Author: | | 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 堂, on Flickr IMGP0788 by 堂, 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.
| | |