| Author: | | Forum Member Registered: October, 2014 Posts: 85 | | Review Date: November 4, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | build quality, sharp, almost no aberrations on APS-C | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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The Asahi Super-Takumar 1:3.5/135 (late version) is very interesting manual focus telephoto lens when used with APS-C sensor. It is reasonably priced and for the money you receive the focal length of 135 mm, narrow depth of field, beautiful bokeh and very smooth background blur at F/3.5 and sharp images at every aperture.
My review of my copy of the lens with shots at different apertures:
http://aflenses.net/reviews/a-subjective-look-at-asahi-super-takumar-f35-135...ujifilm-x-pro1 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2013 Posts: 3 | | Review Date: May 28, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $89.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | bokeh good and good value | | Cons: | sharpness less | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: used
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Price is cheaper compare with Takumar135 F2.5. But I think it is a good lens for portrait. And also you can use it for street photography. Consider the low price and the good enough performance I recommend the lens to who have the limited budget.
At last share some photo I taken by Takumar135 F3.5.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Location: Ancona - Marche - Italy Posts: 6
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 10, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Beautiful colors, enought sharp, nice bokeh, small size, great build as all old Takumar | | Cons: | Nothing for me | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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I also have the Super Takumar 135 f2.5, but I buy the Super Takumar 135 f3.5 to complete my fantastic collection of Takumar. I wanted to write this review because I was positively surprised by the image quality of this lens, which I think is underappreciated compared to its features. Certainly it is not fast as the 2.5, but still a very good lens.
My copy is in mint condition, like new and I always use the hood
The following images show what I'm saying.
PENTAX K-5 + Super Takumar 135 f3.5 @ f3.5
PENTAX K-5 + Super Takumar 135 f3.5 @ f8
The photos was resized to 600px... for more details see my Pentax Gellery: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/Toonik | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 505 | | Review Date: July 18, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Light and tiny! Fantastic colors | | Cons: | Slow, soft wide open | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K100d, ME Super
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This is a fantastic lens, and the lens that made me abandon my manual Nikon gear. My ME Super with this lens on it weighs less than just the body of my old Nikon.
Sharpness is great... stopped down. It's quite soft @ 3.5 (see B&W image below). At 5.6 things are better, but if you shoot low ISO or slow film, this can make hand holding challenging. Aberrations seem to be almost gone at 5.6, and totally gone at 8.
Bokeh is pretty good-- nothing fantastic. If I need great Bokeh I'd probably opt for something faster, though.
The weight and size make this handle fantastically, but the very long focus throw makes it a bit tough to shoot anything that moves. Also, the slowness can make focusing tough. With a contrast filter or polarizer on it the split-prism and microprism are useless for focusing. Works great with Aperture Priority on the ME Super and K100d, but the K100d needs +1.5 of ev compensation.
Overall this is the tele for anywhere near this price range. If you're interested, just get one. It's pocket change compared to some of the new teles.
Here are a couple images:
@ 3.5 -- Sorry about the dusty scan, I can't keep dust off of things for more than 15 seconds in AZ. Ilford FP4+ in D76 1:1-- softer than it should be.
@ 5.6-- much sharper, but still could use another stop to get better.
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 11, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, small size and great build. | | Cons: | No SMC coatings and a bit slow. Minimum aperture of f22. | | Camera Used: Spotmatic
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This review is for the 1963: Super-Takumar 1:3.5/135 (early)
I’m basing my review of this lens against my 50+ Pentax K-mount lenses, specifically the K135/3.5.
The ST135/3.5 seems to be a bit sharper than the K135/3.5, this could be due to the extra lens element in the Takumar. (5 elements for the ST135/3.5 and 4 for the K135/3.5) The K135/3.5 handles flare better due the SMC coatings.
The K135/3.5 also has a better minimum aperture of f32.
Overall I would rate the ST135/3.5 the same as the K135/3.5 which is an 8.
Note: I got my ST135/3.5 as part of a camera kit, so I can’t estimate the individual price for the lens.
Sample shots taken with the ST135/3.5. Photos are medium resolution scans from original negatives.
Camera: SP Film: Fuji Superia ISO: 200
Camera: SP Film: Kodak Gold ISO: 200
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 94
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 29, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Image, build quality and great feel | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Image quality filming
 | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 23
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 22, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | small, light, light focus, sharp at 3.5, easy to focus | | Cons: | low, long focus ring, not very good in details, minimum distance 1.5m | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: SONY A580
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I like it, but the color is not really perfect,
DSC06489 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06449 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06443 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06429 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06427 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06410 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06423 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06514 by aohkz, on Flickr
DSC06469 by aohkz, on Flickr
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2012 Location: Tokyo Posts: 72 | | Review Date: October 14, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, build quality, feel, longevity, optics | | Cons: | cant think of any | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K7
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Just a superb compact telephoto lens. Well made, optically simple but well executed. Lovely to use. Results are excellent. My copy is very sharp, colours are good, contrast excellent even without the hood, bokeh very decent. So many of these around, and so cheap, it's worth buying one whatever your camera, as long as you can get an appropriate M42 mount adapter. Only Pentax SLRs ( I think ? ) will give you in-body stabilisation, so pick up a(nother) Pentax camera too !
Paul
Examples, shot handheld :
Daylight
Twilight
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: December, 2008 Location: Chicago IL USA Posts: 19
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 24, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Good image quality | | Cons: | Focal length always seems either too long or too short | | Camera Used: Spotmatic IIa
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The other reviews have much more useful information than I can provide. Personally I found the 135mm focal length to always be "wrong" ... either too long for portraits & indoor shots, or too short for outdoors long-distance work.
The lens is very well made like pretty much all SMC Takumar screw mount lenses and it always worked flawlessly... but even though 135mm is considered by many to be an ideal focal length, it never seemed to fit the kind of pix I was taking.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: The Earth Posts: 4 | | Review Date: January 28, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build Quality, Real colours & contrast, size, weight.... | | Cons: | Perhaps 3.5 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I´ve got the Super Multi Coated one and I am very happy with it.
Here you can find a review of this lens: http://galactinus.net/vilva/retro/eos350d_takumar135.html | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Posts: 478 | | Review Date: June 7, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
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As with all takumars the build is just great with this lens. I particularly like how the size and weight of the lens make this amenable to bellows work (for macros).
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2010 Location: California Posts: 484 | | Review Date: March 17, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $11.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, solid build, compact, easy to focus, an incredible bargain! | | Cons: | Long min focus distance, not that fast | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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These were made in large quantities, so there is no shortage on the used market. I have the later 4/4 design Super-Takumar version as indicated by the number 43541 on the camera-facing side of the auto/man switch. For the price you pay it deserves a top rating, as it holds its own in image quality against much pricier primes. Where it falls a bit short is in the flexibility department - it is not very fast and you can't use it for anything closer than 1.5m away, but those are minor complaints given the small expense. Everybody should have one!
The Red, White and Blue by Ludger Solbach, on Flickr
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,542
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 25, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, Easy Focus, IQ | | Cons: | Slow | |
I've got the Super-Takumar version of this lens (as well as the SMC Tak 135 2.5) and it's a real surprise! Purchased complete with Hood and Case.
The general IQ is very good to excellent, focusing this lens seems to be very easy and compared to the 135 2.5 version, this lens is ultra compact. With the Super-Takumar version, a hood is definitely needed, the OEM hood is at least 50% the length of the lens itself and really provides a good amount of stray light protection.
I am rating this a 9 but it's really in the 8.5 to 8.75 range. It does not lag far behind the 135 2.5, it's almost right there...
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2010 Posts: 30 | | Review Date: December 14, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Metal construction, just the right weight, large but still easy to carry around | | Cons: | Not THAT sharp | |
I just bought this lens, and I'm very very pleased with it.
I used it on a Spotmatic and a Canon XSi and the results on digital where fairly impressive. I took a few shots using film, I'll take them to my dark room to see how the lens behaves using 35mm.
I always use FP4 (ISO 125) and HP5 (ISO 400) and small apertures, I'll post a few of those when they're done.
So far, what I like the most about this lens is the physical side. It's made entirely of metal, it's heavy but still has just the right balance that makes it perfect to carry around all day while is still heavy enough to help you take a steady shot.
It's very responsive and sharp, but not THAT sharp, mi Canon 50 1,8 II is a little better in that departament.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Posts: 1,673 | | Review Date: November 12, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small, light, sharp, great colours, inexpensive | | Cons: | a little slow | |
I have the SMC version, and it came with the original case, caps and hood. These 135s are common enough that prices are very reasonable.
I'm not wild about the 135mm focal length on aps-c sensors, but this is still a great lens for the price. I find the colours and sharpness are both quite striking.
Samples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/steinback/sets/72157625250788751/ | | |
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