-mint, $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 lens in the mail about 20 minutes ago. Here's a first shot out in the backyard. This lens is astounding. I do love my SMC 50mm F1.4, but there's something I see with this lens in the many postings here and now with mine, the 55mm has a certain 3D realism and "pop" to it. The bokeh is gorgeous, but there's more to it than that, and I can't really put my finger on it. When I see 55mm shots compared to 50mm shots, the 55mm just does something unique, maybe not better, but special and distinct.

Shot with my K-01.

Yep, the 55 f/2 and f/1.8 are my favourite Taks.

tim60 · 07-08-2013, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by bradsarno

I just got my near-mint, $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 lens in the mail about 20 minutes ago. Here's a first shot out in the backyard. This lens is astounding. I do love my SMC 50mm F1.4, but there's something I see with this lens in the many postings here and now with mine, the 55mm has a certain 3D realism and "pop" to it. The bokeh is gorgeous, but there's more to it than that, and I can't really put my finger on it. When I see 55mm shots compared to 50mm shots, the 55mm just does something unique, maybe not better, but special and distinct.

Shot with my K-01.

I agree. I prefer the 55's to the 50/1.4.

bradsarno · 07-08-2013, 07:57 PM

More shots from my $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 that I got in the mail today. Shot with my K-01. Last one is the sun setting about 90 minutes ago, looking westward from St. Louis.

Wow, I love this lens. It's special indeed. It's got that thing. I know that people pay many hundreds of dollars to get this kind of IQ that I'm getting with a $15 Tak 55.

B

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

bradsarno · 07-08-2013, 10:42 PM

Here's one of those cluster cell tower antennas from today. One is the shot and the zoomed version is a crop from the same shot. Lots of info captured by this amazing lens. No sharpening was applied other than the little bit that LR does when exporting for screen.

Shot with K-01

B

theunartist · 07-09-2013, 07:40 AM - **1 Like**

K10D + Super Takumar 35/3.5

bradsarno · 07-09-2013, 01:43 PM

I'm struggling to describe to myself just exactly what it is I see with these lenses. The 35mm for example, I have this one too and I find that it's a very honest and accurate presentation of the scene. Very pleasing to view, a bit flattering, very accurate and true. The 55mm and 50mm on the other hand, have a fairly extreme effect to them, a dimensional enhancement, an artistic quality, an intense separation between the in-focus subject and the rest of the scene. I love the 35mm f3.5 for it's forte's as seen above with Henry the Dog. And I love the 50mm f1.4 and 55mm for it's characteristics. Fun stuff.

Great pic of Henry the Dog!

B

tim60 · 07-09-2013, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by bradsarno

I'm struggling to describe to myself just exactly what it is I see with these lenses. The 35mm for example, I have this one too and I find that it's a very honest and accurate presentation of the scene. Very pleasing to view, a bit flattering, very accurate and true. The 55mm and 50mm on the other hand, have a fairly extreme effect to them, a dimensional enhancement, an artistic quality, an intense separation between the in-focus subject and the rest of the scene. I love the 35mm f3.5 for it's forte's as seen above with Henry the Dog. And I love the 50mm f1.4 and 55mm for it's characteristics. Fun stuff.

Great pic of Henry the Dog!

B

Ah! Caught by them, just like the rest of us here.

**arnold** · 07-11-2013, 04:46 AM

Cross posted from film shots. SP11 and 50mm f1.4

utak · 07-12-2013, 03:09 AM

SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 (an unmodified f2!). Looking through my photos taken this spring with different lenses, this lens really stands out for its pure clarity and colors.

**chuck_c** · 07-12-2013, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by bradsarno

More shots from my $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 that I got in the mail today. Shot with my K-01. Last one is the sun setting about 90 minutes ago, looking westward from St. Louis.

Wow, I love this lens. It's special indeed. It's got that thing. I know that people pay many hundreds of dollars to get this kind of IQ that I'm getting with a $15 Tak 55.

B

Nice set with that 55/2 Brad !

StevePrime · 07-12-2013, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by utak

SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 (an unmodified f2!). Looking through my photos taken this spring with different lenses, this lens really stands out for its pure clarity and colors.

THAT is gorgeous.

utak · 07-13-2013, 02:37 AM

Originally posted by StevePrime

THAT is gorgeous.

Thank you!

Here's a photo by the rarer Super-Takumar 24mm f3.5, at a place we often go to for summer picnics. It is a really good wide angle lens on film/FF, but its field of vision is sadly curtailed on a crop sensor.

bass3587 · 07-13-2013, 02:23 PM

This is cross posted from the Sample images page. I didn't see this one till now.
Here is a shot I took this morning with my K5 and SMC Takumar 55 1.8. I haven't had this lens long but if this is type of shots I can expect from this lens I'm sold. These pics are straight out of the camera, no Photoshop done except the crop.

tim60 · 07-13-2013, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by utak

SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 (an unmodified f2!). Looking through my photos taken this spring with different lenses, this lens really stands out for its pure clarity and colors.

I like the geometry of this kind of picture, with repeated forms in a line.

Just got to Vietnam last night and the only lens I have used yet was the 55/1.8, partly because it was on the camera, but also because I have the same kind of liking for it that you express. Nice to use, and easy to focus etc.

07-12-2013, 03:09 AM	#11755
utak Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 928	SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 (an unmodified f2!). Looking through my photos taken this spring with different lenses, this lens really stands out for its pure clarity and colors. Last edited by utak; 07-12-2013 at 06:41 AM.

07-13-2013, 02:37 AM	#11758
utak Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 928	Originally posted by StevePrime THAT is gorgeous. Thank you! Here's a photo by the rarer Super-Takumar 24mm f3.5, at a place we often go to for summer picnics. It is a really good wide angle lens on film/FF, but its field of vision is sadly curtailed on a crop sensor. Last edited by utak; 07-13-2013 at 11:31 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Takumar: Super Takumar 135mm f3.5 includes case, hood and caps	Peter Zack	Sold Items	7	05-17-2010 07:12 PM
Adorama is dangerous! And so is the Takumar Club!	NaClH2O	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	23	01-24-2010 09:54 AM
For Sale - Sold: Hard Cases for Takumar 28mm/3.5 and Takumar 135mm/2.5	gabriel_bc	Sold Items	8	01-11-2010 10:17 AM
For Sale - Sold: FS: Pentax-F 28/2.8; Takumar 400/5.6; Takumar 500/4.5 - pics	thePiRaTE!!	Sold Items	5	03-06-2008 09:47 AM

07-08-2013, 01:15 PM	#11747
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	Originally posted by bradsarno I just got my near-mint, $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 lens in the mail about 20 minutes ago. Here's a first shot out in the backyard. This lens is astounding. I do love my SMC 50mm F1.4, but there's something I see with this lens in the many postings here and now with mine, the 55mm has a certain 3D realism and "pop" to it. The bokeh is gorgeous, but there's more to it than that, and I can't really put my finger on it. When I see 55mm shots compared to 50mm shots, the 55mm just does something unique, maybe not better, but special and distinct. Shot with my K-01. Yep, the 55 f/2 and f/1.8 are my favourite Taks.

07-08-2013, 01:59 PM	#11748
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,743	Originally posted by bradsarno I just got my near-mint, $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 lens in the mail about 20 minutes ago. Here's a first shot out in the backyard. This lens is astounding. I do love my SMC 50mm F1.4, but there's something I see with this lens in the many postings here and now with mine, the 55mm has a certain 3D realism and "pop" to it. The bokeh is gorgeous, but there's more to it than that, and I can't really put my finger on it. When I see 55mm shots compared to 50mm shots, the 55mm just does something unique, maybe not better, but special and distinct. Shot with my K-01. I agree. I prefer the 55's to the 50/1.4.

07-09-2013, 07:40 AM - 1 Like	#11751
theunartist Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,542	K10D + Super Takumar 35/3.5

07-09-2013, 01:43 PM	#11752
bradsarno Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis, MO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 114	I'm struggling to describe to myself just exactly what it is I see with these lenses. The 35mm for example, I have this one too and I find that it's a very honest and accurate presentation of the scene. Very pleasing to view, a bit flattering, very accurate and true. The 55mm and 50mm on the other hand, have a fairly extreme effect to them, a dimensional enhancement, an artistic quality, an intense separation between the in-focus subject and the rest of the scene. I love the 35mm f3.5 for it's forte's as seen above with Henry the Dog. And I love the 50mm f1.4 and 55mm for it's characteristics. Fun stuff. Great pic of Henry the Dog! B

07-09-2013, 07:26 PM	#11753
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,743	Originally posted by bradsarno I'm struggling to describe to myself just exactly what it is I see with these lenses. The 35mm for example, I have this one too and I find that it's a very honest and accurate presentation of the scene. Very pleasing to view, a bit flattering, very accurate and true. The 55mm and 50mm on the other hand, have a fairly extreme effect to them, a dimensional enhancement, an artistic quality, an intense separation between the in-focus subject and the rest of the scene. I love the 35mm f3.5 for it's forte's as seen above with Henry the Dog. And I love the 50mm f1.4 and 55mm for it's characteristics. Fun stuff. Great pic of Henry the Dog! B Ah! Caught by them, just like the rest of us here.

07-11-2013, 04:46 AM	#11754
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	Cross posted from film shots. SP11 and 50mm f1.4

07-12-2013, 06:03 AM	#11756
chuck_c Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Westerville, OH Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,588	Originally posted by bradsarno More shots from my $15 SMC Takumar 55mm f2 that I got in the mail today. Shot with my K-01. Last one is the sun setting about 90 minutes ago, looking westward from St. Louis. Wow, I love this lens. It's special indeed. It's got that thing. I know that people pay many hundreds of dollars to get this kind of IQ that I'm getting with a $15 Tak 55. B Nice set with that 55/2 Brad !

07-12-2013, 08:17 AM	#11757
StevePrime Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Upper Arlington, OH Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 82	Originally posted by utak SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 (an unmodified f2!). Looking through my photos taken this spring with different lenses, this lens really stands out for its pure clarity and colors. THAT is gorgeous.

07-13-2013, 02:23 PM	#11759
bass3587 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 517	This is cross posted from the Sample images page. I didn't see this one till now. Here is a shot I took this morning with my K5 and SMC Takumar 55 1.8. I haven't had this lens long but if this is type of shots I can expect from this lens I'm sold. These pics are straight out of the camera, no Photoshop done except the crop.

07-13-2013, 04:07 PM	#11760
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,743	Originally posted by utak SMC Takumar 55mm 1.8 (an unmodified f2!). Looking through my photos taken this spring with different lenses, this lens really stands out for its pure clarity and colors. I like the geometry of this kind of picture, with repeated forms in a line. Just got to Vietnam last night and the only lens I have used yet was the 55/1.8, partly because it was on the camera, but also because I have the same kind of liking for it that you express. Nice to use, and easy to focus etc.