Hello from a Minolta addict

weaver535i · 10-07-2017, 01:41 PM

i just acquired an early 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens for a song and it is gorgeous. I had no idea the quality of Pentax lenses until I researched this lens. I do not have any Pentax cameras but I am going to get an adapter to fit my SRT 101. It appears this lens is better thought of than a Minolta 1.4 lens. I've been a camera nut for decades and am beginning to thin out the collection. Am considering a black Spotmatic F, because my SRT 101 and XE-7 are both black.
Any words of wisdom or encouragement would be welcome. Thank you

Unregistered User 8 · 10-07-2017, 02:00 PM

Hi from Australia weaver, and welcome to the Pentax forums. Pentax equipment has been underestimated for years, so it's great that you have
" seen the light "

. A drawback with using adapters is that the image quality is reduced, so to get the full magic out of your lens you will need a Pentax camera body. Good to have you aboard.

timw4mail · 10-07-2017, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by weaver535i

i just acquired an early 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens for a song and it is gorgeous. I had no idea the quality of Pentax lenses until I researched this lens. I do not have any Pentax cameras but I am going to get an adapter to fit my SRT 101. It appears this lens is better thought of than a Minolta 1.4 lens. I've been a camera nut for decades and am beginning to thin out the collection. Am considering a black Spotmatic F, because my SRT 101 and XE-7 are both black.
Any words of wisdom or encouragement would be welcome. Thank you

The M42 to Minolta adapter I have has a flange that prevents using S-M-C or SMC Takumars -- so the Spotmatic F is a good choice.

pathdoc · 10-07-2017, 04:00 PM

Welcome, Minolta addict, from a former Minolta user (I shot a Dynax 3xi until I realised that the automatic functions, much as they took great pictures, were making me lazy. Then I bought a manual-focus Pentax camera, because of all the ones in the store at the time, it was the smallest, simplest, lightest and cheapest.)

That 8-element 50/1.4 was supposedly designed specifically to topple the Zeiss Planars from the top of the lens leaderboards, which it did. But once they had enough of a run out for it to qualify as a production lens, they switched to the 7 element design (the radioactive one with the thoriated rear elements) because they were making a loss on every copy!

However you choose to do it, enjoy your new lens.

timw4mail · 10-07-2017, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by pathdoc

Welcome, Minolta addict, from a former Minolta user (I shot a Dynax 3xi until I realised that the automatic functions, much as they took great pictures, were making me lazy. Then I bought a manual-focus Pentax camera, because of all the ones in the store at the time, it was the smallest, simplest, lightest and cheapest.)

That 8-element 50/1.4 was supposedly designed specifically to topple the Zeiss Planars from the top of the lens leaderboards, which it did. But once they had enough of a run out for it to qualify as a production lens, they switched to the 7 element design (the radioactive one with the thoriated rear elements) because they were making a loss on every copy!

However you choose to do it, enjoy your new lens.

The radioactive (7 element) ones are still really good, though

Jonathan Mac · 10-07-2017, 11:40 PM

I have a few SRT cameras but my Minolta 50mm is an f/1.7. I'd love a 1.4 but haven't found one at a decent price yet, plus the 1.7 is just superb. Everything I've read about the Minolta f/1.4 lenses suggest that they're very good indeed, so I'm surprised at your findings that the Tak 50/1.4 is better thought-of.

I've also just bought an original M42 to SR mount adapter (it's called the P-adapter and there are quite a few on ebay, though mostly over-priced) but I haven't used it yet.

Any of the Spotmatics will be very, very similar to the SRT Minolta cameras. They're practically the same cameras but with different mounts.

pathdoc · 10-08-2017, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by timw4mail

The radioactive (7 element) ones are still really good, though

Why do you think there's a red lens in my signature line?

**TER-OR** · 10-09-2017, 11:24 AM

My Dad's a Minolta guy, and has some great glass from back in the late 70s. He went Sony to keep the lineage, but it's not as easy using manual on those lower-end Alphas as it is with our K-mounts. It's not impossible, but it does take a lot more work.

Welcome to the clubhouse!

Wasp · 10-10-2017, 05:11 AM

The 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 is becoming the stuff of legend. Unfortunately sellers have wised up to this and prices are on the rise. Sounds like you got lucky!

Wasp · 10-10-2017, 05:11 AM

The 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 is becoming the stuff of legend. Unfortunately sellers have wised up to this and prices are on the rise. Sounds like you got lucky!

**Kerrowdown** · 10-16-2017, 10:37 AM

Welcome to both the forum and photography the Pentax way.

10-07-2017, 01:41 PM	#1
weaver535i New Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 1	Hello from a Minolta addict i just acquired an early 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens for a song and it is gorgeous. I had no idea the quality of Pentax lenses until I researched this lens. I do not have any Pentax cameras but I am going to get an adapter to fit my SRT 101. It appears this lens is better thought of than a Minolta 1.4 lens. I've been a camera nut for decades and am beginning to thin out the collection. Am considering a black Spotmatic F, because my SRT 101 and XE-7 are both black. Any words of wisdom or encouragement would be welcome. Thank you

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hello from a lens addict	The.Eyes.Of.Truth	Welcomes and Introductions	5	12-08-2016 10:04 AM
Greetings from a Zeiss addict in Kleve, Germany	huibgeselschap	Welcomes and Introductions	13	06-26-2016 12:06 AM
Hello from a new "ME Super" addict!	shyrsio	Welcomes and Introductions	6	04-04-2016 02:13 PM
Hi. my name's leo and i'm a pentax addict	lionhas3heads	Welcomes and Introductions	3	03-08-2013 10:14 AM
For Sale - Sold: Minolta Maxxum 50mm 2.8 Macro for Sony/Minolta AF	jjdgti	Sold Items	7	09-21-2009 02:13 PM

10-07-2017, 02:00 PM	#2
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Hi from Australia weaver, and welcome to the Pentax forums. Pentax equipment has been underestimated for years, so it's great that you have " seen the light " . A drawback with using adapters is that the image quality is reduced, so to get the full magic out of your lens you will need a Pentax camera body. Good to have you aboard.

10-07-2017, 02:12 PM	#3
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by weaver535i i just acquired an early 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 lens for a song and it is gorgeous. I had no idea the quality of Pentax lenses until I researched this lens. I do not have any Pentax cameras but I am going to get an adapter to fit my SRT 101. It appears this lens is better thought of than a Minolta 1.4 lens. I've been a camera nut for decades and am beginning to thin out the collection. Am considering a black Spotmatic F, because my SRT 101 and XE-7 are both black. Any words of wisdom or encouragement would be welcome. Thank you The M42 to Minolta adapter I have has a flange that prevents using S-M-C or SMC Takumars -- so the Spotmatic F is a good choice.

10-07-2017, 04:00 PM	#4
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Welcome, Minolta addict, from a former Minolta user (I shot a Dynax 3xi until I realised that the automatic functions, much as they took great pictures, were making me lazy. Then I bought a manual-focus Pentax camera, because of all the ones in the store at the time, it was the smallest, simplest, lightest and cheapest.) That 8-element 50/1.4 was supposedly designed specifically to topple the Zeiss Planars from the top of the lens leaderboards, which it did. But once they had enough of a run out for it to qualify as a production lens, they switched to the 7 element design (the radioactive one with the thoriated rear elements) because they were making a loss on every copy! However you choose to do it, enjoy your new lens.

10-07-2017, 04:44 PM	#5
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by pathdoc Welcome, Minolta addict, from a former Minolta user (I shot a Dynax 3xi until I realised that the automatic functions, much as they took great pictures, were making me lazy. Then I bought a manual-focus Pentax camera, because of all the ones in the store at the time, it was the smallest, simplest, lightest and cheapest.) That 8-element 50/1.4 was supposedly designed specifically to topple the Zeiss Planars from the top of the lens leaderboards, which it did. But once they had enough of a run out for it to qualify as a production lens, they switched to the 7 element design (the radioactive one with the thoriated rear elements) because they were making a loss on every copy! However you choose to do it, enjoy your new lens. The radioactive (7 element) ones are still really good, though

10-07-2017, 11:40 PM	#6
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,887	I have a few SRT cameras but my Minolta 50mm is an f/1.7. I'd love a 1.4 but haven't found one at a decent price yet, plus the 1.7 is just superb. Everything I've read about the Minolta f/1.4 lenses suggest that they're very good indeed, so I'm surprised at your findings that the Tak 50/1.4 is better thought-of. I've also just bought an original M42 to SR mount adapter (it's called the P-adapter and there are quite a few on ebay, though mostly over-priced) but I haven't used it yet. Any of the Spotmatics will be very, very similar to the SRT Minolta cameras. They're practically the same cameras but with different mounts.

10-08-2017, 12:55 PM	#7
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by timw4mail The radioactive (7 element) ones are still really good, though Why do you think there's a red lens in my signature line?

10-09-2017, 11:24 AM	#8
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	My Dad's a Minolta guy, and has some great glass from back in the late 70s. He went Sony to keep the lineage, but it's not as easy using manual on those lower-end Alphas as it is with our K-mounts. It's not impossible, but it does take a lot more work. Welcome to the clubhouse!

10-10-2017, 05:11 AM	#9
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,659	The 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 is becoming the stuff of legend. Unfortunately sellers have wised up to this and prices are on the rise. Sounds like you got lucky!

10-10-2017, 05:11 AM	#10
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,659	The 8 element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 is becoming the stuff of legend. Unfortunately sellers have wised up to this and prices are on the rise. Sounds like you got lucky!

10-16-2017, 10:37 AM	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,815	Welcome to both the forum and photography the Pentax way.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search