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S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4 Review RSS Feed

S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4

Sharpness 
 9.4
Aberrations 
 7.5
Bokeh 
 8.1
Handling 
 8.9
Value 
 9.3
Reviews Views Date of last review
17 94,613 Fri March 22, 2024
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
94% of reviewers $54.47 8.94
S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4

S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4
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S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4
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S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4
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Description:
The three variants of this lens were very similar to each other with miniscule differences in weight. The 1971 variant (see first photo) has the super multi coating and supports open aperture metering with the Spotmatic F, ES, and ES II.

Super-Takumar, early
Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (early)
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
5 elements, 5 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Stop-down Pin
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
180 cm
Max. Magnification
0.1x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 11 ° / 9 °
Full frame: 16 ° / 14 °
Hood
Metal hood
Case
Lens Cap
Coating
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
59.5 x 95 mm
Weight
320 g
Production Years
1965 to 1967
Engraved Name
Super-Takumar 1:4/150
Product Code
374, 43740
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
The metal hood is shared between the 135mm F3.5, 150mm F4, and 200mm F5.6 lenses.
Variants

1: Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (374, 43740) (this lens)
2: Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (43741)
3: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 150mm F4



Super-Takumar, late (second photo)
Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (late)
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
5 elements, 5 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Stop-down Pin
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
180 cm
Max. Magnification
0.1x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 11 ° / 9 °
Full frame: 16 ° / 14 °
Hood
Metal hood
Case
Lens Cap
Coating
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
59.5 x 95 mm
Weight
324 g
Production Years
1967 to 1971
Engraved Name
Super-Takumar 1:4/150
Product Code
43741
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
The metal hood is shared between the 135mm F3.5, 150mm F4, and 200mm F5.6 lenses.
Were not aware of any other differences than the weight between the first and second variant.
Variants

1: Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (374, 43740)
2: Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (43741) (this lens)
3: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 150mm F4



Super-Multi-Coated Takumar (first photo)
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 150mm F4
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
5 elements, 5 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Open-aperture Metering
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
180 cm
Max. Magnification
0.1x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 11 ° / 9 °
Full frame: 16 ° / 14 °
Hood
Metal hood
Case
Lens Cap
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
59 x 95 mm
Weight
330 g
Production Years
1971 (start of production)
Engraved Name
Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4/150
Product Code
43742
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Open aperture metering with Spotmatic F, ES and ESII.
The metal hood is shared between the 135mm F3.5, 150mm F4, and 200mm F5.6 lenses.
Variants

1: Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (374, 43740)
2: Super-Takumar 150mm F4 (43741)
3: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 150mm F4 (this lens)

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



Add Review of S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 17
New Member

Registered: November, 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 18

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 23, 2007 Not Recommended | Price: $47.00 | Rating: 5 

 
Pros: sharp
Cons: mediocre colors, intrusive chromatic aberration at wider apertures, poor bokeh
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 2    Bokeh: 2    Handling: 6    Value: 5   

This lens is quite sharp, even wide open, corner to corner, but that is all that can be said for it. It has pronounced chromatic aberration at the wider apertures, at sharp boundaries between light and dark areas. The bokeh is classicly bad - bright ring bokeh for out-of-focus highlights, and doubling - for example, out of focus twigs look like two partially overlapping twigs. In addition, the color rendering is at best mediocre - (I have the super takumar version). I would not recommend this lens because the comparably priced 135 f3.5 super takumar is much better, as is the the 200 f4 SMC (though it too suffers from chromatic aberration at the wider apertures). My images taken with this lens just don't have much eye appeal.
   
New Member

Registered: January, 2024
Posts: 2
Review Date: March 22, 2024 Recommended | Price: $30.00 | Rating: N/A 

 
Pros: sharpness, colors, build quality
Cons: aperture
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: Sony A7II   

Few my pictures with this lens. For the money I spent it's great lens.

https://youtu.be/P0LssjeaRig
   
New Member

Registered: April, 2022
Posts: 9
Review Date: April 17, 2022 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, light
Cons: Aberrations
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 5    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K3, K1   

I am somewhat new to the vintage lens game. Sure, I still own and use a 50 F1.7M I have owned since the early 80s, and a 135 F2.5 since the mid-80s, but I only recently started purposely buying old lenses. The 150 F4.0 Super-Takumar is my third such purchase. I went in knowing what I was getting, and as such I did not knock the lens for its slow maximum aperture. I am not only fine with the slow aperture, I sought it out because buying it meant that I would have a seventh lens that uses my 49 mm filters.

Build quality is superb, and the copy I got is in extremely good condition given its age. Glass is fine, without even any dust inside. There are a few marks on the barrel, but that's fine. The aperture ring works flawlessly, and the focusing is precise and smooth, and better than the manual focus for every AF lens I have ever used. (And it's not the best focusing Takumar I own, either.)

My copy is a bit finicky in use. If focus is not spot on, the images are not usable for me. That's a me thing, I know, and when focus is on, some images are very nice indeed. Sure, contrast in particular is not the best, but it can be enhanced after the fact. Aberrations are pretty bad, as expected, but they can also be fixed after the fact. Bokeh can be superb (as in one linked shot) or so-so, so I rated in an 8. For $40, not only can I not complain, I can only say positive things.

Three images are linked below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/119228821@N02/51978090847/in/album-72177720297460470/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/119228821@N02/51959318237/in/album-72177720297460470/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/119228821@N02/51960956297/in/album-72177720297460470/
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2019
Posts: 3
Review Date: February 4, 2019 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp sharp sharp
Cons: Hard to use with certain adapters
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 7    Value: 10    Camera Used: Sony A7R II   

This is the sharpest lens I have ever used. I use it on Sony A7R II with Fotodiox adapter, hard to use. I have to unscrew the lens a little to be able change the aperture and rescrew.
   
New Member

Registered: March, 2013
Location: NE England
Posts: 13
Review Date: September 16, 2018 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, good colour rendition, build quality.
Cons: None
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: KP, S1a   

I had a damaged SMC version of this lens that wouldn't focus to infinity. I took a chance and got another copy from eBay that turned out to be the early 60s Super Tak version. Superb lens: very sharp and easy to manual focus with the KP. I use the Pentax M42 adapter ring and in-camera focus confirmation. A 'must have' if you collect old Takumars.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: February, 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,369

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 28, 2018 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Smooth focusing, bokeh
Cons: non-SMC versions can be a little "flat"
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-1   

I received this lens in a Spotmatic kit I won on an auction which included the Spotmatic, 35 3.5, 150 4 and a case for $50. I put it on the K-1 and took it to work with me for a three day weekend.

I have the early Super Takumar version.

I have been very impressed with this lens. Takumar smooth focussing was a pleasure to use. The lens is quite sharp from f/4 and edge sharpness nearly reaches center at 5.6. Aberrations were well controlled for a non-SMC lens, but did require some added contrast in post. The biggest surprise was the bokeh from this lens, it was much nicer than I expected.

All shots done in manual mode. I found the best exposure to be -.5 to -.7 exposure compensation.

_IMG0958 by Tony Wilhelm, on Flickr

_IMG0965 by Tony Wilhelm, on Flickr

_IMG0955 by Tony Wilhelm, on Flickr

_IMG0949 by Tony Wilhelm, on Flickr
   
Site Supporter

Registered: September, 2010
Location: MD
Posts: 1,029
Review Date: November 20, 2014 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: small, sharp, solid, sublime
Cons: nothing reallly
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-30   

I have the Super Takumar version, and it is a lovely little lens. Mine came in excellent condition with caps and the original leather case.
I use Av mode, and it meters well. Wonderful to handle with plenty of focus control. Small and lightweight for 150mm. It is very sharp across the frame even at f4. Even better at f5.6-8 and slowly diminishing to f16.
150mm is a bit unusual on a APSC (= 225mm), but I'm finding good use for it.
To compare it w/ other lenses I have, it is better than my Pentax M 75-150mm f4. The DAL 55-300 (which is at 4.5 at 150mm) can compete, but its only image advantage is bettter contrast. I can touch things up in post-processing with the Super Tak.
Simply a wonderful lens. And an obligatory cat picture...
   
Senior Member

Registered: May, 2012
Posts: 140

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 3, 2013 Recommended | Price: $25.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharp, great feel and build quality, different focal length
Cons: manual focus (i guess that is a negative)
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

I have had this lens for a few weeks now and love it. Got it super cheap online ($25 with hood and case, all in near perfect condition) and if looks like it was hardly ever used. The only issue was that the ring showing the lens i.d. was somewhat unscrewed so that there were no exposed threads for a filter. I posted a message in the forums and a user advised how to get it screwed back in (rubber sink stopper works great). I did so and now it is perfect. Super sharp (when you nail the focus), and very nice bokeh. The lens feels great in the hand, and the focus ring is silky smooth. Also, great size for the focal length. Barely bigger than most 135's, (and smaller than some). My only complaint, and it is a very minor one, is that the hood doesn't mount on backwards like the bayonet-style hoods, and you can't take the hood on or off with a lens cap on. But these are minor gripes that don't really count anyway (why impose modern standards on what i know is an old lens?) and don't really detract from what is a great lens.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: April, 2012
Location: Melbs
Posts: 1,237

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 18, 2012 Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: LIGHT!
Cons: its just has a bad rap being 150mm
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K10D   

It seems I'm forever scoring highly for any Tak I come across.. perhaps its more the Tak then me. Anyway... this arrived today. Gob smacked by how light it is. I was worried at f4 it might be a little slow to use handheld and low shutter speeds, but its not. You could shoot at 1/15 and be happy.

This focal length will be interesting to get used too. Its only odd because I haven't really shot at 150mm before. So I'll sit down and work out how big things are going to be on my sensor so I can get some appreciation for this wonderful little thing.

Sharp at f4, like any Tak to handle smooth and wonderful. Mine came with a hood (just to gloat) and its all a wonderful size / weight combo.

This is going to be fun

Oh. f4 is fast enough to dissolve fly screen doors that may be in your way

Straight outa camera, scaled down to 1600x1200

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xNhYsCdJn-k/UJsglWBKDFI/AAAAAAAAETs/H74jL...0/IMGP4378.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-STcV2EmorfU/UJsgkv5O2HI/AAAAAAAAETo/DxrFz...0/IMGP4354.JPG
   
Veteran Member

Registered: December, 2009
Location: Ontario
Posts: 550
Review Date: October 7, 2011 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Image quality, Size
Cons: F4
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 6    Bokeh: 6    Handling: 9   

I just purchased a Super Takumar variant of the lens and took it for a walk in the park. My initial impressions are that it is a superb lens. I also own a SMC 135mm f3.5 and between the two the 150mm is awesome.

The size between the two is nearly identical. The 135mm is a little bit faster but the 150mm is sharp even wide open at f4 so the advantage is somewhat mute.

The only down size in the 150mm is the close focusing distance isn't as good but that is a given at 150mm.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2009
Location: Ohio, USA/ India
Posts: 478
Review Date: June 7, 2011 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: IQ, Build,
Cons:

Some photographers overlook this lens because of the "neither here nor there" focal length. For me this odd focal length is a plus - the glass is not heavy like the 200, in fact the lens size is comparable to the 135. This means I can handhold this for some fun macros when mounted onto the bellows.
   
Junior Member

Registered: October, 2010
Location: Dundas, Ontario
Posts: 28

5 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 27, 2011 Recommended | Price: $30.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Compact, sharp, great colour and contrast
Cons: Excellent lens

Review for SMC Takumar 150 F4 - Very good performing prime. A bit slow at F4? Maybe...but depends on application. For outdoor use it's perfect, sharp and contrasty wide open with very life like colour output. Highly recommended if you can find one. I found one in a photo shop just tucked away...













   
Senior Member

Registered: November, 2009
Location: Slovenija
Posts: 145

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 6, 2010 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Very sharp, size and weight
Cons: not the best bokeh

Wide open already razor sharp. Built quality just like all Takumars excellent.
   
Senior Member

Registered: July, 2008
Location: montreal
Posts: 136
Review Date: November 17, 2008 Recommended | Price: $120.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness,built quality and focusing
Cons: none for me

I don't use it much (i should) because i have lenses in the same range.It's a very good lens like all my Takumar,i have the Super Takumar version.It's quite sharp and the focusing is sublime like old lenses should be.The only thing is the minimum focusing distance that is a bit long.You can't go wrong with this one.Didn't have any problem with PF or CA up to now.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: December, 2007
Posts: 8,237

5 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 24, 2008 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Beautiful, rich colors, sharp even wide open
Cons: Close focus

This is a wonderful lens, so very sharp stopped down one, but even very sharp wide open. Focusing is so precise, and of course it has the Super Tak build.

A bit longer than the 135, better FOV than the 200, this is a perfect telephoto for street shooting, and a very nice long portrait lens. Highly recommended.


Add Review of S-M-C/Super Takumar 150mm F4



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