| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2007 Location: Japan Posts: 6,950
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 11, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | portrait soft wide open and tack sharp closed down | | Cons: | a bit hard to focus on the matte screen until you get used to it | |
This is my first M42 lens and I've only had it a couple of days so far. I have already used it to turn out several very nice A4 sized portraits of my daughter. Wide open at 2.8 it gives that pleasant portrait softness and closed down even a couple of stops it turns in very sharp and detail rich photos.
I was pleasantly surprised not only at the sharpness but also at the rich and vibrant color reproduction.
Apparently M42 lenses only allow for center-spot metering in the K100D. I have found that shooting in Av mode (allowing the shutter speed to be set automatically as you rotate the aperture ring) I get best results when giving the exposure a 1.0 ~ 1.5 EV bump.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: Ankara, Turkey Posts: 401 | | Review Date: July 22, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sturdy. Good color reproduction on digitals. Sharp (see note). | | Cons: | Uneven exposure profile with K100D | |
My comments apply to a 30+ year old "Super Takumar" lens. I like its build quality; it is sturdy with responsive focusing and aperture rings, like my other Takumars...
I tried it on my K100D. It is soft at f/2.8 but this can be an advantage for well thought of portraits. Like almost all lenses, it gets better from f/5.6 onwards and sharpness is no longer an issue. In fact, it easily surpasses most, if not all, commonly available zooms at this focal length. With narrower apertures, the sharpness even at the corners is great. CA is minimal to none.
Color rendition is excellent.
Focusing ring is like it should be, large and smooth...
It is difficult to estimate the amount of overexposure needed for a shot when using this lens on a digital body. It may change with the aperture. For one shot at f/5.6 a +1EV may be sufficient; for another at f/11 this results in underexposure. A value of +1,5EV seems to work most of the time. One should probably spend some time to get used to this. The lens does worth this extra trouble.
My copy is slightly prone to flare under certain -expected- conditions, even when the dedicated hood is on.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 18 | | Review Date: March 22, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $76.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, excellent color rendition, small, light | | Cons: | can have harsh bokeh with out of focus pinpoint highlights | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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I have a late super takumar version which appears to be multicoated even if not smc.
I find it quite sharp even at f2.8 (though with limited depth of field) and very sharp at f4 and higher. Color rendition and rendition generally are excellent. As little chromatic aberration or fringing as with any of my lenses (I have the smc 35 f3.5, 50 f1.4 and 85 f1.8 and this lens has no more fringing or aberration than any of them). This small and light lens is great for walking about and doing street shooting. I would rate it a 10 except for the fact that out of focus highlights, particular where there are pinpoint sources of light, can be quite harsh.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: montreal Posts: 136 | | Review Date: July 30, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $115.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | built quality,sharpness and focusing | | Cons: | not as sharp at f/2.8 | |
I have a Super-Takumar version that looks to be Multi-coated also.Very nice like all my Takumars,smooth focusing.Works very well with my Ext. tubes and Bellows.
Sharp lens when stopped down,love the color rendition of that lens for intimate landscape!
Good buy.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: France Posts: 128 | | Review Date: August 17, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $160.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great bokeh and color rendering | | Cons: | None up to now ... | |
Bought two years ago, it has been my preferred "short tele" lens until i got my 85 f/1.8. It has a really great color rendering, and a great bokeh, although personally i find it a little soft when used wide open. As usual, it is very well built, in the pure Takumar tradition.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 188 | | Review Date: December 29, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small size and filter diameter, solid feel, sharp | | Cons: | screw mount | |
This one is my most used macro lens. I also have a macro zoom 16-50mm f2.8, but this one provides more distance to the object allowing better light. I use it with Pentax M42 macro rings and cheap flange-type adapter. Also used it for extreme macro reversed and coupled with SMC Takumar 200mm. I have used it as a portrait lens with most excellent results. If it was AF I would have it on camera all the time.
For the little money that I could get for it, I don't think I will ever sell such a gem.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789 | | Review Date: February 16, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, contrasty, cheap, well built | | Cons: | none really | |
I bought my version at a used camera store in Osaka, Japan after I saw Mike Cash post great photos from this lens on the Takumar Club thread. I don't use my Super Takumar 105mm often enough but the last time I used it was for some outdoor portraits and the lens was fantastic. A little soft wide open but nice for portraits and anything above f/2.8 it's quite sharp.
I can't wait for spring so I can use this lens again!
Taken on my K10D
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,622
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 31, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | fast, compact, silky smooth focus ring, sharp! | | Cons: | M42 requires K mount adapter ring, some CA | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I recently acquired the S-M-C version of this lens and it is a special find, IMO.
It works great in low light at f/2.8 and is stunningly sharp when stopped down to 5.6 or 8. I find it easy to lock focus on my subjects. The focus ring is the smoothest i've ever had the pleasure of turning and puts all modern lenses i've owned to shame.
The colors straight from the lens are remarkable and bright. I do notice some CA in the high contrast areas. Bokeh is lovely.
Amazingly, today i was shooting right into the sun without a lens hood and had no issue with flaring at all. Must be that SMC doing its job.
. A really enjoyable old lens.
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2007 Location: In the present Posts: 1,870
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good portrait lens, well built, fast and sharp wide open. Quality seems as comparable to the Takumar 85mm f1.8. Easy to handle, light weight, good performer. | | Cons: | | |
The Super-Takumar 105mm F/2.8 was introduced ca. 1963 and replaced the original early 4-element 2.8/105 design. The new design was a 4 group 5 element design which was very similar to the 135mm f/3.5. In fact most if not all of the moderate telephotos in the Takumar line at this time used this basic design. The basic design was improved with the advent of S-M-C coatings in 1971 and was maintained until 1976. This lens has six (6) aperture blades and a 49mm filter ring.
For more information on this lens, see:
http://whitemetal.com/pentax/smct_105_28/index.htm
The following is original Pentax promotional material for this lens.
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: March, 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 5,216 | | Review Date: March 25, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Optimal focal for a medium tele on APS-C | | Cons: | POSSIBLE major flare problems | |
I have the M42 Super version (serial # series 418XXXX).
Took it out for the first time a few weeks ago on my KX, even though I've had it for a long time. I wanted to do a few quick shots in bright sun, but the images were so washed out, or overexposed, or hazy, that I thought there was something wrong with it.
Well, just yesterday, I shot it under different lighting conditions, and I can see that my early problems were caused by a combination of poor M metering technique (my fault), and flare. In other words, contrary to the comments above, I suspect my uncoated lens is VERY susceptible to flare. (It's not marked coated anywhere, and I can't tell.) So don't base a possible purchase decision on this part of my assessment. I have to shoot with it more.
Anyway, I am EXTREMELY pleased with its sharpness, and like most old Pentax glass, the build quality is like a tank. I'm going to shoot with it more or less exclusively for the next couple of days, so I'll return here and add further comments.
Here are two images, first time out with the lens:
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 92 | | Review Date: September 21, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | size, built quality, color | | Cons: | M42 (not really cons) | |
I have the S-M-C version, and it is just great.
The focus is so smooth, as all Takumars, that you can do it with only one finger.
I especially like the color it produces. The resolution is not a concern for this lens as the sharpness from f/2.8 is already satisfactory and beyond f/4.0 it is all very good. However never tried below f/5.6 since I use split focus screen and it is too dark to see any thing below f/8.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Posts: 1,673 | | Review Date: November 12, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Small, great image quality | | Cons: | a little soft wide open (if you're not into that) | |
I have a cosmetically rough Super Takumar version with pristine optics (as a former college photography program loaner it has a serial number and inventory plate on it) that came with both original caps but no case or hood.
I like the focal length and how the lens handles. It is a little soft wide open, but sharpens up nicely - a good portrait lens. Using a long lens hood would be a good idea to reduce the likelihood of flaring.
Samples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/steinback/sets/72157624156936842/ | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2010 Posts: 5,901
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 3, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | What's Not To Like? | | Cons: | A Bit Heavy | |
I got this lens with a Spotmatic and a Takumar 50MM kit lens from someone as a gift and I consider this hands down my BEST lens. I would NEVER give it up and should something ever happen to it I'd probably sell the most valuable thing I own to get another one. It is the one lens in my kit that I just couldn't do without.
I'm a portrait person. When I take up my camera 75% of the time I'm going after taking pictures of something living. For me it's all about expression and faces. This lens? It has got to be one of the most perfect portrait lenses EVER.
It's good for other things too. I've found it makes for nice plant shots and I've even used it for photographing small colorful things like glass pendants. It does it all well, but there's a certain quality that this lens has, a way of smoothing skin and lighting it up that just makes faces look so beautiful that you can't help but love it. Great bokeh all round, but the skin smoothing effect is by far the best reason to buy this lens. It makes everyone look like great and I don't have to post process for an hour to get there either.
It's a bit heavy compared to modern plastic lenses but it's a smooth lens, and very easy to use otherwise. It can be just a bit fuzzy around the edges depending upon the light, but anything that's centered with this lens is usually well defined and often razor sharp. It's your typical great Takumar in that respect but there's just a little added glow with this lens. One that it makes it a warm, friendly lens whenever a face, particularly a human face, is the subject of a picture taken with it.
10 out of 10, no bones about it. I'd buy a dozen of these if I could afford them to back up this one and if I could only keep ONE lens in my entire kit? I'd have to chose this one. No question at all in my mind about it. It would be really tough leaving my 3 Nifty 50's behind, but I'd still do it to keep this one handy if I ever had to go there.
No one gets this lens from me. Not even from my cold, dead hand if I have any say in the matter. I don't know if they can safely cremate you with a Takumar lens in your hand, but this one? They can just put it right on my SPII and I'll just take with me straight to the afterlife if you please!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,915
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 8, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
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It flares. It's soft. But I love this lens. Given the choice between this and my Super Tak 85/1.9, I would reach for the 105 nine out of ten times (the one in ten times in favor of the 85 are just the guilt I feel for not using it).
I don't have much new to add to the conversation -- people above had already sung this lens' praises in portraits, and I'm not sure I can dissect precisely how it achieves this. All I'll do is forward my humble evidence to its credit:
I enjoy Takumar lenses, but I think long after most of them fall into disuse at some point in the future, it'll be only this and the 50/1.4 I reach for.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 22, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Perfect lens. The sharpest lens bar none. | | Cons: | Nil | |
Whats with the low raing?
I have a mint copy, and it is just the sharpest lens I have seen, whether for digital, or film usage.
High contrast even wide open.
Razor sharp from F2.8 from centre to edges.
Very flat field, suitable for duplication usage.
Very high resolution.
Negligible CA in any light (read = zero)
All this in a compact well made lens that will last for a century or more?
If you have a Pentax film camera, you absolutely MUST HAVE this lens.
Perfect.
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