Takumar club

Mike Cash · 09-18-2011, 03:43 AM

Originally posted by Porga

And you get excellent results.

I had a half dozen more normally lit shots to choose from and that was the last shot of the bunch. I knew the lens wouldn't handle the light from that angle terribly well, but I thought I'd see what could be done in post-processing so I went ahead and took it.

The last several days I have been using the 85/1.9 with the camera set for jpgs in b/w mode. Results have been mixed and not altogether satisfactory so far.

Pentax K-5
Super Takumar 85/1.9

theunartist · 09-18-2011, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by yeatzee

im borrowing the tak 35mm F/3.5 tomorrow

Not my kind of lens but I just want to see how I like the 35mm focal length.... maybe I'll get something worth posting

It's an interesting focal length, however my love for this lens is not always translated into regular use; I guess I just like them like a middle child, hard to explain. My copy is not extraordinarily sharp, needs some contrast, often not wide enough but sometimes gets the job done. Personally, I'd rather get stuck with a 35 than a 50 or 55mm...

Super Tak 35/3.5 @ ISO1600

**Porga** · 09-18-2011, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

The last several days I have been using the 85/1.9 with the camera set for jpgs in b/w mode. Results have been mixed and not altogether satisfactory so far.

I find this lens really hard to focus.
I don't have focusing screen or magnifier, and wihout them, it is really hard, so i don't use it as much it deserves.

Pentecora · 09-18-2011, 09:58 AM

Takumar SMC85/1.8 on Samsung NX10

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Pentecora · 09-18-2011, 10:15 AM - **1 Like**

Takumar SMC85/1.8 on Canon 5D2

Pentecora · 09-18-2011, 10:19 AM

Takumar SMC135/2.5 on Canon 5D2

Pentecora · 09-18-2011, 10:25 AM - **1 Like**

Takumar SMC85/1.8 on Canon 5D2

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repaap · 09-18-2011, 11:20 AM

Nice shots Pencora, seems that you have got nice gang of photographers at Moscow

Here is some of mine with (for me) brand new Super takumar 1:3.5/28.

I like it!

And one with S.tak 105/2.8

vladimiroltean · 09-18-2011, 02:46 PM

SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4

Mike Cash · 09-18-2011, 04:20 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Porga

I find this lens really hard to focus.
I don't have focusing screen or magnifier, and wihout them, it is really hard, so i don't use it as much it deserves.

I don't use it as much as it deserves for the simple reason that it is a bit too short for using at work. I got one shot a few days ago that I could kick myself for not having the 105 mounted and for having the camera set to shoot in jpg. This shot turned out to be a very tight crop and the noise pretty much totally ruined it. Shooting in jpg is just like shooting yourself in the foot.

You can see how much the photo blows, but I think you can also see what a very nice shot it could have been:

Pentax K-5
Super Takumar 85/1.9

erkie · 09-18-2011, 05:19 PM

Mike, Were you running low on memory card space ? Still a nicely composed shot though !

Eric

yeatzee · 09-18-2011, 05:34 PM

Turns out im not a fan of the tak. 35mm F/3.5

Not sharp at all unfortunately, and I vastly prefer the 28mm focal length.

erkie · 09-18-2011, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

Turns out im not a fan of the tak. 35mm F/3.5

Not sharp at all unfortunately, and I vastly prefer the 28mm focal length.

Something must be amiss ! Don't get me wrong I love my s-m-c tak 28/3.5 but it isn't as sharp as the 35/3.5 . it doesn't have the same level of contrast either, for that matter the 28 has more distortion too. But I would understand if it is more of a focul length issue . Are you certain it's not a focusing issue ? I ask with reservation as I follow your macro work quite closely and have never seen any issues with you focusing ability !!!!

Eric

yeatzee · 09-18-2011, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by erkie

Something must be amiss ! Don't get me wrong I love my s-m-c tak 28/3.5 but it isn't as sharp as the 35/3.5 . it doesn't have the same level of contrast either, for that matter the 28 has more distortion too. But I would understand if it is more of a focul length issue . Are you certain it's not a focusing issue ? I ask with reservation as I follow your macro work quite closely and have never seen any issues with you focusing ability !!!!

Eric

Yea I used live-view exclusively to make sure I got it right

He's got a 28mm F/3.5 tak I can hopefully try out as well so we'll see how I like that one compared to my beloved F 28mm

erkie · 09-18-2011, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

Yea I used live-view exclusively to make sure I got it right

He's got a 28mm F/3.5 tak I can hopefully try out as well so we'll see how I like that one compared to my beloved F 28mm

I'm not sure any 28mm is going to outshine the old F-28. I imagine you would have to go to something like the 31limited . I wouldn't abandon the 35/3.5 completely. If you get a chance to try a different copy I would do it without reservation, many of the shots I've seen with these have been quite sharp, and very contrasty.

Eric

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09-18-2011, 03:43 AM	#8641
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by Porga And you get excellent results. I had a half dozen more normally lit shots to choose from and that was the last shot of the bunch. I knew the lens wouldn't handle the light from that angle terribly well, but I thought I'd see what could be done in post-processing so I went ahead and took it. The last several days I have been using the 85/1.9 with the camera set for jpgs in b/w mode. Results have been mixed and not altogether satisfactory so far. Pentax K-5 Super Takumar 85/1.9

09-18-2011, 07:06 AM	#8642
theunartist Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,542	Originally posted by yeatzee im borrowing the tak 35mm F/3.5 tomorrow Not my kind of lens but I just want to see how I like the 35mm focal length.... maybe I'll get something worth posting It's an interesting focal length, however my love for this lens is not always translated into regular use; I guess I just like them like a middle child, hard to explain. My copy is not extraordinarily sharp, needs some contrast, often not wide enough but sometimes gets the job done. Personally, I'd rather get stuck with a 35 than a 50 or 55mm... Super Tak 35/3.5 @ ISO1600

09-18-2011, 07:45 AM	#8643
Porga Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 476	Originally posted by Mike Cash The last several days I have been using the 85/1.9 with the camera set for jpgs in b/w mode. Results have been mixed and not altogether satisfactory so far. I find this lens really hard to focus. I don't have focusing screen or magnifier, and wihout them, it is really hard, so i don't use it as much it deserves.

09-18-2011, 11:20 AM	#8648
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Nice shots Pencora, seems that you have got nice gang of photographers at Moscow Here is some of mine with (for me) brand new Super takumar 1:3.5/28. I like it! And one with S.tak 105/2.8

09-18-2011, 02:46 PM	#8649
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4

09-18-2011, 04:20 PM - 1 Like	#8650
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by Porga I find this lens really hard to focus. I don't have focusing screen or magnifier, and wihout them, it is really hard, so i don't use it as much it deserves. I don't use it as much as it deserves for the simple reason that it is a bit too short for using at work. I got one shot a few days ago that I could kick myself for not having the 105 mounted and for having the camera set to shoot in jpg. This shot turned out to be a very tight crop and the noise pretty much totally ruined it. Shooting in jpg is just like shooting yourself in the foot. You can see how much the photo blows, but I think you can also see what a very nice shot it could have been: Pentax K-5 Super Takumar 85/1.9

09-18-2011, 05:19 PM	#8651
erkie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 407	Mike, Were you running low on memory card space ? Still a nicely composed shot though ! Eric

09-18-2011, 05:34 PM	#8652
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Turns out im not a fan of the tak. 35mm F/3.5 Not sharp at all unfortunately, and I vastly prefer the 28mm focal length.

09-18-2011, 05:42 PM	#8653
erkie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 407	Originally posted by yeatzee Turns out im not a fan of the tak. 35mm F/3.5 Not sharp at all unfortunately, and I vastly prefer the 28mm focal length. Something must be amiss ! Don't get me wrong I love my s-m-c tak 28/3.5 but it isn't as sharp as the 35/3.5 . it doesn't have the same level of contrast either, for that matter the 28 has more distortion too. But I would understand if it is more of a focul length issue . Are you certain it's not a focusing issue ? I ask with reservation as I follow your macro work quite closely and have never seen any issues with you focusing ability !!!! Eric

09-18-2011, 05:49 PM	#8654
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Originally posted by erkie Something must be amiss ! Don't get me wrong I love my s-m-c tak 28/3.5 but it isn't as sharp as the 35/3.5 . it doesn't have the same level of contrast either, for that matter the 28 has more distortion too. But I would understand if it is more of a focul length issue . Are you certain it's not a focusing issue ? I ask with reservation as I follow your macro work quite closely and have never seen any issues with you focusing ability !!!! Eric Yea I used live-view exclusively to make sure I got it right He's got a 28mm F/3.5 tak I can hopefully try out as well so we'll see how I like that one compared to my beloved F 28mm

09-18-2011, 05:57 PM	#8655
erkie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 407	Originally posted by yeatzee Yea I used live-view exclusively to make sure I got it right He's got a 28mm F/3.5 tak I can hopefully try out as well so we'll see how I like that one compared to my beloved F 28mm I'm not sure any 28mm is going to outshine the old F-28. I imagine you would have to go to something like the 31limited . I wouldn't abandon the 35/3.5 completely. If you get a chance to try a different copy I would do it without reservation, many of the shots I've seen with these have been quite sharp, and very contrasty. Eric