| Author: | | New Member Registered: November, 2019 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: March 18, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | L/Shutter. | | Cons: | None, does as intended. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: 6x7 M/Up, 67
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Good workhorse lens for studio flash work and outdoor fill-in flash. A lens I've used a lot in the past, for glamour work and boudoir portraits. Makes up one half of a very useful combination, with the 165mm f2.8 L/S, for such purposes. Like the 165 L/S, the mechanics of it's use soon become second nature
Optical performance more than adequate with colour slide and B&W film stock.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2020 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 24, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Great color, Sweet Bokeh, Light and easy to handle | | Cons: | Leaf Shutter adds confusion for not much value | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax 6x7
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Fantastic Lens. I don't know if I agree with the reviews on here but this is just my personal experience. The images are incredibly sharp that come back from this lens and there is no other way to put it. 90mm gives you that really natural looking 45mm lens in a 35mm camera. I got this lens with the purchase of my 6x7 so I am just making an estimate with how much the lens actually cost.
Having only 5 aperture blades really isn't a deal breaker here and actually up at f11 to f22 you can see a 10-star pattern on bright lights which i find to be a really neat looking pattern compared to the traditional 6 or 8 star.
I think this lens is an easy include in the kit, great travel lens for walking around (If you have the energy to lug "the Beast" around) and the bokeh is pretty buttery.
10/10
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 31, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Small, light, versatile. | | Cons: | | |
This is such a workhorse lens. A must have for use with flash. The only way of shooting multiple exposures on the cameras that came before the 67II, minus the modded ones, which are rare. It can be used in so many ways and triggered by the body, with the switch or a cable release. So many options! A shame the later 165/4 LS doesn't have them all.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2018 Posts: 95
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 16, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $410.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Leaf Shutter(Shutter speeds whilst using flash way above 1/200s without HSS trickery), sharp wide open, sturdy, good microcontrast | | Cons: | heavy, ? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: PENTAX 645N
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I find this lens is very underrated, or am I just lucky with my copy of the glass?
Cant agree to the underrated reviews on this lens.
Its so easy to focus, buttery smooth movement...
Shooting above(under?) 1/200s with Studio Flash Gear without expensive HSS triggers, is also very pleasing.
(Multi-Exposures on film are also possible without altering settings on the body with this lens.)
I really couldnt say anything bad about this lens.
Mounted on the PENTAX 645N it looks like its made for it and makes the 645 look even more professional than it already does.
| | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2007 Location: Greater Copenhagen Area Posts: 430 | | Review Date: May 12, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Leaf shutter, multi-exposure capability | | Cons: | Bigger than the newer 90mm | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax 6x7 MLU
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I like the lens. It may not be as sharp as the newer 90mm, but still sharp enough on film.
I like the fact that there is a socket for a cable release for the leaf shutter on the lens. This makes the lens quite handy for creative multi-exposures. I find it useful enough to keep it, even though I also have a standard 90 mm and a 105mm.
Example pic: Kronborg Castle in Elsinore taken at sunset:
 Kronborg Castle III by Lars Holte, on Flickr
Example pic: Kronborg Castle in Elsinore taken at sunset:
 Kronborg Castle I by Lars Holte, on Flickr
The images can be clicked larger on Flickr. I find the details in the brickwork rendered quite beautifully.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 1, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Leaf shutter function. | | Cons: | Average optics, a bit heavy, not a good close focusing distance. | | Camera Used: 6x7, 67 and 67II
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The SMC Takumar 6x7 90/2.8 LS was released in 1971, two years after the initial release of the Pentax 6x7 system. There was only one version of this lens and it was replaced by a non leaf shutter 90/2.8 in 1980. Pentax also released a new LS lens in 1981, the 6x7 165/4.
Usage:
The 6x7 90/2.8 was Pentax’s first LS lens and it also works a bit differently than the newer 165/4 LS. The 90/2.8 has a U/S lever and a cable release socket, which the 165/4 LS does not have.
There are three modes of shooting with the 6x7 90/2.8 LS:
USED AS A NORMAL LENS: You can use the 6x7 90/2.8 LS as a regular 90mm lens by not cocking the lens shutter. The lens shutter speed ring and U/S lever can be left in any position. The optics are only average on this lens and it’s a bit big for a normal/standard lens. Also the minimum focusing distance is only .85 meters or 33 1/2 inches, which is not very good.
LS FLASH MODE: This mode allows you to use high speed flash synch for outdoor fill-in flash, with speeds between 1/30 and 1/500 of a second. You have to move the U/S lever to U for “Usual”, set the LS speed, set the camera shutter to 1/8 sec. or lower, cock the lens shutter and connect the flashes x-synch cable to the lenses flash terminal. You have to remember to cock the lens shutter for each shot, or the cameras shutter speed will be used. If your flash does not have a sync socket, you can use the Pentax "Hot-shoe Adapter LS" to connect your flash to the 6x7 90/2.8 LS lens.
LS MULTIPLE EXPOSURE MODE: This mode locks open the cameras shutter and allows you to take multiple exposures on the same frame of film. You have to move the U/S lever to S for “Special”, set the LS speed, set the camera shutter to the special “time” setting located halfway between 1/1000 and X, cock the lens shutter and connect a cable release to the lenses cable release socket. You then press the cameras shutter release button and this locks the camera shutter open and closes the lens shutter. You now can use the cable release on the lens to take as many exposures as you want without advancing the film. You have to remember to cock the lens shutter for each shot of the multiple exposures. Also note when the cameras shutter is locked open the viewfinder is dark, just like when using mirror lock-up, so you have to plan your multiple exposures accordingly. When finished you move the cameras shutter speed dial back to 1/1000 or X and advance the film. You can also use this mode to reduce camera shake on a single exposure if your 6x7 does not have MLU, or in place of MLU on any camera. This is supposed to be a more effective than MLU in reducing camera shake.
CLOSE-UP WORK: Pentax made a close-up filter that works well with the 90/2.8 LS. The 67mm S82 close-up filter gives you magnification up to 0.32x, with a focusing distance of 0.48 to 1 meter. These results are slightly better than you can get with the newer 67 90/2.8 lens.
MACRO WORK: You can use the Auto Extension tube set with 90/2.8 LS in normal mode, as well as reverse it for greater than life-size or 1x magnification. You can get similar magnification as the regular 67 90/2.8 lens. Pentax recommends using no more than ONE Auto extension tube at a time when using the LS, as they will not synchronize properly. Also you can’t use the Helicoid extension tube and the LS together.
REAR CONVERTERS: You can’t use the older T6-2X or the late 1.4X rear converters with the 6x7 90/2.8 LS lens. The late 2X can be used only in the “normal” mode.
FILTER: The 6x7 90/2.8 LS uses 67mm screw in filters, or Pentax 6x7 67mm bayonet filters. It also comes with a 67mm metal bayonet lens cap that works with bayonet filters or the lens itself. This cap will not work if you use a screw in filter, so I use a newer 67mm plastic clip-on cap instead.
CASE: The 6x7 90/2.8 LS comes with a dedicated hard lens case. It will also fit in the S90-100 soft case
HOOD: The 6x7 90/2.8 LS uses a metal bayonet hood, marked with “Takumar/6x7 1:2.8 90mm”. This hood only works if used on the lens itself or with bayonet filters. For screw-in filters use the newer PH-SB67 hood designed for the 67 90/2.8 & 105/2.4 lenses.
Summary:
I like this older Takumar 6x7 90/2.8 LS lens and you can use it for a lot of different shooting conditions. However it’s more of a specialty lens, so if you don’t have a use for the leaf shutter I would recommend getting the newer 67 90/2.8 lens instead. The newer 67 90/2.8 lens has better optics, is smaller and has a better minimum focusing distance than the older leaf shutter lens.
Price: I found my 6x7 90/2.8 LS on my local Craigslist. It was included in a Pentax 6x7 camera kit, so I don’t have a price for the lens itself.
Sample shots taken with the SMC Takumar 6x7 90/2.8 LS. Photos are medium resolution Lab scans from original negatives.
Camera: 67 Film: Ilford Delta 3200 ISO: 1000
Double exposure using the #2 ET for both shots.
Camera: 6x7 Film: Kodak Portra 400 ISO: 400
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,437 | | Review Date: February 28, 2014 | Not Recommended | Price: $37.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Leaf shutter, leaf shutter's quietness and lack of camera shake, compactness, 67mm filter thread, very useful focal length | | Cons: | Leaf shutter, slightly softer than I'd like | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax 6X7
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I had heard this was a popular fashion photography lens back in the day. The leaf shutter made fast flash syncs possible and allows for a lot of control in lighted situations.
My experience has been a bit different. The images are, to my eye, very slightly sharper when using the leaf shutter at 1/500th versus the camera's focal-plane shutter. However, my leaf shutter seems to be timed slightly differently and test photos with the leaf versus FP shutters resulted in images with differing contrast profiles and color casts. That's, of course, not shocking since the camera and lens shutter wouldn't necessarily be timed exactly the same.
I was surprised by this lens' softness. In fact, it's noticeable in the viewfinder when compared to the 105mm f2.4. Oh yes. Switching from the 105 to this lens in quick succession will reveal that this lens does not focus to as fine a point as the 105mm. If you're choosing between the two, select the 105.
And, of course, as I use this lens more I'll add to this review and share more thoughts and eventually images.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,079
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 4, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Leaf Shutter, Build, Great IQ. | | Cons: | A little heavy, bokeh can be a little harsh. | |
I acquired this as part of a 67 kit that included 2 bodies (1 broken), 3 lenses (2 that needed repairs) and a few accessories. I sold the good lens and good body and used the money I made to repair the other body and 2 lenses. The 90/2.8 LS had been dropped and the whole front of the barrel was loose. It cost about $60 to have the repairs done and now it works great.
I have used it quite a bit in the 1 1/2 years I have owned it. I have used it for everything from macro to landscape work. It is plenty sharp for me and it seems to have great colors and contrast. It has a 5 bladed aperture and in certain conditions it can have pronounced pentagonal bokeh which I don't necessarily like but for the most part the bokeh is fine.
The build quality is superb, has that nice feel that most old Takumars have. Focus is nice and smooth. The aperture ring on mine is stiff but that is from being dropped by a previous owner. I love the fluted metal barrel/focus ring.
I have not used the leaf shutter yet but have tested it and it works great. This lens has a unique leaf shutter feature that allows you to lock open the main shutter on the 67 using bulb and plunger type cable release and then the leaf shutter can be used for vibration free photos and for multiple exposure work.
All in all, a great all purpose lens that I highly recommend.
Here are some examples,
Shot on FujiPRO 160S film.
Shot on Fuji Velvia using the 67 reverse adapter.
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