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S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5 Review RSS Feed

S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5

Sharpness 
 8.5
Aberrations 
 8.3
Bokeh 
 8.4
Handling 
 9.1
Value 
 9.2
Reviews Views Date of last review
49 382,982 Sat August 28, 2021
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
92% of reviewers $46.28 8.53
S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5

S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5
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S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5
supersize
S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5

Description:
This is the second set of 135 mm F3.5 lenses, consisting of two variants. This set has just four optical elements, whereas the first set had five elements (see the separate entry for the four variants of the first set).

Super-Takumar 1:3.5/135 (model 2) - coarse ribs on aperture ring (second photo):
Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5 (model 2)
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
4 elements, 4 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Stop-down Pin
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F3.5
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
150 cm
Max. Magnification
0.11x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 12 ° / 10 °
Full frame: 18 ° / 15 °
Hood
Metal hood
Case
Dedicated hard case
Lens Cap
Coating
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
59.5 x 87.5 mm
Weight
343 g
Production Years
1965 to 1971
Engraved Name
Super-Takumar 1:3.5/135
Product Code
43541
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Coarse knurls on aperture ring. Never has the numeral 4 marking f/4
Variants

1: Takumar 135mm F3.5, chrome and black, close focus 200 cm
2: Auto-Takumar 135mm F3.5
3: Takumar 135mm F3.5, all black, close focus 150 cm
4: Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5, model 1, same 5 element optics as the predecessors
5: Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5, model 2, 4 element optical design (this lens)
6: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm F3.5, same 4 element optical design as the latest Super-Takumar



Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1:3.5/135 (first photo):
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm F3.5
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
4 elements, 4 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Open-aperture Metering
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F3.5
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
150 cm
Max. Magnification
0.11x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 12 ° / 10 °
Full frame: 18 ° / 15 °
Hood
Metal hood
Case
Dedicated hard case
Lens Cap
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
59.5 x 87.5 mm
Weight
331 g
Production Years
1971 (start of production)
Engraved Name
Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:3.5/135
Product Code
43542
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Open aperture metering with Spotmatic F, ES and ESII
Variants

1: Takumar 135mm F3.5, chrome and black, close focus 200 cm
2: Auto-Takumar 135mm F3.5
3: Takumar 135mm F3.5, all black, close focus 150 cm
4: Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5, model 1, same 5 element optics as the predecessors
5: Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5, model 2, 4 element optical design
6: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm F3.5, same 4 element optical design as the latest Super-Takumar (this lens)

Features:
Manual FocusAperture RingFull-Frame SupportAdapter needed for DSLRsDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 49
New Member

Registered: April, 2015
Posts: 11
Review Date: September 29, 2019 Not Recommended | Price: $140.00 | Rating: 4 

 
Pros: Good contrast and colours
Cons: Below average sharpness and bokeh
Sharpness: 6    Aberrations: 4    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 5    Value: 1    Camera Used: K-30   

I have Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 135mm f/3.5. Compared to several other 135mm f/2.8 lenses, there is nothing special about this Takumar. Sharpness is below average; CA is average; corner sharpness is ok, and; bokeh is relatively good. Only good thing is acceptable contrast and colour.
For a detailed comparison, see: here.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2010
Location: Southern England
Posts: 623
Review Date: July 13, 2010 Not Recommended | Rating: 3 

 
Pros: Beautifully made, a joy to focus
Cons: Mine's in no way sharp, probably my least sharp lens

I bought this along with a CZJ 135mm/3.5 Sonnar, and was thus able to make an instant comparison: the Zeiss was miles sharper, at all apertures, and had much better colour and contrast to boot. I was shocked!

(Actually, my CZJ is the only vintage lens I've seen which approaches modern-day Pentax colour/contrast, but that's another story.)

Incidentally, my lens is, I think, a Mk.1 Super-Takumar, which has 5 elements in 4 groups - as opposed to the later Super-Taks and S-M-C Taks (and Pentax-K) which are 4/4.

(Note that the Pentax-M has a 5-element, 5-group formula.)

I'd be interested to know if there appears to be a correlation between Mk.1/Mk.2 and IQ. I believe you can distinguish between the versions as follows:

Mk.1 has finer knurled aperture ring, which has a "4" marked between "5.6" and "3.5".

I'm sorry to have to give such a negative review. Maybe I've just got myself a bad copy - or possibly it's suffered from a bad "repair" some time in it's life. Anyway, if I ever come across a cheap S-M-C version, I shall buy it and hopefully be able to submit something more positive!
   
Pentaxian

Registered: May, 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 558
Review Date: May 4, 2008 Not Recommended | Price: $32.00 | Rating: 3 

 
Pros: Good color
Cons: Not sharp!!

My Takumar was purchased from ebay and is in very good condition for it's age.I already had a 135mm super albinar and was looking forward to the improved output this lens might provide.I was very surprised to find the CHEAP Albinar lens"made in korea" is much sharper than the Takumar.If i had it to do over again i'd be lookin for something else!!
   
Senior Member

Registered: December, 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 143
Review Date: January 16, 2007 Not Recommended | Price: $10.00 | Rating: 6 

 
Pros:
Cons: M42 mount
Sharpness: 6    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 6    Value: 6   

S/N series 1740000 Good for a starving artist, if the artist had a Pentax.

You want to use this lens with your subject in bright daylight. Otherwise, shade or dim light will show off its lack of contrast and softness. Best used for big things not too far away on sunny days, stopped down a few stops,, in my opinion.

Closest focus point is 5 feet. Not hard to focus.

So far, this is the best image I've made with this lens after PP to gain contrast.
http://www.snowdomer.com/jpg/tiger135_crop.jpg
   
New Member

Registered: May, 2021
Posts: 15
Review Date: August 28, 2021 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Size, build quality
Cons: Only 3.5
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: Sony A7iii   

The thing I like most about this lens is its compact size. It's much smaller than I expected it to be. Overall it's a very nice lens, I can't think of any flaws apart from only being able to go as low as f3.5 but you get what you pay for. If you want a faster 135 then you should go for the 2.5

Here are some video samples of the 135mm f3.5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPPuoaD0SHM
   
New Member

Registered: October, 2019
Posts: 1
Review Date: December 31, 2019 Recommended | Price: $22.90 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Built, Bokeh, Sharpness, handling and color rendition
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Panasonic Lumix G85   

The first thing that struck me when I got the lens was the solid build, compact construction. Colors are warm and rich. Focus ring is very smooth. If you come across one I highly recommend it.
   
New Member

Registered: July, 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 1

11 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 12, 2019 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Razor sharp wide open, colours, contrast best built lens ever light.
Cons: None worth mentioning.
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

I have never posted here before but am a lifelong Pentax user, for over 50 years. The reason I have broken my silence is that it seems some folks can't handle perfection and need to attack it, maybe because they are so flawed it makes them crazy. I am referring to the bashing this lens seems to get from a few sources, including right here on the forum. To start with nobody should buy this lens that is not really good with manual focus and expect to get good results wide open, this lens is razor sharp wide open but only if you nail focus and that takes allot of practice especially with this lens. This lens needs the lens hood YOU WILL NOT GET GREAT RESULTS WITHOUT IT! But if you use a lens hood and practice with this lens there is not a better 3.5 135 manual focus lens out there, period. I think I have used most of the M42 lenses by now and none of them is made like this lens, it is a joy to use, I think it is the very pinnacle of lens engineering art. So in conclusion if you are serious about photography and want to improve your skills as a photographer with maybe the best build lens ever offered, this lens will take you there, and you will have fun along the way. If you want something to take the picture for you to make up for your lack of skill don't bother with this lens.
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2019
Posts: 15

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 15, 2019 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: It works
Cons: Over-inflated cost
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 7    Camera Used: K2 ME Super K-X   

I have the Super Takumar 135mm f3.5

If you look at the other thread on this forum's menu for the 135mm f3.5 Takumar you'll see the same lens being rated better than this one. That's because lots of people don't know which lens they have, so treat minor distinctions on this forum as variable in specific accuracy. It's surprising how many reviews fail to observe there are different lenses here, so be careful if you are reading these reviews with a purchase in mind.

The Super Takumar is a good to very good (nothing more, nothing less) lens. This is a great lens at f5.6 to f11 but beyond that range it's nothing special at all. f16 can be very good in some conditions, though.

It has a nice basic and simple mechanism makes it easy to use. It's not heavy. Same diameter as a Takumar 55mm lens and about twice as long. So it's neat and tidy and can easily vanish into a coat pocket. Easy to keep clean and easy to service yourself with the right tools and a bit of know how. Mine seems to be a little unresponsive with the "firing pin" on the thread mount. It has to travel a long way to the aperture mechanism - if you are using the lens on a proper M42 film camera - and it can drag or stick in cold weather, even when serviced. It's not a great design in that regard in comparison with modern lenses. The only regular awkward thing is the huge focus turning circle, but only a fusspot pedant would find that worth a reason not to buy this lens. Sharpness is variable - as you'd expect - so it's frustrating to see some reviews not mentioning variables across the f-stop range. At f5.6 the "Super Takumar" is good in the centre and edge but f8 and f11 are very good in the centre while still good at the edge. Beyond that range the "Super Takumar" is quite soft and disappointing. At f22 the chromatic aberration is noticeable in high contrast images, but it's acceptable through the rest of the range to f3.5

"Super" Takumar or "Super Multi Coating" Takumar? Don't be fooled by three words on the lens rim as they are not that different in terms of picture quality. The "SMC" lens is simply uprated for later Pentax Spotmatic camera versions with better light meter mechanisms. The "Super Takumar" coatings are pale pinky/mauve in comparison to the yellow/gold of the Super Takumar 55mm lens range. The Super coatings are very good, but you need to use a hood to ensure strong sunlight is kept off the front lens. Alternatively, SMC coatings look more purple/green/blue in most light conditions and are more protective, but you'll pay for that and they will only make a difference in certain angles of strong light invasion so it's a bit like throwing cash away for little benefit unless you like shooting into the light. You see, there is not much glass in this lens, so you won't get much reflection/refraction anyway. The "Super" lens is very good for $60 and good for $90. The "Super Multi Coating" is ridiculously inflated in price at about 25% more. Luckily, some sellers will not attempt to rip you off with high prices for the "Super Multi Coating" version of this lens, but some will. Be choosy.

By the way, if your camera can take Pentax K mount lenses, the 135mm "M" Series Pentax SMC lens is much better in image quality and ease of use to Takumar 135mm lenses, and you can find them for even lower prices at often much better levels of care and condition than old Takumars.
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2017
Posts: 3
Review Date: November 2, 2017 Recommended | Price: $33.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Good
Cons: Slow
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: Canon m10   

I have a limited budget, so i chosed this lense, and i am supprise for its value
   
New Member

Registered: July, 2016
Location: New York, NY.
Posts: 1
Review Date: January 15, 2017 Recommended | Price: $30.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, lightweight, snappy, sharp.
Cons: None so far.
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Sony a6000 + Zhongyi focal reducer   

I've got two copies of this lens from an estate sale. Both perform equally good.
These lenses are small and light, easy to handle.
Not a fast lens, being f/3.5 the widest aperture, you'll need good natural light to shoot handheld or tripod otherwise.

PICTURES BELOW ARE UNEDITED.

Shot at f/3.5 with natural light.



Shot at f/8 with natural light.



Shot at f/3.5 with flash bounce.

   
New Member

Registered: June, 2016
Location: Dhaka
Posts: 4

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: June 14, 2016 Recommended | Price: $34.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Everything
Cons: Struggles in low light
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: k50   

My copy is Super Takumar 135mm, this is my first vintage lens and loving it since I got it in my hand. Not that sharpest lens out in the market but with some basic editing and you can have the best result. Bokeh is superb and better than a lot of "Digital" lenses. Handling is easy, very easy...nice long focus ring with "neaty" aperture control. Check out the photos, I have taken my best photos with this lens (Well, I'm not a good photographer after all)





   
New Member

Registered: February, 2016
Posts: 3
Review Date: February 22, 2016 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Mechanically state of the art. Decent iq
Cons: Lacks character. Long mfd
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 8    Camera Used: Eos 450, k-5   

A fine lens, with brilliant built and smoooth focussing ring. It does not excel at anything, but it is balanced and reliable. IQ wide open is slightly inferior to jupiter 37A, but stopped down they are similar. Colors are also similar, warmish.
The main downside is long mfd, 1.50m.
I feel it lacks character, if this means anything, and it does not appeal to me that much, but it's just a subjective opinión.
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2016
Posts: 1

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 11, 2016 Recommended | Price: $65.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Bokeh, sharpness, handling
Cons: none that i can think at the moment
Sharpness: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Canon 1200D with focus confirmation chip   

First of all. sorry if my english isn't very good.
I give this lens a 9 because my lack of experience. It could be better, or worse.
For the price i have paid, i couldn't ask for more. Here in Brazil lenses are expensive, very expensive, so thanks to you guys and the reviews i've read in this forum i've decided to go face first in the takumar world.
I've bought the Super Takumar version, with the f4 stop mark on the apperture ring. So it's old.
Old but gold. It's in almost mint condition, with very very light marks on the body. The focusing ring is smoth and the glass is cristal clear. Sure ir have a lot of dust, but i've never saw any of it in any picture.
When i unboxed i wasn't able to believe a lens so old could be in so magnific shape (until i got my 55 takumar that is mint). I've got it with lens hood and back cap for 260 BRL
The focus confirmation chip on my eos adaptador helps a lot. Without it would probably miss 9 out of 10 shots.
The lens is everything everybody talked about earlier. I can't say anything that wasn't said before.
On a canon cropped body the metering is wonky, but most of the time I can put on A mode, and set the exposure compensation to +2/3 to nail the exposure. If the exposure isn't nailed then a darktable magic can save the raw files.
I'm a begginer, and so, i would never get something focal lenght so sharp at my bugdet.
I will leave some pictures of it, but they are mere snapshots compared to most of the work i've seen in this thread.
Thank you guys for posting so much information about this lens. Without you i would be saving for buying a canon EF-S lens that would be nowhere close to this beautiful takumar.







   
Junior Member

Registered: January, 2016
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 32
Review Date: January 8, 2016 Recommended | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Light, price.
Cons: Coating, slow.
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-3   

A few months ago I had a Super Takumar. This is a cheap, light lens. But slow and a average coating.

Comparing to MC Sonnar 135mm f/3.5 this lens is good but nothing special. But MC Sonnar is not a holy grail. Holy grail is a SMC Pentax-K 135mm f/2.5 or MC Biometar 120mm f/2.5 from Pentacon Six (6x6)...

   
New Member

Registered: February, 2015
Posts: 4

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 16, 2015 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Cheap, Handling, IQ, and stuff
Cons: Slow, if that is important to you
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Canon 6D   

I wanted this lens for a bit, and saw it at a local thrift store, what luck. I am guessing that people do not like that it is f3.5. I love it, I can get contrast and color without geometrical bokeh. 6d only goes down to 1/4000. It is a day time lens with good control wide open due to the size. I have a 135 f2.5 tak, I hate it, I have to stop down to 3.5 to 5.6 alway, at that point forget it, the bokeh is too razor sharp. Also, all I shoot are tak's, this one unlike the larger 135 is that same 49mm thread, so not only does it fit the same stuff as the 50mm and 105mm, they feel the exact same. When you only manually focus that is so important. More important than contrast, sharpness, and well anything. Glad these lens have it all. The shot below is unedited, there is come C/A. But better than a lot of other good tak's I have.

Add Review of S-M-C/Super-Takumar 135mm F3.5



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