Pentax 6x7 lens questions?

stradibarrius · 05-24-2013, 04:08 PM

This is my first post here
I have been involved in photography for several years and shoot digital as well as 35mm, MF and 4x5 film.
I have just aquired a 6x7 with a Pentax 90mm f2.8 lens.I am wondering about the quality of the lenses. In the Nikon world a lot of the lenses are wonderful and some are dogs. With my Mamiya RB67 all the lenses are excellent.
I am wondering about Pentax 6x7 lenses? I have never heard anything but good about them and was wondering if there are any that should be avoided?
Also I see some are Pentax and some are Takumar. Is there a difference in image quality between these two.

MysteryOnion · 05-24-2013, 07:59 PM

I like the 105 more than the 90 however I keep hearing that they are very close in sharpness... had a brief chance to try the 90 and it is very close in performance.

Every group and forum will have high praise for the 75mm and the 100mm... have you looked at the lens database for reviews?

tuco · 05-24-2013, 10:11 PM

This Pentax 6x7 Lens Guide is a good reference for the different generations of the lenses, if the optical formula changed between generations and as well as a rating relative to the other Pentax 6x7 lenses.

Silent Street · 05-25-2013, 02:45 AM

Personally I researched 67 and earlier 6x7 lenses for the same reasons: I wanted to know about quality and imaging results. Most of my enquiries were satisfied by viewing real world trannies and negatives, not scans on LCD screens; consultations were also held with professional dealers with experience using these lenses. The newer SMC Pentax 67 lenses are quite a world apart from the older Takumar vintage lenses. But not always! There are a few excellent Takumars, though by today's standards quite rare and more the dig for collectors and enthusiasts.

Lens tests are way too subjective with too many variables to be truly meaningful. Try and get your hands on a lens you are interested in for testing with a roll of film in conditions that you normally photograph, then form your own judgement.

desertscape · 05-25-2013, 02:50 PM

The only lens I didn't like for optical reasons was the 35mm fisheye. There are other reason why a lens can produce soft images besides optical. The 300 Takumar was really susceptible to shutter vib, as was the 600 Takumar. Being aware of these limitations, one can shoot at shutter speeds that avoid this. Besides the 35 fisheye, I would say that the lens line for the 67 ranges from very good to great. Even the old 150 Super-Takumar does very well.

stradibarrius · 05-25-2013, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the great information.
I shot my first roll with this camera this morning and have the film drying now so I a bit I'll be able to see how they turned out.

jogiba · 05-25-2013, 03:05 PM

I still have my 90mm F2.8 LS and it looked just as sharp as the 105mm F2.4 that I sold many years ago.

05-24-2013, 04:08 PM	#1
stradibarrius New Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13	Pentax 6x7 lens questions? This is my first post here I have been involved in photography for several years and shoot digital as well as 35mm, MF and 4x5 film. I have just aquired a 6x7 with a Pentax 90mm f2.8 lens.I am wondering about the quality of the lenses. In the Nikon world a lot of the lenses are wonderful and some are dogs. With my Mamiya RB67 all the lenses are excellent. I am wondering about Pentax 6x7 lenses? I have never heard anything but good about them and was wondering if there are any that should be avoided? Also I see some are Pentax and some are Takumar. Is there a difference in image quality between these two.

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05-24-2013, 07:59 PM	#2
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944	I like the 105 more than the 90 however I keep hearing that they are very close in sharpness... had a brief chance to try the 90 and it is very close in performance. Every group and forum will have high praise for the 75mm and the 100mm... have you looked at the lens database for reviews?

05-24-2013, 10:11 PM	#3
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	This Pentax 6x7 Lens Guide is a good reference for the different generations of the lenses, if the optical formula changed between generations and as well as a rating relative to the other Pentax 6x7 lenses.

05-25-2013, 02:45 AM	#4
Silent Street Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Castlemaine, Victoria, AUS Photos: Albums Posts: 1,151	Personally I researched 67 and earlier 6x7 lenses for the same reasons: I wanted to know about quality and imaging results. Most of my enquiries were satisfied by viewing real world trannies and negatives, not scans on LCD screens; consultations were also held with professional dealers with experience using these lenses. The newer SMC Pentax 67 lenses are quite a world apart from the older Takumar vintage lenses. But not always! There are a few excellent Takumars, though by today's standards quite rare and more the dig for collectors and enthusiasts. Lens tests are way too subjective with too many variables to be truly meaningful. Try and get your hands on a lens you are interested in for testing with a roll of film in conditions that you normally photograph, then form your own judgement.

05-25-2013, 02:50 PM	#5
desertscape Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,272	The only lens I didn't like for optical reasons was the 35mm fisheye. There are other reason why a lens can produce soft images besides optical. The 300 Takumar was really susceptible to shutter vib, as was the 600 Takumar. Being aware of these limitations, one can shoot at shutter speeds that avoid this. Besides the 35 fisheye, I would say that the lens line for the 67 ranges from very good to great. Even the old 150 Super-Takumar does very well.

05-25-2013, 03:03 PM	#6
stradibarrius New Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Original Poster	Thanks for the great information. I shot my first roll with this camera this morning and have the film drying now so I a bit I'll be able to see how they turned out.

05-25-2013, 03:05 PM	#7
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	I still have my 90mm F2.8 LS and it looked just as sharp as the 105mm F2.4 that I sold many years ago.