Asahiflex - Collecting a gem

LesDMess · 03-19-2017, 09:47 PM - **1 Like**

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

I have a copy in not the best shape. Would love to have one for the AP and for the S as well as user guides for the Asahiflex.

In one of my first threads here, I posted the Asahi Pentax reviews from 1958 issues of Modern Photography and Popular Photography that might be of interest.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-09-2017, 05:34 AM

I have tried to find out about what sort of accessories were available for the Ashiflex. Accoring to the old original sales brouchures you could by filters, hoods, bellows, microscope adapters, extention tubes etc.

I think I have most of the hoods that were available. In the next couple of posts I want to describe each one.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-09-2017, 05:39 AM

This has been the item that has puzzled me. I have not been able to find any sort of original hood for the Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 50mm f3.5 The only hood I've found is the Walz slip-on hood 32mm diamter. It comes in all black, and also in chrome.

Hight is 26mm and front diameter is 48mm. It comes in a nice brown leather case without any markings.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-09-2017, 05:45 AM

The lens hood that show up often for sale is for the Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 58mm f2.4.

The lens hood comes in a nice leather case, with room for an additonal filter. Mounting diamater is 39mm, hight 25mm, outmost diameter 50mm. It splits into to parts, to accomodate a slip-in filter, approx dia 42mm.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

Last edited by Baard-Einar; 04-09-2017 at 05:58 AM.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-09-2017, 05:50 AM - **1 Like**

The Asahiflex had a really nice 83mm f1.9 available. Those lenses are fairly rare. Its lens hood is also rare for the same reason.

My copy of the hood comes in a leather case. The hood measures dia 49mm, hight 35mm with dia 60mm on the outer end. Unlike all the other lens hoods, the text is printed on the side of the chrome section of the lens.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-09-2017, 05:57 AM

For the tiny Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 100mm f3.5 an equally tiny hood was available.

The hood came in a small brown leather case.

Measurements are: Dia 33,5mm, hight 37mm and outer dia 46mm.

Like all the others the hood opens to accomodate a slip-in filter. I do not have such a filter except for a Kenko Ø33,5 Y2.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-09-2017, 06:03 AM

The last hood I have in my collection is for the Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 135mm f3.5

This hood also comes in a leather case. which I don't have in my collection yet.

Measurements: Dia 43mm. Hight 45mm, and outermost diameter 55mm. The slip-in filter is 50mm.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

**sergysergy** · 04-09-2017, 06:27 AM

very cool!

**monochrome** · 04-09-2017, 06:47 AM - **1 Like**

Really neat thread! I'm glad someone is assembling the early Pentax camera gear.

mrs monochrome rolls her eyes when 'another #$%^&* old camera comes in the door.

**monochrome** · 04-10-2017, 04:25 PM - **2 Likes**

By happenstance I came across these two cameras for sale by Fred Sherfy. I had money in my PayPal account. These are Fred's photos - I'll do a small study when the get here. Both are working. The Tower 22 needs shutter speeds adjusted. Now I'll be looking for Lens caps etc. The Tower 23 has it's leather case, including the strap. It looks like the middle version with the triangles on the top cover. The Tower 23 is in collector condition. It was used in the famous book.

**Baard-Einar** · 04-10-2017, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

By happenstance I came across these two cameras for sale by Fred Sherfy. I had money in my PayPal account. These are Fred's photos - I'll do a small study when the get here. Both are working. It the Tower 22 needs shutter speeds adjusted. Now I'll be looking for Lens caps etc. The Tower 23 has it's leather case, including the strap. The Tower 23 is in collector condition. It was used in the famous book.

Ah, so you were the buyer! Cool! They have been sitting unsold for some time on ebay, good that they found a home.

Fred told me that the Tower 22 was his favorite camera, he used it for close-ups. This is what he wrote:

As a biologist, I really enjoyed camping in remote places and doing photography or unusual plants. I use to take two Asahiflex IIA bodies (usually Tower 22) and use the Asahflex tubes, bellows, and either the 83mm or the 58mm - the 100mm was good, but I thought the 135mm too heavy. Anyway, I fell in love with the close-up photography and have hundreds of photos taken with the Asahiflex while backpacking.

**monochrome** · 04-10-2017, 05:17 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

Ah, so you were the buyer! Cool! They have been sitting unsold for some time on ebay, good that they found a home.

Fred told me that the Tower 22 was his favorite camera, he used it for close-ups. This is what he wrote:

As a biologist, I really enjoyed camping in remote places and doing photography or unusual plants. I use to take two Asahiflex IIA bodies (usually Tower 22) and use the Asahflex tubes, bellows, and either the 83mm or the 58mm - the 100mm was good, but I thought the 135mm too heavy. Anyway, I fell in love with the close-up photography and have hundreds of photos taken with the Asahiflex while backpacking.

I've had a couple nice conversations with Fred in which he reiterated the story, and taking Macros of a specific succulent and salamander in a Glade. I'll send these to Eric and use them rather than putting them on a shelf for twenty years.

I hadn't really planned to start on the Asahflexes but these two deserve to be cared for. I guess I'm in now. I wasn't using the DA Limiteds anyway

.

LesDMess · 04-10-2017, 07:06 PM

I can't believe I still don't have an Asahiflex yet!

**Baard-Einar** · 04-11-2017, 03:52 AM

Originally posted by LesDMess

I can't believe I still don't have an Asahiflex yet!

How come? Run and get one!

**Baard-Einar** · 04-11-2017, 04:34 AM

Just a heads-up, there is a sales post on ebay for a Asahi Kogaku Takumar 100mm f3.5 claiming it is a rare, never seen m42 version.

I asked the seller to post photos of the mount, and those pictures show what to me looks like the original m32-m42 adaptor mounted on the lens.

Look at this on eBay Very Rare M42 Asahi Kogaku Takumar 100mm F3.5 Preset Chrome M42 mount VGC | eBay

Enclosed are photos of my adaptor mounted on the 100mm.

04-10-2017, 04:25 PM - 2 Likes	#25
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	By happenstance I came across these two cameras for sale by Fred Sherfy. I had money in my PayPal account. These are Fred's photos - I'll do a small study when the get here. Both are working. The Tower 22 needs shutter speeds adjusted. Now I'll be looking for Lens caps etc. The Tower 23 has it's leather case, including the strap. It looks like the middle version with the triangles on the top cover. The Tower 23 is in collector condition. It was used in the famous book. Attached Images Last edited by monochrome; 04-10-2017 at 05:08 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pentax-A 50mm f1.2 - Is this a lens a real gem?	Pepe Guitarra	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	31	01-17-2015 07:32 PM
Collecting books for Pentax film cameras: a question...	Arjay Bee	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	20	06-10-2013 07:01 PM
Pentax Q - a tiny gem, and an instant classic	Cambo	Pentax Q	22	03-10-2012 06:35 AM
Landscape Añisclo canyon, a hidden gem	gfonso	Post Your Photos!	16	10-26-2010 03:56 PM
vivitar 28-200mm, gem is just a gem	tr13	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	12-29-2009 04:01 PM

03-19-2017, 09:47 PM - 1 Like	#16
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Originally posted by Baard-Einar I have a copy in not the best shape. Would love to have one for the AP and for the S as well as user guides for the Asahiflex. In one of my first threads here, I posted the Asahi Pentax reviews from 1958 issues of Modern Photography and Popular Photography that might be of interest.

04-09-2017, 06:27 AM	#23
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	very cool!

04-09-2017, 06:47 AM - 1 Like	#24
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Really neat thread! I'm glad someone is assembling the early Pentax camera gear. mrs monochrome rolls her eyes when 'another #$%^&* old camera comes in the door.

04-10-2017, 04:34 PM	#26
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome By happenstance I came across these two cameras for sale by Fred Sherfy. I had money in my PayPal account. These are Fred's photos - I'll do a small study when the get here. Both are working. It the Tower 22 needs shutter speeds adjusted. Now I'll be looking for Lens caps etc. The Tower 23 has it's leather case, including the strap. The Tower 23 is in collector condition. It was used in the famous book. Ah, so you were the buyer! Cool! They have been sitting unsold for some time on ebay, good that they found a home. Fred told me that the Tower 22 was his favorite camera, he used it for close-ups. This is what he wrote: As a biologist, I really enjoyed camping in remote places and doing photography or unusual plants. I use to take two Asahiflex IIA bodies (usually Tower 22) and use the Asahflex tubes, bellows, and either the 83mm or the 58mm - the 100mm was good, but I thought the 135mm too heavy. Anyway, I fell in love with the close-up photography and have hundreds of photos taken with the Asahiflex while backpacking.

04-10-2017, 05:17 PM - 2 Likes	#27
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Baard-Einar Ah, so you were the buyer! Cool! They have been sitting unsold for some time on ebay, good that they found a home. Fred told me that the Tower 22 was his favorite camera, he used it for close-ups. This is what he wrote: As a biologist, I really enjoyed camping in remote places and doing photography or unusual plants. I use to take two Asahiflex IIA bodies (usually Tower 22) and use the Asahflex tubes, bellows, and either the 83mm or the 58mm - the 100mm was good, but I thought the 135mm too heavy. Anyway, I fell in love with the close-up photography and have hundreds of photos taken with the Asahiflex while backpacking. I've had a couple nice conversations with Fred in which he reiterated the story, and taking Macros of a specific succulent and salamander in a Glade. I'll send these to Eric and use them rather than putting them on a shelf for twenty years. I hadn't really planned to start on the Asahflexes but these two deserve to be cared for. I guess I'm in now. I wasn't using the DA Limiteds anyway .

04-10-2017, 07:06 PM	#28
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	I can't believe I still don't have an Asahiflex yet!

04-11-2017, 03:52 AM	#29
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by LesDMess I can't believe I still don't have an Asahiflex yet! How come? Run and get one!