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Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8 Review RSS Feed

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8

Sharpness 
 9.6
Aberrations 
 9.1
Bokeh 
 9.6
Handling 
 9.6
Value 
 9.4
Reviews Views Date of last review
24 216,114 Tue November 21, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $293.55 9.65
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8

Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8
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Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8
supersize
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8
supersize
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8
supersize
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8

Description:
This is the fastest of the 85mm screwmount lenses.

The original version, which is pictured, was introduced in 1960, while the super-multi-coated version was introduced 12 years later, in 1972, and is of a different optical construction.

First model (see first lens photo and first lens diagram):
Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Semi-automatic, 9 blades
Optics
5 elements, 4 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Stop-down Pin
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F1.8
Min. Aperture
F16
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
85 cm
Max. Magnification
0.13x
Filter Size
55 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 19 ° / 16 °
Full frame: 29 ° / 24 °
Hood
Case
Lens Cap
Coating
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
Weight
340 g
Production Years
1960 to 1963
Engraved Name
Auto-Takumar 1:1.8/85
Product Code
342, 43420
Reviews
User reviews
Variants
1: Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8, 5 optical elements (this lens)
2: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8, 6 optical elements

Second model (see second set of photos and second lens diagram):
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
M42
Aperture Ring
Yes
Diaphragm
Automatic, 8 blades
Optics
6 elements, 6 groups
Mount Variant
M42 Open-aperture Metering
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F1.8
Min. Aperture
F16
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
85 cm
Max. Magnification
0.12x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 19 ° / 16 °
Full frame: 29 ° / 24 °
Hood
Case
Lens Cap
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
65 x 57 mm
Weight
341 g
Production Years
1972 to 1976
Engraved Name
Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:1.8/85
Product Code
43832
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
This lens supports open aperture metering with the Spotmatic F, ES and ESII.
Variants

1: Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8, 5 optical elements
2: Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8, 6 optical elements (this lens)

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



Add Review of Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8
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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 24
New Member

Registered: December, 2013
Posts: 5
Review Date: November 21, 2023 Recommended | Price: $318.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, creamy bokeh, smooth focus despite of the years
Cons: Sharpness full open
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-1   

IMGP0785 by , on Flickr

IMGP0788 by , on Flickr
   
New Member

Registered: August, 2019
Posts: 2
Review Date: October 1, 2019 Recommended | Price: $350.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Takumar build quality. Superb handling. Fast aperture.
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: Sony a7iii   

Great lens to have.

85mm at F1.8
   
Pentaxian

Registered: January, 2011
Location: Skåne, Sweden
Posts: 482

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 7, 2018 Recommended | Price: $200.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Size, build, overall image quality, pleasure to use
Cons: Only minor, see review
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Fuji X-T2, Pentax K-3 II   

This review is for a excellent condition Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8 bought second-hand in Sweden.

PROS
  • Rendering - transitions, bokeh, contrast
  • Compact size
  • Build quality
  • Manual focus feeling
  • Flare resistance

CONS
  • Some aberrations (very little being 45 year old)
  • All manual comes with some limitations when using on modern bodies, e.g. lack of full-aperture metering/focusing

I USE IT FOR
  • Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)
  • General short telephoto (where AF is not needed)

My main area in photography is portraits, mainly natural light outdoors or speedlights in studio. I've mainly been using this lens on my Fujifilm X-T2 together with a Mitakon Lens Turbo II (Zhong Yi Optics). I find the focus peaking in the EVF is superior to the OVF on my K-3 II for use with manual glass (especially with M42 lacking aperture control from modern bodies). This review could be quite short - the lens simply performs remarkably well and has no major weakness. I would be happy with the performance even from a modern lens, and keeping in mind it is around 45 years old at the time of this review it is simply spectacular. It is clearly a portrait lens, with good-enough but not overly much contrast or sharpness. Rendering is smooth, background is smooth with a bit of character (I like a bit of swirlyness so could be even more from my point of view). Flare resistance is good - quite modern performance with the S-M-C coating. It is a joy to use and only issues would be connected to the M42 mount on adapters, making e.g. full-aperture metering and focusing impossible. I will let the images tell the story.

Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2700 sec at f/1.8, ISO 200.


Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/2400 sec at f/1.8, ISO 200.


Fujifilm X-T2, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8 (with Lens Turbo II) 1/1000 sec at f/1.8, ISO 200.


My pictures on flickr with this lens
   
New Member

Registered: August, 2017
Posts: 5

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 13, 2018 Recommended | Price: $280.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharpness, build quality, colours..
Cons: ??
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K3II; K1   

Used this lens first on my APS-C Camera, a K3II. I was very confident. Then I changed to FF - K1. I feared a loss of quality because of the higher requirements due to a FF Camera. This was needless. The lens behaves even better on the K1. The beautifull bokeh and the high sharpness got more beautiful and sharper
Incredible lens. Highly recomended.
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2016
Posts: 4

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 7, 2018 Recommended | Price: $220.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Quality,built,bokeh,sharpnes,feel
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K3 prestige Edition,canon EOS 1DS 2, LX,K2DmD,Spotmatik F   

If you searching for a portrait lens, this is the one ...
On all my Slr and Dslr it behaves so nice and sharp - none other expect
from a lens more than 50 years old !
Even on my Canon 1DS mark 2 it delivers exremly beautiful pictures .
It is stellar for mulitshot - Panoramas, and this blows You away !!!
Highly recomended and truely a ceeper !
My K 85/1,8 is par on this , but easier to fit on Pentax Bayonet Models and a little bit smaller in sice .
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2016
Location: Almelo, The Netherlands
Posts: 3

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: July 5, 2018 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: N/A 

 
Pros: Excellent sharpness, lovely bokeh, great (micro-) contrast, and ofcourse the build
Cons: Heavy because of full-metal and lot of glass?
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Canon 5D mkII   

I have two versions; the Auto-Takumar 85mm f/1.8 and the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm f/1.8, both in mint condition. I can't say that one is better than the other, they have their own qualities.
The Auto-Takumar can give you lovely soft bokeh and nice flares that gives the photo that wow-effect and still have enough contrast, sharpness and nice color rendition even at wide open. The bokeh is great but not so soft as with the Auto-Takumar. Stopped down they are getting close but still have their own character.
The Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm f/1.8 is sharper, has more contrast and color even wide open, it's a different lens in optical design, it's multi-coated so has more contrast and flare-resistance. Both lenses has that typical feeling when you are handleing the lens ...... focussing and apeture setting is a joy you can hardly explain, you have to experience yourself (and it will be your reference and standard of how lenses should be).
The Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm f/1.8 has a special place in my favourit Takumar-Lens-collection, it's one of the best they ever made. When you have one, it's hard to sell, that's why they are rare and relatively expensive. So ....... buy it when you see a fine one and you will not regret it.
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2011
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 5, 2016 Recommended | Price: $215.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, even wide open. Great colors. Smooth bokeh.
Cons: Screw mount?
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 8    Value: 8    Camera Used: K-5   

I got my S-M-C Takumar 1.8/85 in a box lot, with caps, case and hood. Looked unused. Let me start by saying I have a number of the old Takumars and it is one of my favorite lenses to use on APS-C as a short tele. I am anticipating using it on the new Pentax K-1 to use it in the way it was intended. Given it is so sharp on the K-5, the K-1 performance should be delicious.

This is my gallery of some samples:

https://bob-o-rama.smugmug.com/Smc-Takumar-85mm-18/

It is sharp wide open and gets better and better peaking around f/5.6. Use the lens hood, it makes a difference, though the S-M-C provides very good flare resistance. I use it for sunset time lapse photography, so straight into the sun, and it performs very well. Bokeh is really creamy and very pleasing.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2013
Posts: 824

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 3, 2015 Recommended | Price: $370.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Smooth, Sharp, Bokeh, B&W
Cons: None
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

This review is for the unique Auto-Takumar 85/1.8.
My Favourite Lens.
It's a pleasure to use.
It always returns great pictures.
It adds a certain "Je ne sais pas" to your photography.
The bokeh is beautiful and smooth.
It's brilliant at Black & White.
These are rare, so if you find one, Buy it!
A few pics taken wide open.









   
New Member

Registered: February, 2015
Posts: 1

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 27, 2015 Recommended | Price: $220.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: tank of a lens, extremely sharp wide open
Cons: some might find it a little heavy...
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: GH4 + Focal Reducer   

i have a smc version. what a brilliant lens.

i got mine pretty cheap on ebay in a mint condition and still cant believe that this lens was made 43 years ago. i didnt have another 85mm on hand to compare, but the best ones out there cannot be better than this. seriously. its extremely sharp wide open, the bokeh is so creamy and i just love every picture it produces. give this to a monkey and he could snap a great picture with it.





The first picture is the original jpg straight out of camera all the way zoomed out and the second one is at 100% native pixels. you can actually see the world in the eye of our cat and yeah, this was shot wide open. this picture shows what i mean. its just an unedited quickly snapped picture of our stupid cat and like magic it looks great.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: March, 2007
Location: Greater Copenhagen Area
Posts: 428
Review Date: July 31, 2014 Recommended | Price: $200.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Build, bokeh and image quality
Cons: Not many
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K20D and K-5   

The Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8 deserves all the praise it can get. It is simply a great lens and certainly one of the best Takumars. I have both this lens and the slightly older Super-Takumar 85mm F1.9. The S-M-C Tak is both sharper and more flare-resistant, so I would classify it as the better lens.

Examples taken with the K20D - almost wide-open:
#1


#2


Examples taken with the K-5:
#3 - wide-open

#4 - approx. F4-5.6


Addendum: The older Auto-Takumar 85mm should have a thread of its own. It's a much older lens, and the optical formula is different.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: November, 2010
Location: California
Posts: 2,223

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 25, 2014 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Very similar to the SMC Tak 85/1.9
Cons: Wide open not fully sharp
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-3   

I reviewed the 85/1.9, please refer to it on this forum. Here are some photos I took with both lenses, the /1.8 and the /1.9. No PP has been added, they are SOOC. You decide!

Photos were taken with a Pentax K-3 on a tripod, AV mode, ISO 100.

WIDE OPEN:

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f1.9-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f1.8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr


@F/2.8

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f2.8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f2.8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

@F/4

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f4-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f4-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr


@F/5.6

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f5.6-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f5.6-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr


@F/8

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr


SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

@F/11

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f11-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f11-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr


Update: December 27, 2014:

I had not used this lens for a while and found that it is indeed spectacular for low light and indoor portraits, also excellent for out doors. Here are some samples with this lens:


SMCTakumar85-1.9-RedHair2-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMCTakumar85-1.9-Bass-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr

SMCTakumar85-1.9-Santa-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
   
Forum Member

Registered: December, 2012
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 83

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 9, 2014 Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, contrast, color redintion, bokeh.
Cons: None - very rare
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

Beautiful piece of metal and optical glass and a joy to use.
Pure pleasure to see the results.
Get one if you can and wish.

Here is an interesting page about 85mm lenses:

http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Pentax_Takumar_85mm.htm
   
Loyal Site Supportaxian

Registered: September, 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 503

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 4, 2013 Recommended | Price: $175.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent color rendition, fast, sharp, great mechanical feel
Cons: price
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 6    Camera Used: Multiple Canon EOS   

My copy has fungus and suffers from reduced global contrast, particularly at f1.8, so my review reflects that. (I'll update this review once it's CLA'd.) Despite the fungus, it's still a very strong performer and it holds up quite well to the merciless acid test of astrophotography. It has a little more CA than I'd like to see, but it's not excessive.

I own numerous M42 taks (most of the line) and so can accurately compare with the others. Many people have commented on the excellent sharpness of the lens, and I agree it's quite sharp. To me, though, the most outstanding feature is the really excellent color rendition. Colors look natural and balanced, especially compared to many other lenses, including those from the modern era. I'm intrigued by what makes the color look so much better, so I plan to set up a spectrograph to measure it against some others. I'll put that in the separate posting, of course.

The combo of outstanding color rendition, combined with high sharpness and good bokeh (and of course the legendary takumar mechanical feel) makes this a very enjoyable lens to use.
   
New Member

Registered: March, 2012
Location: Berlin
Posts: 9
Review Date: May 27, 2013 Recommended | Price: $280.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: a lovely object that takes beautiful pictures
Cons: strongly hexagonal bokeh
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 8    Value: 9    Camera Used: Canon 5D mkIII   

Awesome lens. It feels great the second you pick it up. On the camera it is even better, especially on a full frame where the field of view is really nice not just for portraits but for slightly wider mid-shots too, where its absolute sharpness really shines and often gives pictures a 3D kick. I concur will all the other positve qualities already mentioned. It absolutely blows away my other 85 - a Jupiter 9 - in every way, except that my Jupiter 9 has a lovely circular diaphram. The Tak gets strong hexagonal bokeh stopped down. Thats just a preference thing, and it occassionally makes me still reach for the Jup.

The long focus throw sometimes means a missed shot or too, but that seems pretty normal at this focal length.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: November, 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 3,202
Review Date: January 16, 2012 Recommended | Price: $245.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp even wide open w great color rendering and smooth bokeh. Built to outlast me, buttery smooth focusing, the best manual lens I''ve ever had, and I've had a lot.
Cons: The price is a bit on the high side. But It'd cost a lot more if it's made to the same standard with the samematerial.
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

I've had the lens before, but really didn't use it much except a few quick snaps on my kids. Maybe It's because my previous copy was too new (like brand new), I dared not scratch or add any mark on it. Sold it because I didn't want to baby it. Just got another well used copy, man, I'm glad I did. I decide to sell the A*85 but keep this one. It's smaller and lighter than the A*85, no rubber focusing ring, optically almost as good, mechanically even better, and of course cost a lot less.

I'm stil keeping the FA77 for its size and AF, but I don't think I'd have as much fun when using it. Now I'm in the process of selling all my manual lenses but keep this one alone.
Add Review of Super-Multi-Coated Takumar/Auto-Takumar 85mm F1.8



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