| Author: | | New Member Registered: May, 2021 Posts: 15 | | Review Date: September 24, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, sharpness, color and contrast | | Cons: | (slightly) radioactive | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony A7III
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I have the last version of this lens (SMC, 37908) and it's an absolute beauty
We probably all know that this lens contains thorium, and thus the rear element is a bit yellow. This can create very nice and warm pictures. It's a perfect 'summer lens' but I wouldn't use it on a snowy day.
Build quality is as with every Takumar outstanding. Smooth focus, perfect working aperture, just a pleasure to use.
Here is a small comparison to the Pentax-M 50 f1.4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9lUo60naio | | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2015 Location: Piła Posts: 6 | | Review Date: January 2, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp even wide open (!), handling, weight, build quality | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K5II
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Phenomenal lens for me. Great sharpness at f/1,4 and still excellent when closed. Great build quality, nice rings work. This Takumar has astonishing bokeh, I'm very sattisfied with this item. Very usefull min. focal distance. I love this lens.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2020 Location: Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago Posts: 40
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 15, 2021 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, character, rendering, bokeh, sharpness stopped down | | Cons: | Not the sharpest wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
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So, I think there's enough reviews for this lens, and more than enough information about it out there. The prices have come up in recent years, but I'd still say this is one of the best value vintage lenses for a beginner. This lens will teach you a lot, and you will grow with it, but never OUTgrow it. I'm a bit biased because I never did care for autofocus, or maybe I just can't afford adequate autofocus? Either way, these lenses are an absolute must. There's enough of them to go around, so everyone should have one!
Here's a few of my photos through this lens.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordawesome/albums/72157716958274137
I've since gotten my hands on the SMC version
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordawesome/albums/72177720305467037 | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2020 Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 18, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $118.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sturdy, well built and affordable | | Cons: | Weird aberrations, lens yellowing | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Spotmatic SPII & Adapted Canon Rebel T6
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Rather hard to achieve good focus at f/1.4 even with my Spotmatic compared to my other M42 mount lenses.
Mine was rather yellowed, but using the NÄVLINGE LED work lamp from IKEA cleared it up in a matter of days.
Because of the small count of aperture blades, it leads to weird aberrations and strange, unrefined bokeh.
That being said, it's my favorite 50mm lens I've ever owned and is just so much to handle, and look at - it's gorgeous.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2020 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 2
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 27, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, Color rendition, Handling, Reputation and availability | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Fuji XE-3
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This is an incredible lens, far superior than what I had expected for a lens that is 50 years old and what I paid. Mine is model 2 which is probably least sought after but I am still blown away. Sharpness is decent to excellent, color rendition and bokeh is beautiful and if you compose carefully, you get almost circular highlights. I am seriously considering purchasing the 8 element version and the later Super Multicoated versions. I am surprised not many people know about it, since most people look for unique look which this lens easily delivers. Also, it is widely available and not hard to get a good copy. I have seen some almost new copies on Ebay (especially sellers in Japan) for bargain price. Built like a tank, it would outlast any modern lens. In fact modern lenses seem like toys in comparison. I think even if you own a fast prime, you should try this and I am sure you won't be disappointed. 
I love it so much that I made a short video showing some of the pictures taken with it. All those pictures were shot almost back to back within 30-45 minutes.
Check out some pictures I recently shot with this lens! Thank you.
https://youtu.be/uj2ppRzxQbo
 | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2013 Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 1, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | cheap | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: kr
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awesome lense
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2019 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 11, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | build quality, smooth focus, f1.4, great indoors in low light | | Cons: | hit and miss IQ | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony a6000
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I bought this lens because of its reputation and I wanted to try for myself.
My lens does have a real yellowing to the elements which makes black and white photos looks fantastic, as well as indoor shots. When pockets of light are present in patches the photos are beautiful.
But, in my opinion the yellowing doesn't make colour photos pleasing at all. Grass especially looks to bright for my liking. In conclusion this is a lens that is going to take some working out to know when it will work and when to leave it at home.
As with all taks, the build quality is superb, as is the smoothness of the focus ring. It is a joy to behold.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2016 Location: New York, NY. Posts: 1
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 3, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, color rendering, ease to handle, built quality. | | Cons: | N/A | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony a7II
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I own this lens for over a decade and have used it with several camera systems. Currently enjoying it Sony cameras.
The built construction and design of the lens is superb. Wide open you get a dreamy yet sharp image. Contrast and color rendering and both great. Bokeh can't be judge in a negative way.
One of my favorite 50's and one of my top 10 lenses.
Only edit in the picture below was to add a "W" on the cat's tag to hide the contact info.
Watson by Gimo Nasiff, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2015 Posts: 11 | | Review Date: January 31, 2020 | Not Recommended | Price: $165.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Sharp above f/2. Robust construction; M42 | | Cons: | Soft and hazy wide open | | Sharpness: 4
Aberrations: 3
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 6
Camera Used: K-S2; NX500
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I have the second version (1965-71): 7 element.
This lens is acceptably sharp at f/2 (white dot). At f/1.4 it is soft and hazy on 100% view. For portraits, that might be okay for small image sizes. CA is a serious problem. Green on one end to magenta on the other.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2019 Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 23, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Price,IQ, Build, Sharpness, fast and smooth focus throw. | | Cons: | Discoloring, Radioactive, | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: canon 6d
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I am not sure if this is a review or a love letter. I bought this lens years ago to go on my Canon Rebel, namely for the sake of video. I always thought that one day I would upgrade to expensive Canon L glass. My first and only upgrade was to a full frame Canon 6d, that I replaced the focusing screen in. Then I realised what this lens was really about. Instead of buying something new I just shot on this lens on my canon 6d for the next 6-7 years. I did pick up a takumar 135mm 3.5 and those two became my bag for years. I would add an odd lens here or there, but those I always traded in and tried new things. This and the 135 are such consistent performers and they are both 49mm thread so the thickness is the same. This helps muscle memory and is now the basis for how I pick out a lens. I only shoot on 49mm thread lenses 99% of the time.
This lens has some serious sample, I have tried five versions(including the 8 element) of this lens, I've owned four and also own and use the Pentax-m 50mm 1.4. The 2 7 element super takumars seemed to be the sharpest and the most discolored. I really did not care for the 8 element I tried, It was not as sharp as the others and not different enough to good enough to justify the collector's item inflated price it has. It definitely is not "Better" and to be honest if you are looking for a pentax/takumar 50mm just don't get a k mount 50 f2 and you will have a seriously great lens. The S-M-C(Spelt out version) was sharp enough wide open to be usable, the SMC(Rubber ring) takumar I had was too soft wide open, I always shoot @f2 and by then the only difference in any 7 element version after that is gone. Basically almost all samly variation will be found wide open. Pentax-m 50 1.4 looks and feels identical, just not discolored.
Where this lens really shines(and this includes basically every version, 8 element, smc pentax k mount, pentax-m, and pentax-a) is it's focus throw length and dampening combined with its weight give possibility one of the best feeling lenses that can be had in this price range. If you can wait and not buy the first one you see on ebay you can find them for $50, sometimes less. Ebay tend to have them for around 80 on average I would say. I also see them on facebook marketplace all of the time. There you can find them for super cheap.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/101506171@N05/22312368432/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/101506171@N05/22312368432/in/dateposted-public/
https://sbpphoto.smugmug.com/Portraits/i-F6Ww6cM/A
https://sbpphoto.smugmug.com/Music/i-TFZcdpT/A | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2018 Posts: 16
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 22, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp focus, bokeh, focus feel, build | | Cons: | Can't think of any | | Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K5
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Very nice lens. It's the best vintage lens I have (easily). Great bokeh even when using the K5's crop camera sensor. Maybe if had to say anything negative, it might be the color is maybe not quite as warm as some of my other lenses. Love to use this one though!
I have the non-radioactive version. Anyway, a pic's worth much more than my few words, so here's a test shot taken recently:
I've ordered some old M42 macro tubes to see what more the lens can do ...
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2014 Posts: 408 | | Review Date: August 11, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $85.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellent sharpness | | Cons: | cost! | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 7
Camera Used: Pentax K-S1
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Excellent lens, and despite some comments to the contrary, they can exist with yellowed inner elements. Not a clue if they are radioactive or not, but leaving in bright sunlight can help, although I have a UV light which speeds up the reversal of the yellowing. But don't get hung up on it-even with the yellowing, colour rendition is good, and can also be altered in post-processing. Compared with many other manufacturers it is a compact lens, as are most of the prime Taks. I still use one on my Pentax DSLR with an adapter. Is it worth the extra cost over the f1.8? Only you can answer. Back in the day when that extra bit of brightness was a bonus on the Spotmatic viewing screen I would have said yes. Now, I'm not so sure, especially with amazing asa speeds I would have killed for when I first started using colour back in the 1960's. 25 asa anyone?
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2019 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: June 19, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $59.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Great build quality | | Cons: | Very soft wide open | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: Sony A6000
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I purchased this lens recently and I've been enjoying it ever since.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2019 Posts: 15
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 14, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small and light | | Cons: | It's cultish following | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 1
Camera Used: ME Super K2
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A very good lens that is very fine in terms of picture quality from f4 to f11 in most picture-taking contexts. Being a f1.4 lens, it has grown a cult following and the interactions of online profit-orientation markets and cultish online banter about "tack sharp Taks" mutually feed each other with great enthusiasm. I'm never convinced that f1.4 versions of the Takumar 55mm are better than f1.8 or f2 lenses. And when a lens costs so much more, things should be so much better. In old secondhand designs "wide open" does not always give sharper images; especially when an old lens is likely to have filthy glass edging inside and some spots of fungus around the edges through the long life it's had. What I am convinced about is that most folks with the spare cash to buy the often incredibly over-inflated secondhand charge for the f1.4 version are going to be buying a lens that has been serviced properly because the seller knows they can rip folks off for an extra $100-$200 for a wipe with a lens cloth in comparison to selling a F1.8 version. A properly cleaned and properly looked after f1.8 lens is just as fine nine times out of ten. The crazy-expensive SMC later versions with M42 mounts have slightly better coatings, but this is only noticeable if you tend to take pictures into - or across - direct sunlight without a lens hood. The earlier lens coatings are still very good and will suit most people perfectly. For the ridiculous extra costs often charged for "SMC" blue/green coatings you will probably never notice any real difference to "Super Takumar" earlier lenses with yellow/gold coatings. By the way, there are movies and reviews online about treating "yellowed" Takumar glass with UV light. Don't take any notice as that yellow/gold tint is the coating on "Super Takumar" lenses. So, a very good lens - but I challenge you to actually compare a f1.4 with a f1.8 and a f2 by their photos and you'll be pushed to tell them apart without knowing which is which.
| | | | | Closed Account Registered: March, 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 415
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 19, 2018 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | All as posted previously | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1 Mark II
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Super-Multi-Coated Takumar version - 7 elements.
All has been said and more on this (those versions) lens in all past reviews. I just want to add that the centre sharpness is exceptional at all apertures, even at f16.0. Posted are the photos at ISO 100, f5.6, f8.0, f11.0, f16.0 and with no corrections - straight out of the box.
I used a test chart, on a 24" x 36" pegboard, which seems to be fairly accurate with my new K1 mark II and noticed that the centre sharpness may be shown as being as low as 3.6 ln/mm (line pairs per mm). Tweaking the focus in live view in "focus peaking" shows results down to 4.0 (?) lp/mm but I must say 3.6 as seen below is still pretty good being a higher standard for high quality lenses.
Other findings are lower edge sharpness, low edge distortion, minimal CA, low contrast, no light fall-off.
I fully intend to keep on using this lens with my K1.
At f5.6 https://www.dropbox.com/s/eqtcqwdk85q2qwv/_IMG0261.jpg?dl=0
At f8.0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/ar0yk2sg768w50o/_IMG0262.jpg?dl=0
At f 11.0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/z4kclcm33yt5cs2/_IMG0265.jpg?dl=0
At f16.0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/59i8bgbqwieclv3/_IMG0266.jpg?dl=0
Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Super-Takumar-50mm-F1.4-Early.html#ixzz5aA2cKfaX | | |
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