| Author: | | New Member Registered: April, 2013 Posts: 7 | | Review Date: April 20, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $31.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image Quality, smooth handling, metal build quality, cheap price | | Cons: | None so far | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon T3i
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I bought this lens after lots of research.
I figured it would be a very good bang for my buck.
I was actually very surprised how sharp the photos are with this lens. (Maybe because I've only been using the kit lens on my T3i so far?)
I was also expecting more of a learning curve with this lens because it's using an m42 to EOS adapter.
However, it works pretty much straight out of the box; very easy.
I figured there would be more fiddling with settings, etc.
I love this lens.
It has started me on a path of obsession with the old Pentax lenses. 
I'll definitely be buying more in the future.
They are perfect for the cash-strapped photography newbies.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2013 Location: Royalla NSW Posts: 3 | | Review Date: April 2, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | smooth focus and quality build | | Cons: | too many people discovering how good they are | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Olympus E1
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 Love this lens, cheap, great Pentax quality, so good I bought 2.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2012 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,293 | | Review Date: January 5, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | A quality screw mount lens | | Cons: | Auto feature is old technology now | | Sharpness: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 5
Value: 6
Camera Used: Pentax H2
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I have the Auto Tacumar 55mm f2.0. I had heard of the Auto Tacumars and was delighted to find one on a Pentax H2 (1959) I bought. I put an old expired film in the camera and the photo below was from that roll. On the H2, with the lens stopped down, the view finder is dark, until one moves the lever on the lens about 90 degrees (it immediately returns itself). This action holds the lens open until the shutter button is pushed halfway. There is then a soft thunk as the lens "automatically" closes to the set position. Pushing the button all the way then triggers the shutter.
The lens is well made, but I didn't find it quite as silky as the later Tacumars. Still, it is a fun lens to own and a bit of a novelty that still performs well. The picture I show here was on expired film, and has had no PP work done on it, so doesn't show the lens at it's best, although it still shows well. I might add that the aperture has ten blades which makes for good out of focus areas. Some cameras have as few as five.
This was taken a few days ago at our local market.  | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 94 | | Review Date: December 29, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Image, build quality and great feel | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon 550D, Chinon CS
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Great little lens with great image and build quality.
Also like many m42 takumar this also have really nice feel to it.
Image quality filming
 | | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 37 | | Review Date: November 20, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | One example I have is super sharp | | Cons: | Another example I have is mediocre | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: EOS 10D, K-30
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I have two copies of this - both Super Takumars. One is as sharp as my Leica-R 50/2 Summicron. Yes - as sharp as that at all apertures. The other is quite mediocre and soft wide open. Both bought off ebay.
So, I guess the process is to get a few until you get a real gem - clearly they do exist out there. If you get a good one it's pretty stunning.
I read reviews of he 55/1.8 which say it's soft wide open. My "good" copy of this lens is completely sharp at f2. The other one isn't as sharp as that at any aperture.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: Melbs Posts: 1,239
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 2, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | cheap, fast, quality, looks the balls mounted on a dsrl. | | Cons: | if we keep talking about it ppl may work out its ok... | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K10d, K1000, Me Super
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The more people forget about this lens the better for you and me.
I stumbled across mine on a Spotmatic I purchased. They are probably forgotten next to the 50mm 1.4's every seems to be after. As for quality, handling etc etc Its wonderful. Like all the other 50ish mm Takumers out there optically great, But don't tell anyone. Just secretly buy them up and cherish them as long as you promise to dam well shoot with them!
I find it so very hard to justify purchasing "new" fan-dangled lenses with auto this and that when these old forgotten things work a treat!
This skyline shot at f2, infinity, during dusk last spring I think on the k10d, iso 100.
http://tromboadsclicked.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/imgp0919.jpg
The bottom of the frame that looks like film guides, well that's a train  but I was hoping it would look like film guides  | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 3,757
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 5, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bokeh, build, smooth aperture movement, light | | Cons: | for the price? none! | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I had 3 copies of SMC Tak 55/1.8, which I sold. (Why? I was ignorant. I was testing lenses instead of using them, and my testing was poor.) Anyway, I can see no difference between the 55/1.8 and the SMC 55/2 I have now. As far as I'm concerned, we are talking about the same lens. I hope someday someone will open my eyes to the practical difference btw. f1.8 and f2.
The lens is slightly lighter than the 50/1.4, whose bokeh is a little creamier. However, I personally prefer the 55mm range, and the slightly more pronounced bokeh produced by the 55's. (I can get more easily 'highlight discs' with a 55. For absolutely creamy stuff I have my Cosina 100mm 3.5.)
Sharp enough wide open, very sharp at f2.8, razor sharp from f4 on. Very pleasing bokeh, with just a bit of fringing. What else can I say? This lens is an amazing value for the buck. There is no reason one cannot use it to create photos that compete with, say, the FA 77. If it had AF, I bet it would cost 10 times more.
Not the most artistic set, but here are a few pics that may give an idea of the lens' capabilities:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/164511-macro-fall-bokeh.html#post1703646 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Posts: 478 | | Review Date: June 2, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
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My guess is that this lens was sold as a kit lens with the screwmount bodies. It is overlooked because of it's faster equivalents in the FL range. I found my copy to have great colours and IQ.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Dundas, Ontario Posts: 28
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very good optics, smooth focus, small, SMC | | Cons: | My version is prone to yellowing | |
This is for the SMC Takumar 55 f/2.0
Very good lens because it's characteristics are already pretty good at f/2. My version (rubber focus ring) tends to yellow so I'll be treating it with UV light, this will fix it. Exactly the same problem I've had with a SMC Tak 50/1,4 - not a big deal but I noticed that contrast is lower (close to wide open) and makes the VF view a bit dimmer, so worth while procedure.
Over all, the lens is fabulous. Please look at some samples, between f/2 and f/2.8 - this lens is actually pretty good wide open, comparable to the smc 50/1,4 @2,0 (I was silly to sell that one). I prefer the overall look to the images over a DA 40 and DA 70, which I used to own as well - personal preference.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,008 | | Review Date: February 26, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | build, smooth focus | | Cons: | flare | |
Damn, never use Super-Takumar before..What a enjoyable focus experience. focus ring so mooth. And I find it is not very hard to focus even on my kx which has small viewfinder. IQ is good. After using this, I kind fall in love with Manual focus lens.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: montreal Posts: 136 | | Review Date: February 13, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small, built quality, IQ | | Cons: | some CA W/O | |
I bought this lens because i wanted a cheap and small "fast" 50mm lens. Since is the same lens as the f/1.8 version and in practice f/2.0 on a DSLR will not be a big difference anyway. I have the Super-Takumar newer version.
I was surprised how good it is, sharp even at f/2.0 and still very good at f/16 when i use it on my K20D.Certainly an underrated lens.
I recommend that lens and it looks to work very well with extension tubes, will try it for taking some close-up of frogs next summer  | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: January, 2011 Location: British Columbia Posts: 15 | | Review Date: February 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Standard Takumar sharpness & feel, cheaper than it's siblings | | Cons: | Tricky to get back to manual mode once set to auto | |
This lens is pretty good, and does everything my Super-Takumar 55mm f1.8 does except it is a bit slower. This can be good or bad depending on how you want to use it, but I like the round bokeh at f2.
The copy I have has a trick up it's sleeve - although it is labelled as a regular Super-Tak, it has the lever on the back like the multi-coated versions.
There is a tiny pin right next to the mounting threads that must be pressed down in order to slide the auto/manual switch back to manual.
Once I figured that part out, I was much happier. Most M42-to-EOS adaptors have a flange that presses the aperture pin down, so it's not an issue unless using older camera bodies. On the bright side, I got a deal on it because both myself and the seller thought it was broken.
Not quite as smooth as my 55mm f1.8, but the comparison might not be fair. This particular copy came to me in very poor condition - covered in greasy fingerprints, dirt, chunks of goo, and had heavy gouges on the focus ring. It literally looked like someone had used it as a golf ball, then passed it around the table at the bar while nachos and wings were being served. Very nasty. After a careful surface cleaning, the glass was fine and everything worked perfectly.
So far it is very similar to the 55mm f1.8, but has a slightly looser feel. Exceptional images, especially for a badly abused lens. Image-wise it seems just as good as the f1.8 version. I would not bother trying to modify it by removing the inner plate.
I give this lens an 8 out of 10, marked down from a 9 because switching from auto to manual can be annoying. Otherwise, it works very well even after obvious abuse. Another bonus is that the 55mm f2.0 tends to be more affordable. As usual, the stock hood is recommended for best results.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,542 | | Review Date: January 5, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | General IQ, Smooth Colors, Compact, Nice Focus Ring | | Cons: | Just ever so slightly soft wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I just picked up this lens from a friend/artist/dealer who happened to have a case full of Takumars!!! I will pick up the rest eventually :-)
SMC Takumar Version - It's a great little lens, you should be able to find this one relatively cheap and it won't disappoint. Focusing is very critical when using wide open, and one needs to keep this in mind, if you get a little careless focusing, you'll complain about soft images. Focused correctly, this lens wide open is pretty sharp with great bokeh, and by f5.6 it will be at it's sharpest. Additionally, the 55mm Focal Length seems to work better for me than the 50mm. *I think IQ is as nice as the m50 1.7 at probably 1/2 the cost.
*EDIT - upon comparing the m50 1.7 and the Tak 55 f2 images, overall sharpness wide open is much better on the m50.
I am pleasantly surprised with this lens and can't wait to use it more often!!!
EXIF INFO
This lens is no way under an 8 and probably should be fairly rated at 8.2+ish
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2010 Location: Coloroado Posts: 271 | | Review Date: December 11, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | very small, beautifully engineered | | Cons: | | |
I was given this lens (fitted with the original Pentax lens shade, no less) on a dead S2 body many years ago, and only in the last couple of years have I used it on my digital SLR. It is wonderfully small and the focus is smooth. I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this before, but it has half stops on the aperture ring. My lens is an early Super Tak model from 1962 with the "backwards" aperture ring (f2 to the left, 16 to the right).
When this lens is wide open, the bokeh is a very smooth and gentle transition out of focus. I usually like my bokeh to be more expressionistic (I know that bokeh can be a matter of taste) but this lens’ is gentle, and that’s okay. There are certainly situations where you don’t want your OOF areas stealing the show. The colors are wonderfully reproduced and images have nice contrast. Stopped down, this is a nice sharp lens that really produces fine images.
Mine has a weird little quirk when stopped down and focusing - there is a very minor change in the amount of light being transferred as you rock the focus ring back and forth around your focus point (difficult to explain, but you can feel it). In other words, focusing is also affecting the aperture a half stop either way (according to my meter) as you tweak the focus ring. the effect on exposure occurs at f4 and below. It doesn't really affect the use of the lens. I find it a little difficult to operate the auto manual switch when it’s mounted to a modern camera, and the aperture is a little sticky when I switch it to manual – but again, it’s not too big of a hassle. It is nearly 50 years old, after all!
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