SMC Tak 85-210mm

SpottyReputation · 11-21-2019, 02:18 PM

Before I just chuck it in the trash, i wanted to confirm my theories:

I recently bought a SMC Tak 85-210mm from Ebay. Reallllly cheap, so I'm ok if I only keep the lens and end caps.

Had some film going off to be developed/scanned, so I took a quick test roll to see if i made the right choice not taking this lens travelling. I think I did.

I have attached a sample. Not all of the photos have the shadow, but enough do. Happens at different focal lengths. This is the first time i've used this lab, but the rolls shot with another lens exhibit none of this, so... i'm pretty sure they didn't screw anything up.

This lens feels loose, so I'm not surprised. Can someone please confirm my suspicions that this lens isn't supposed to feel loose? If you have a easy-ish fix for that, I would also be interested in hearing it.

Thanks for your time,

Anthony

Attached Images

**sergysergy** · 11-21-2019, 02:25 PM

Can you try in on digital? Can you see anything inside the lens that may explain the black part? To me it looks like the problem comes when mounting the lens.

SpottyReputation · 11-21-2019, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by sergysergy

Can you try in on digital? Can you see anything inside the lens that may explain the black part? To me it looks like the problem comes when mounting the lens.

I'll take a closer look at the mounting area. I don't currently have adapter to connect it to anything digital, but... i should probably get one. I would say maybe half the roll has this effect.

D1N0 · 11-21-2019, 04:40 PM

It's an old lens. Zooming could get a little uneven. I have the k-mount version of this lens. It has a rectangular baffle in the mount. I don't know if the takumar has that but maybe it has come loose so it vignettes?

**TwoUptons** · 11-21-2019, 07:04 PM

I think I’d be more worried if a zoom of that range and vintage wasn’t loose... since then it almost certainly would have been dropped...

I’m going to guess you’ve already looked through the lens with a strong flashlight to see if anything looks misaligned.

That’s a weird shape for a lens issue... does that lens have a rectangular baffle in the back?

And are you shooting on a Spotmatic, as your user id implies? Or something with a vertical shutter?

It would be easier to diagnose on a digital body.

I’m really reaching, though

Does it happen at all shutter speeds?

-Eric

**ismaelg** · 11-22-2019, 04:01 AM

As others have suggested, I'd test it on a digital body. It looks like a loose baffle at the back could cause it. Do you recall if it is more prominent at specific apertures?

Thanks,

D1N0 · 11-22-2019, 04:37 AM

I found a picture of the back online. You can see a baffle receded into the rear. Check if it is loose or it looks shifted or something.

https://www.wide-angle.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/RV113412.jpg

**pentaxus** · 11-22-2019, 01:33 PM - **1 Like**

A baffling solution to a baffling problem. Sorry.

**TwoUptons** · 11-22-2019, 07:45 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pentaxus

A baffling solution to a baffling problem. Sorry.

I'm baffled why you would say that

But that would be my guess. Really, that's the only thing in the lens that's straight...
Every other edge is round, so unless it's interfering with the mirror or something, that seems most likely.

-Eric

sansfin · 11-23-2019, 01:17 AM

If you don't have a digital, you can set the lens to infinity and stick a focusing screen (or even a plastic tape with some doodles) to film area. Then view it with another camera at infinity from the front, you should be able to see the doodles sharp in another camera's viewfinder. See if you can spot that black shadow

SpottyReputation · 11-28-2019, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by D1N0

I found a picture of the back online. You can see a baffle receded into the rear. Check if it is loose or it looks shifted or something.

https://www.wide-angle.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/RV113412.jpg

That looks very familiar... I see the baffle you're talking about, and it appears to be in firmly.

---------- Post added 11-28-19 at 03:22 PM ----------

Originally posted by TwoUptons

I think I’d be more worried if a zoom of that range and vintage wasn’t loose... since then it almost certainly would have been dropped...

I’m going to guess you’ve already looked through the lens with a strong flashlight to see if anything looks misaligned.

That’s a weird shape for a lens issue... does that lens have a rectangular baffle in the back?

And are you shooting on a Spotmatic, as your user id implies? Or something with a vertical shutter?

It would be easier to diagnose on a digital body.

I’m really reaching, though

Does it happen at all shutter speeds?

-Eric

Yes, there's the baffle in the back, which appears to be in firmly. Yes, Spotmatic is my name, spotmatic is also my game

I've got an adapter coming so I can do more testing on a digital back.

I didn't track the shutter speeds in my test roll, but there could be a correlation there...

The roll just before it (within a week or so) through the 55mm f1.8 came out clean. I'll see what digital testing shows, adapter should be here by the weekend.

11-21-2019, 02:18 PM	#1
SpottyReputation Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Abbotsford, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 210	SMC Tak 85-210mm Before I just chuck it in the trash, i wanted to confirm my theories: I recently bought a SMC Tak 85-210mm from Ebay. Reallllly cheap, so I'm ok if I only keep the lens and end caps. Had some film going off to be developed/scanned, so I took a quick test roll to see if i made the right choice not taking this lens travelling. I think I did. I have attached a sample. Not all of the photos have the shadow, but enough do. Happens at different focal lengths. This is the first time i've used this lab, but the rolls shot with another lens exhibit none of this, so... i'm pretty sure they didn't screw anything up. This lens feels loose, so I'm not surprised. Can someone please confirm my suspicions that this lens isn't supposed to feel loose? If you have a easy-ish fix for that, I would also be interested in hearing it. Thanks for your time, Anthony Attached Images

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11-21-2019, 02:25 PM	#2
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	Can you try in on digital? Can you see anything inside the lens that may explain the black part? To me it looks like the problem comes when mounting the lens.

11-21-2019, 03:00 PM	#3
SpottyReputation Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Abbotsford, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 210 Original Poster	Originally posted by sergysergy Can you try in on digital? Can you see anything inside the lens that may explain the black part? To me it looks like the problem comes when mounting the lens. I'll take a closer look at the mounting area. I don't currently have adapter to connect it to anything digital, but... i should probably get one. I would say maybe half the roll has this effect.

11-21-2019, 04:40 PM	#4
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	It's an old lens. Zooming could get a little uneven. I have the k-mount version of this lens. It has a rectangular baffle in the mount. I don't know if the takumar has that but maybe it has come loose so it vignettes?

11-21-2019, 07:04 PM	#5
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,225	I think I’d be more worried if a zoom of that range and vintage wasn’t loose... since then it almost certainly would have been dropped... I’m going to guess you’ve already looked through the lens with a strong flashlight to see if anything looks misaligned. That’s a weird shape for a lens issue... does that lens have a rectangular baffle in the back? And are you shooting on a Spotmatic, as your user id implies? Or something with a vertical shutter? It would be easier to diagnose on a digital body. I’m really reaching, though Does it happen at all shutter speeds? -Eric

11-22-2019, 04:01 AM	#6
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,684	As others have suggested, I'd test it on a digital body. It looks like a loose baffle at the back could cause it. Do you recall if it is more prominent at specific apertures? Thanks,

11-22-2019, 04:37 AM	#7
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	I found a picture of the back online. You can see a baffle receded into the rear. Check if it is loose or it looks shifted or something. https://www.wide-angle.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/RV113412.jpg

11-22-2019, 01:33 PM - 1 Like	#8
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,320	A baffling solution to a baffling problem. Sorry.

11-22-2019, 07:45 PM - 1 Like	#9
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,225	Originally posted by pentaxus A baffling solution to a baffling problem. Sorry. I'm baffled why you would say that But that would be my guess. Really, that's the only thing in the lens that's straight... Every other edge is round, so unless it's interfering with the mirror or something, that seems most likely. -Eric

11-23-2019, 01:17 AM	#10
sansfin Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 49	If you don't have a digital, you can set the lens to infinity and stick a focusing screen (or even a plastic tape with some doodles) to film area. Then view it with another camera at infinity from the front, you should be able to see the doodles sharp in another camera's viewfinder. See if you can spot that black shadow

11-28-2019, 02:19 PM	#11
SpottyReputation Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Abbotsford, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 210 Original Poster	Originally posted by D1N0 I found a picture of the back online. You can see a baffle receded into the rear. Check if it is loose or it looks shifted or something. https://www.wide-angle.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/RV113412.jpg That looks very familiar... I see the baffle you're talking about, and it appears to be in firmly. ---------- Post added 11-28-19 at 03:22 PM ---------- Originally posted by TwoUptons I think I’d be more worried if a zoom of that range and vintage wasn’t loose... since then it almost certainly would have been dropped... I’m going to guess you’ve already looked through the lens with a strong flashlight to see if anything looks misaligned. That’s a weird shape for a lens issue... does that lens have a rectangular baffle in the back? And are you shooting on a Spotmatic, as your user id implies? Or something with a vertical shutter? It would be easier to diagnose on a digital body. I’m really reaching, though Does it happen at all shutter speeds? -Eric Yes, there's the baffle in the back, which appears to be in firmly. Yes, Spotmatic is my name, spotmatic is also my game I've got an adapter coming so I can do more testing on a digital back. I didn't track the shutter speeds in my test roll, but there could be a correlation there... The roll just before it (within a week or so) through the 55mm f1.8 came out clean. I'll see what digital testing shows, adapter should be here by the weekend.