| Author: | | New Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 15 | | Review Date: September 19, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $5.00
| Rating: N/A |
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I picked one of these up for $5 with a Vivitar Automatic Tele Converter 2x-1 attached to it. Is it worth buying a screw mount adapter for it? If so what adapter and where can I find one? Sorry if this is posted in the wrong area. Just new to the site (and Pentax).
Thanks,
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Site Supporter Registered: June, 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Posts: 17,377 | | Review Date: July 1, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good focal length | | Cons: | lot of other 55mm Taks | |
I don't know about the previous review of a 50 year old lens with damage! 
This review is for the Auto Tak 55mm f2 lens. This lens is a good 'Normal' lens. If there is a downside to this lens, it is the fact that there are a plethora of its f1.8 siblings out there. While this Auto Tak is one of the nicer looking 55mm Taks, next to the 55mm f1.8 'Zebra' this lens is an ugly duckling.  The use of a hood is a must for the lens when using it outside during the day.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: August, 2009 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 30 | | Review Date: December 22, 2009 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | A lot like f/1.8, but perhaps an f/1.8 "second" | | Cons: | Get the f/1.8 or f/1.4 | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 5
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I have a Super Takumar version that looks great (no obvious optical issues, dents, brassing, etc.), but actually has a broken auto/man switch (stuck auto) and the focus scale slips sometimes. When I wrote this review, this lens was the only Takumar I've ever seen with build quality issues -- but my 100mm f/4 macro Takumar (which obviously lived a much tougher life -- it was a school photo class loaner before I got it) has recently developed the same focus scale problem. Unlike oil on the aperture blades, these are not issues a simple cleaning can fix. I know some people are very happy with this lens and question the build quality issues I've seen, but this is still one of the most troubled of the 100+ old lenses I now own, which includes quite a few similarly aged Takumars, Vivitars, etc.
One of the other reviews said this is basically an f/1.8 with a stop in it, and it probably is (there is a mask with a circular opening in it). However, it sure looks like at least mine was from the not-quite-good-enough pile. I very strongly suspect that the f/1.8 "seconds" -- copies that made slightly sub-par images at f/1.8 -- were recycled this way. After all, stopping down a little can improve image quality quite significantly....
Anyway, optically, mine is very similar to my f/1.8... just not quite as sharp. If it didn't have the build quality issues, it's an 8 optically. However, normal lenses are generally very good. This one is near the bottom of my various 50mm-58mm lenses optically, just above my Canon FDn 50mm f/1.8 (and even that isn't really bad).
In summary, don't go out of your way to buy this lens. It is quite competent, and if you happen to have one it can be very much worth using, but the f/1.8 Takumar really does seem to be visibly better and probably will not cost you any more.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2007 Location: Greater Copenhagen Area Posts: 430
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 3, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Nice focal length on APS-C (eqv. to 85mm on film) | | Cons: | | |
I find it quite funny that the Takumar 55mm/1.8 is rated in average 9.3 based on 14 reviews, whereas this 55mm/2.0 is rated 8.0 based on three reviews. Why? Because it is the same lens, but with a slight change to the aperture mechanism so that it does not open fully to 1.8!
Quote from another forum: "...the Pentax 55/2 ;-) It's one of the oddest ways of making a cheap variant of a lens anybody's ever come up with but the 55/2 is just a 55/1.8 with the aperture ring changed so it doesn't open up all the way. Pentax did much the same thing with the body which the 55/2 came on originally, the SP500, which is a Spotmatic SP with the 1/1000 setting left off the shutter dial markings (the position is there) and uncalibrated."
I've read somewhere that it is possible to remove one part inside the lens to make it function like the F1.8 version, but I haven't tried this myself.
I have one Super-Takumar 55/2.0 and one SMC Takumar (rubber focusing ring) 55/2.0, and they are both very nice lenses. Very smooth focus. I will give them a 9.0 to even it out a bit.
This is the cheapest way to get something resembling the 85mm/1.8 or /2.0 from the film era on a modern APS-C DSLR.
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: July, 2009 Location: Europe, Benelux, Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen, Terneuzen Posts: 26 | | Review Date: July 8, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Smooth focussing, handling, very compact and light. | | Cons: | Screw-mount | |
I bought this lens together with an S1a and a Pentax Meter SV. It is the Super-Takumar version, I assume the second version (serial starts with 677)
I really love the design and shape of the S-series camera's. Compared to these the spotmatic-series cameras are bulky (and nearly all other more recent cameras too). My intention was to put it in the vitrine as decoration with as great plus that it would also be still usable.
I have used both S1a and lens, occasionly and have recently tried it also on the K200d. I love the way the S1a and this lens handle. Simple, silent, compact and light.
On my Z-1 these advantages seem to vanish, but on the K200d the lens is a joy to use. I still have too few results to rate sharpness etcetera, but first impression is good.
As long as film is still being made I will occasionally use both this lens and the S1a (along with a few other screw mount lenses.) On the K200d I will use it only occasionally, probably preferring my K-mount SMC-Pentax 55 f1/1.8 or AF-lenses most of the time. It is however small enought to always carry it along for low-light conditions.
Basically this lens is a gem that deserves handling with care so it can be used by future generations too.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 30
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 20, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | The perfect people lens ?? | | Cons: | Only that it is f2.0 | |
I have owned one of these almost since New and was My Original and for a while Only Pentax Lens.
I Learn't to take Photos with this lens, I have used it for Over 30 years and am Still Using it !!
Overall, I would really have to Rate these lenses very Highly.
In the days of Slow film, it May have been an issue, but with DSLR's, f2.0 is Still Pretty Fast and These are actually little 'Gems'.
They ARE Very Sharp,..but,..are perhaps a more slightly centre weighted lens, especially at infinity, BUT, that Is an Interesting and very useful effect, it is very Minor mind you, but if you are being Pernickety,..
Overall, another Very, very Good Lens by Pentax, with an extraordinary build quality, (Mine is Honestly Still Works as well as when i First got it), beautiful optics and 'Feel', with a beautiful focus action, like all Takumars.
These are such Good lenses and are Often So Common, along with a (Probably still working 35mm Camera), often found in Junk shops and 'Jumble/car Boot/Garage sales' etc, let alone eBay.
Ofcourse, Everyone Wants an f1.4 50, or f1.8 55, but having owned one almost all my Life,..i CAN thoroughly Recommend This Lens as an Excellent Investment. lol
Just get one !
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2007 Location: Toronto/Victoria Posts: 460
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 22, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Compact, solid, good performance | | Cons: | Tricky to focus | |
I have the SMC version, and it's not much unlike my M50/1.4.
It's better wide open than the M lens wide open by a bit, though the M lens is definitely better at F/2. Not a surprise. It's definitely better than the M50/2.0.
Its focusing is smooth but a bit tight, and definitley not as nice as my M lens.
Probably the best F/2 standard lens made by Pentax. I like it more than the 1.7 versions, less than the 1.4 versions.
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