| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: Moab, Utah Posts: 90
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 10, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, color punch, contrast, flare resistance | | Cons: | bokeh, not close focusing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony a7ii, a7s
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I have S-M-C version.
A great all-around lens. Nice size and build, super cheap and available. Sharp enough for anyone and with nice colors, overall great image. 3d pop is good, distortion well controlled. The only thing that isn't perfect about it is the fact that it doesn't focus all that close and the bokeh isn't desirable. It's not a fast lens. Images look a lot like M series lenses as far as colors and contrast go. If you want something that focuses faster and has way better bokeh while maintaining fine contrast rendering, the M series renders a lot like this one but focuses much closer.
I also have and have compared in detail, this lens to the Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, the Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35mm, SMC K 35mm f2, M series 35mm f2.8, and FA 35mm f2. For anyone curious and wanting to compare, see my video for a comprehensive review with examples.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2017 Location: Tbilisi Posts: 18
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 31, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Microcontrast - "real" feeling | | Cons: | Please look below | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50
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(I have the Super Takumar version, maybe SMC would be even better)
I should tell how I use the lens, so that you will get me easier.
I have a Helios 44M, 3.5/28M, and this little guy. Trying to hunt portraits, I had 44M on the camera almost always, yet wanted to give this one a try for some "environmental" shots I may say - humans in their surroundings. I use it mainly at or close to infinity and at f/3.5, sometimes (although rarely) at 5.6 and once in a while at 8. I shoot B&W, generally around 400 ISO (yet, as it is winter now, I go up to 1600 normally, and to 4000 lately), on the street more than inside, and shoot at both ends of the scale (.45 meters to infinity), although more at the far end of it as I said above.
As you know how I use it, let us move on now.
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PROS
3D capability (so-called micro-contrast) of this lens is its biggest plus. It is not "razor sharp" as modern people want it to be. Yet this is its main plus: it is not razor sharp, but the lack of sharpness produces the feeling that you can touch the photos that it produces. I love how my subjects pop out of the screen, and how I actually can touch them.
It surely does not lack sharpness,no. It is as sharp as you normally need. But it is not a Takumar 1.4/50 (which has more sharpness with equal micro-contrast). So if you are a pixel-peeper, this lens will not give you what you want. Yet, I should add that you better drop this strange habit of pixel-peeping and look at the frame than a fraction of it to which no one else will look at. Come on, which Leica lens is God damn sharp? They have the 3D capability, and that is why we love them. So treat this lens with respect, it really deserves it.
I have almost no idea about the colors that it produces. Yes, I shoot raw and I see them in color for some 2-3 seconds, but not more.
It controls aberrations pretty well on a crop camera (k-50 in my case), yet I don't know how it would be on K-1 or 5D or such. Sometimes it needs very small adjustments here and there, but it is rather normal for me.
Bokeh is not the best thing with 3.5 aperture, but if you want to shoot something with its background rather than singling it totally out, I can say that I like its bokeh. It is neither too much nor too few, and at 3.5, it is just what it should be. You surely cannot shoot a portrait with it as good as you can with a 70-200 lens, but they are totally different from each other. It does as good as it should being a 35 (or rather 52) mm lens.
It is small and very light, so its handling is perfect. My hands are big for it sometimes, but I go for the lens being small rather than big. Ain't another reason for us loving Leicas their small size? Well, at least for me it is. Both aperture and focus rings are butter smooth, and I love it.
It does not give the perfect resolution, but if you shoot B&W and if you do not have problems with some noise, it catches up with K-50's sensor. I have some 4000 ISO shots now, and I sometimes look closer to see noise. Not that it has the perfect noise, especially in darker scenes the blacks are going mad at times (although rarely), but I have some color-shots at a church at 7PM and they are very promising for color-shooters too. In the end, noise control is more on the camera than the lens lately, and if you do not push your sensor much, the lens does not give you bad results at all.
Flare is well controlled in this lens, and I did not have any problems so far.
It has a feeling, separate from the micro-contrast, and I love to look at the world from the viewfinder. I do not know if it is because of its 52mm length, or if it is because I like the works of Henri Cartier Bresson, whom I adore and who shot almost always with a 50mm lens (albeit not an f/3.5 one). It is just the perfect angle for me.
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CONS
Haze. I almost always need to remove haze. I hate it. I play with everything, but there always is haze. I don't know why. Photoshop has dehaze option, and it is easier nowadays to get rid of it. Yet it is disturbing to visit that part of the menu first thing.
Five blades forces me to use it at 3.5 almost always, as I hate the stars. I don't like it even with 44M, which was my choice because of its 8 blades (while I still am looking for the 13-blades version), and you can guess how much I hate 5 blade's stupid stars. I do not mean the "sunrays", I mean the stars. You got me, right?
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RESULT
If you like micro-contrast over sharpness, if you do not want to mess with the image that it produces except adding some contrast (well, we shoot raw and we need to add contrast. no?), and if you are okay with using dehaze menu often, this is a go-to lens if you ask me. I do not have any problems with it, and it is the lens that I keep on my camera always. Okay, I do not have perfect lenses, yet I doubt that I'd give this one up - except if 2/35 produces as good images as this one does. In the end we all want to have "bigger eyes" which gives us more space.
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UPDATE
After using it more, I can say that this is the lens, and it would be THE lens if it was f/2, or something even better (maybe 1.4, as if we can focus at 1.4). The way that it gives the shadows is fantastic. There is something with this lens that reminds me of Leica M lenses - not razor sharpness but an amazing 3D feeling, wonderful shadows, and amazing transitions from black to white, from in-focus areas to out-of-focus areas, and from alpha to omega. I cannot find anything other than haze and the small f stop (while I should add that I started having haze on every photo, be it shot with this lens or not, so maybe my camera started working wrong).
Get it. Especially if you are shooting B&W. It will be the best 30-40 dollars/euros/pounds that you'll have spent.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,075
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 27, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $58.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | focus ring is so smooth, solid feel, very sharp images | | Cons: | none for me | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Asahi Pentax S1a
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Any possible anxiety focusing with just a micro prism (no additional split prism) was washed away immediately upon first focus. As others have mentioned, the image just “pops” when it comes into focus. With my test roll using my new/old Pentax S1a and this lens I did take extra time focusing before pressing the shutter, just to make sure a mm this way or a mm that way didn’t make a difference. (I really enjoyed the tactile motion of the focus ring!)
As it turned out every picture was in perfect focus, the colour was great (golden hour) and Sunny 16 or my hand held meter helped with exposure. (no meter no nothing in the viewfinder - no distraction)
I have the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar version and I am super pleased with it. It’s a perfect match for me on this grand old Pentax S1a. I will probably be looking for the 55mm version next as both the smc k versions of the 35 and 55 are my two favourite lenses for my LX/MX cameras.
I have to say that shooting this camera with just a micro prism and the 35mm is a dream and a pleasure to use. I had a smile on my face every time I brought it up to my eye!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,051
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 30, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $49.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, rich colors, small, contrast, well made | | Cons: | Looks dim in viewfinder | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5 IIs
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This lens(SMC version) has been sitting in my bag for more than 2 years, so I decided to take it out for a spin. This has got to be one of my favorite Takumar lenses due to the sharpness, contrast and the color it renders. I have the 31mm Limited, the 16-45mm, the 35mm f2.8 Macro and the 20-40mm which all fall into that range, but when it comes to colors I think this lens beats them all. It is about as close as a Zeiss lens that you are going to get at this price range. Being a non-AF lens of course can be a little inconvenient if lets say you want to shoot moving subjects. This lens also has a pretty long focusing throw for a wide angle lens which makes it even more inconvenient.
However, once it locks focus, the pictures are excellent. I didn't go out and just shoot a couple of flowers and proclaim this lens a "10" as many people do here. I took as many real life photos as I could and the lens performed wonderfully in most situations. I also have the Non-SMC Super Takumar version of this lens, but the SMC beats it when it comes to sharpness. Also the Super Takumar tends to flare more often when pointed at the sun. Another good thing about this lens is that it is very well preserved. I'm not sure if I just got lucky, but both of my copies look brand spanking new ! There are no scratches, dents or faded paint like you see with other Takumar lenses.
Now for the bad, of course this is a Manual Focusing lens so if you are not into that, you might not like this lens very much. The lens is "Tiny", so setting the aperture can get a little fiddly if you have large hands, or are wearing gloves. The focusing ring is as smooth as butter though, which sort of makes up for it. Trying to get the focus confirmation light to work past F8 is almost impossible. If you want an aperture of f11, or f16 first you have to open up the lens then you must stop down. This makes this lens a "still-life" lens for sure, since it is not suited for action . Another thing is that the view finder is very dim when using this lens. I'm not sure why, maybe its the coatings ? This would probably make shooting at night, or in dim lighting situations very frustrating although I haven't tried it yet, so I'm just assuming. This lens with a maximum f3.5 aperture makes it rather slow, but the good thing is that even at f3.5 the lens is pretty sharp. I would say f8 is the sweet spot though.
Other than that, this is a great little lens for "Pure Photography" ! The 35mm FL gives you the equivalent of a 50mm lens on an APS-C like my K-5 II. This makes it great as walk-about, or street photography lens. Also, because of the rich colors, the lens can double as a Landscape lens on a full frame. I would definitely get a hood especially if you have the Super Takumar version. Just get the 49mm metal hood that also fits the 55mm, and 50mm Takumar lenses on eBay and you are good to go.
 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 228 | | Review Date: April 18, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
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I got this lens as part of a Pentax "S" kit. Also with it was a 50mm 2.2, and a 100mm F/3.5
  | | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2015 Posts: 93
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 7, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, micro contrast, Tak colors | | Cons: | Small for my hands | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3ii
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This little gem is always with me, along with the K28 3.5. Contrast and colors are excellent. Can't wait for nice weather here on the Wet Coast to give it another workout.
This thing was too cheap. Now I'm on the hunt for a K35 3.5. Will it never end...
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2011 Posts: 72
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 4, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | good price, great build, excellent price | | Cons: | slow wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: NEX-7
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Very good lens to use with APS-C sensor for "Normal" 50-ish length.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: August 29, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, price, | | Cons: | f3.5 maybe ? Not an issue for my usage | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Spotmatic F
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I'ts the last takumar in my collection. My copy is the Super Multi Coated Takumar. It's a joy to use on my Canon 1200D and superb on my spotmatic F. It's shart, small, beautiful. Doesn't have extreme bokeh, but from 5.6 onwards the out of focus areas are very nice in my opinion. There's nothing more that i can say about this lens that wasn't said, so I will leave here my samples
I will leave here samples of the lens coupled with my Spotmatic F, scans were made with my 1200D and a Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55 1.8
https://flic.kr/p/KuPBzS
https://flic.kr/p/KVjg14
https://flic.kr/p/KSH6Wf
https://flic.kr/p/K6qoj1
https://flic.kr/p/KGngQp
https://flic.kr/p/LDc8oM | | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2015 Posts: 62
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 13, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Outstanding mechanical quality, good optics | | Cons: | Nothing really | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I'm rating the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35mm/3.5, as used on Sony A7 and A7r cameras. I got it for a good price, but had to buy the hood separately. You will want the hood to cut down on flare and ghosting.
This is a really nice lens. Colour and contrast are very nice -- classic Takumar. The lens is a joy to use. Aperture and focus turn smoothly and it's easy to focus. It's soft at f/3.5, usable at f/5.6, excellent at f/8, very good at f/11 and (remarkably) still usable at f/16. I compared it to my main 35mm lens (SMC Pentax-A 645 25mm/3.5), and the Takumar is a credible contender. I carry it with me when I want to travel light.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Posts: 3 | | Review Date: February 22, 2016 | Not Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 4 |
| Pros: | Mechanics | | Cons: | Not good IQY | | Sharpness: 4
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 4
Camera Used: Eos 450, k-5
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My copy was plain Super-takumar, and looked mint, but it must have been a lemon. Sharpness and contrast were poorer than my kit lens. A disappointment. I sold it. Maybe only a bad copy.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2015 Posts: 6,381
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 11, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $17.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, sharp | | Cons: | Needs stop-down for metering as with all pre-SMC Taks | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Camera Used: K-5
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The e-bay bid was low with not long to go, so I put in a minimum bid and went to bed hoping for the best. When I woke up, it was mine. It's a pretty good normal for those who like putting Takumars on their Pentax DSLRs, and its small size in relation to its 28mm and 50mm stablemates is impressive - in Takumar terms, it's almost in pancake territory.
Performance is what you make of it. Mine is only a Super Takumar, so it doesn't have the most modern coatings, but what really surprised me is what happened when I stuck a bellows unit between the DSLR and this lens...
 IMG11333 by PD's Deadly Lens, on Flickr
And even when I didn't...
 IMG11305 by PD's Deadly Lens, on Flickr
Just look at those single beard hairs.
When the lighting is just right, this old lens performs with the best. If you're into Takumars, don't feel like you necessarily have to wait for the late-model SMC version to appear - the Supers are capable of every bit as good a performance. The only reason I personally would recommend holding out for the SMC version is if you have a Spotmatic F or ES-series body that can make use of the full-open metering feature.
Addit: Here, complete with a range of in- and out-of-focus areas for your inspection, is what it can do on the K-1.
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: September, 2010 Location: MD Posts: 1,033
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 19, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp; beautiful color and contrast | | Cons: | only full stops; starts at f3.5 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30
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Wow! I found one of the Super Taks rather cheap. Looked a bit dusty inside the lens but otherwise clean and figured it was worth a chance.
I already have the DA 35 f2.4 which is a fantastic lens and been a favorite of mine, but this lens does a superior job in terms of sharpness (including across the frame), color, and contrast. The pictures really have a pop to them. I am impressed. I did some direct comparison shots, and even just using focus confirmation and my attempts at manual focusing, the Super Tak got the better picture almost every time.
I shoot in Av mode with my Takumars, and the only drawback really is that I often need to open up to focus--especially in less than bright light--and then close down to shoot.
And of course the lens has that excellent Takumar build with a silky focus ring. Wonderful lens!
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2013 Location: Montevideo, Uruguay Posts: 16
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 14, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $130.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, compactness | | Cons: | slow | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon EOS bodies
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I have been using this lens on Canon bodies...and boy..this lens is sharp or what. This an s-m-c version
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2014 Location: 48599 Gronau Posts: 26 | | Review Date: July 28, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp whith very good image rendering | | Cons: | I don't see any | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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Got this lens in very good conditions, but whithout the lens hood, which is necessery to get great results! But you can find the hood cheap second hand at ebay. Sharpness is great, but mostly I was impressed by the colours, even on digital. An ideal lens for landscapes and nature work. Very good rendering of green and red/brown tones. The lens is contrasty and easy to handle. There was a little dust inside the lens, which I think is normal for a nearly 45 years old lens. Nothing to worry about!
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2015 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 16
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 29, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $72.49
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | contrast, color saturation, sharp | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-500
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On my old Chinon CS and Pentax ME Super, this was my wide angle. Now on the K-500, it is equivalent to 52.5mm focal length (normal on the old SLR film cameras). So this old Takumar is the new normal prime for DSLRs. It doesn't get a lot of use since the 18-55mm is so versatile and almost as sharp. And the autofocus is usually better than my eyeball manual focus. But given enough time, I can make it shine. I still make good use of the big depth of field and the red 8 on the aperture ring!
I bought it new in 1980, mail order from Olympic Camera. Since I am the sole owner of this lens and have been kind to it, it is just like new after 35+ years. I wonder what photography will be like in the year 2050. Just sayin'.
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