| Author: | | New Member Registered: May, 2020 Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: January 21, 2022 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very sharp wide open, no need to stop down | | Cons: | vignetting, but fixable in post | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon R5, Pentax Spotmatic
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Overall excellent lens, sharper than the 105mm f2.5 and 135mm f3.5. Beast of a lens for value money!
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2020 Location: Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: March 15, 2021 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, bokeh, build, handling | | Cons: | CA | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-1
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You'll see people saying all over that it's impossible to make a bad 135mm lens. I've certainly used a few, but this isn't one of them, in fact, this is the best 135mm lens I've used. Every lens in this focal length before the 2.5 was a total let down and left me completely uninspired by this focal length. I was gifted a copy of this lens by a friend at the end of last year. It's probably spent more time on my cameras over the last few months than anything else. I went from completely overlooking 135mm lenses to having this one practically living on one of my bodies for months. I thought I had the 5 element version for the first month or so because that's what he told me it was. I got to thinking about it one night though as I'm want to do instead of sleeping after midnight and inspected it more closely. 8 aperture blades....hmmmm distinct difference looking into the front element as well...and the last thing to check....yup, the numbers on the auto/man switch confirmed it was the 6 element version and I couldn't be happier.
Here's my collection of images from this beauty!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lordawesome/albums/72157717463484146 | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2013 Posts: 7
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 3, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, contrast, build quality | | Cons: | Some CA’s | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony A7Rii
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I have the 6 element version 2.
There are a lot of good 135mm lenses and I tried a lot of them, but the SMC takumar is already very sharp and contrasty wide open (even on the 42+ mp A7Rii) whereas most other 135mm’s i have to stop down to f/4 for comparable performance. Mechanically, there are no better lenses than these takumars; an absolute joy to use.
Only drawback is some CA under certain conditions, but that is easy to correct in RAW post processing.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 9 | | Lens Review Date: October 6, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very sharp tele lens with nice bokeh | | Cons: | very small CA's | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: k-s1 k-x k200d sfx mz5n z20p
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 version 2 is an extreme sharp lens at f 5.6-8 with shutter speed 1/500 sec.
one of my sharpest tele single lenses for portraits !!!
 very highly recommended !
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2019 Posts: 86 | | Lens Review Date: October 2, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax k-5ii
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I have the first version of Super-Takumar (5 elements). I bought it several years ago and didn't use it because it had multiple fungus spots on all the glass elements. Recently I disassembled and cleaned. This is a photo after repair. I am very pleased with the quality of the picture.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2019 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: October 1, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $299.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Takumar build quality. Superb handling. Great color rendition, highlights and shadows. | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony a7iii
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This is the SMC 6 elements version. Another great Takumar lens.
135mm shot at F2.5
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2011 Location: Skåne, Sweden Posts: 482
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: August 7, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Character, sharpness, fun to use, build quality | | Cons: | 6-bladed aperture | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-3, K-3 II, X-T2
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This review is for a good condition S-M-C TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5, model 1.
PROS- Character (bokeh, transitions)
- Build quality
- Image quality (contrast, sharpness)
- Fun to use
CONS- 6-bladed aperture (no issue wide open, but can be unflattering stopped down)
- A bit long on APS-C for general portraiture
- Difficult to focus with optical viewfinder (K-3, K-3 II)
I USE IT FOR- Portraits (full body, half-body, headshots)
I have a lot of M42 S-M-C TAKUMARS, including the 85/1.8 and 105/2.8 that are two other nice portrait lenses. Also a lot of Limited lenses, e.g. both FA77 Ltd and DA70 Ltd. I shoot a lot of portraiture, and enjoy using manual glass when possible. Mainly for fun, but have used the S-M-C TAK 85/1.8 for paid work as well.
Lets start with the negative. The 135mm focal length is fine on full frame, but becomes too long imho on APS-C (200mm equilv.). That together with the OVF of the Pentax DSLRs' makes it tricky to nail focus (I have not tried it on K-1 so might be a different experience). I have used it a lot on my Fujifilm X-T2 with a speedbooster (both Mitakon Lens Turbo II and Kipon Baveyes) with great results, as it gives back the full-frame properties, easy to focus with EVF + focus peaking, and the extra benefit of 1 stop brighter. Image quality wise the only issue I have is the 6-bladed aperture that will look unflattering if stopped down in portraiture work, fortunately I shoot it mainly wide open
The rest is only positives. Build quality is great, solid construction of glass and metal, smooth focusing, proper aperture ring and so on. I take care of my things well, but this lens is the only one I've accidentally dropped, 1 meter to a wood floor - no harm done! Image quality is very pleasing, with good sharpness, character without being "gimmicky" as some russian vitage glass, good contrast (use the hood!).
Fujifilm X-T2 w. speed booster, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5. 1/950 sec at f/2.5, ISO 200.
Fujifilm X-T2 w. speed booster, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5. 1/640 sec at f/2.5, ISO 200.
Pentax K-3 II, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5. 1/180 sec at f/2.5, ISO 100.
My pictures on flickr with this lens | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2017 Posts: 428 | | Lens Review Date: January 14, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $169.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Wide open sharpness, contrast, colors and the handling! | | Cons: | CA | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50
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I have the 6 element version! & it's a beautiful lens! Just amazing! The bokeh, the sharpness wide open! Other than the CA everything else is perfect. I love it!
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2017 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: November 14, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness & Bokeh | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: A6000
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I've had a SMC 135mm 3.5 for a couple of years and really enjoyed using it. After reading post here about the 135mm 2.5, Started to search for a good copy. Just received my it today and it didn't disappoint.
Nice all around. this is the eight blade six element version! Very happy with it so far!   | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2016 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: January 29, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Color rendition, sharpness, characteristic bokeh, solid build | | Cons: | CA but easy to remove in pp | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony A7 + apdater
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I was looking for a 135mm because some says "you can never go wrong with a vintage 135mm, just some better than others" and come across this lens. I'm kind of a fan of SMC Takumar lenses and this one is one of the best. I figure out this is a version 2, in good condition so I bid for it.
Best investment ever, the lens' barrels move swift but solid as you should expect it, and the feel of barrels are better than most of modern lenses. The focus barrel have a long throw, almost 270 degree, so it's very nice for portrait but not easy to focus on moving object.
The color is natural, impressive and beautiful. The lens is sharp at f/2.5 and fantastic sharp from f/3.5 onward. The bokeh is so Takumar characteristic.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2017 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 8, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, heft, reasonably sharp for portraits wide open | | Cons: | CA, manual focus takes practice | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 4
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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It was this very thread which made me take a closer look at this lens. I knew that the original 5-element model was the way to go, so a few months later, one arrived from Japan in absolutely mint condition, despite being older than me. I was so stoked that I bought it before I even got my Pentax camera.
What I'm not so impressed with?
It's heavy. Really heavy. The manual focus really puts your brain hands and patience to work, because you will burn through a lot of pictures with missed focus, until you "learn" to work this glass, but practice makes perfect.
What I like about this lens?
Everything else! The image quality and color rendition are astonishing to me. Yes, it's not tack sharp wide open, yes, there is fall off at the edges, yes, it has pretty pronounced CA wide open in bright backlight, but when you somehow add it all together it creates pure awesomeness. The pictures have this welcoming warmth to them, the bokeh is not overdone, yet so creamy. The focusing ring is massive with a very long throw, and make no mistake, you will need that long throw to get good focus, because wide open and up close, this thing has razor thin DOF.
This one is a keeper, no matter how hard it makes me work for my pictures.
If you are looking for the 5-element model, which is supposedly far superior to the later models, look on eBay and look at the Auto switch - its engraving has to say 42812, if it doesn't, it's not the 5-element model
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2016 Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: May 19, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | profoundly sharp, reasonably fast, sold construction, great feel | | Cons: | heavy-ish | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon 5D Classic
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Wonderfully sharp, nice bokeh, fantastic feel and heft to the lens. Will be taking much more with this lens for sure.
6/6 element, version 2 configuration, 48312 model
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2007 Location: Coquitlam, BC, Canada Posts: 570
13 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 27, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $149.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Smooth Focus, Great Handling, Solid Build | | Cons: | Minor CA | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3
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My copy is a version 2 and it is a great lens, rather than repeat what has already been said by other reviewers, I agree with all of the previous positive comments.
I did have a little trouble identifying the Version 2 copies on eBay and after reading a lot of various forum posts I have compiled a table of differences that make it easy to identify and find one.
Version 2 ----------- Version 1
Weight 470g ----------- 444g
A/M Switch Marking 43812 ----------- 43802
Aperture Blades 8 ----------- 6
DOF Scale "4" ----------- "Diamond"
Before infinity mark on focus scale 35m ----------- 30m
Serial Number Range 6138465 - 8203248 ----------- 4723512 - 5848208
Some might say I paid a little too much, but mine is pristine, and I think this lens is bargain at even higher prices !
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: Bern Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 5, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $90.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Very nice colors, good sharpness at f2.5 = ideal for Portraits | | Cons: | At "infinitely" not real sharp > 30 Meter | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Canon 5D Mk1 (13MP)
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Sample picture: 2500 x 1670 Pixel (Windows: right click for higher resoltion)
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,817 | | Lens Review Date: July 13, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $160.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | well built, good contrast and resolution, accurate colors, | | Cons: | slightly heavy, tricky to focus hand-held | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5IIs
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A few moths ago I purchased the "newer" version of this lens in a Bayonet mount thinking I could save some money by not having to purchase an Adapter. Unfortunately I was not very satisfied with that lens at all, especially being a manual prime lens, so I went on the used market again looking for a replacement.
I finally ran into a 6/6 version(6 elements/ 6 groups) on ebay, at a very reasonable price so I went for it ! I could not be happier with this lens. Every thing that was said about it on the reviews is true. Optically my copy showed extreme sharpness starting from post f2.5 to f16. The colors were well rendered and accurate. Bokeh was rather smooth, but not overdone like on other telephoto lenses.
The Multi-Coating is what really sets this lens apart from my previously purchased Bayonet mount which is now being used as a book-end, on one of the book shelves in my home. Not only can I point this lens in the direction of the sun without flaring, my pictures do not come out with that washed out look.
Optically the lens is worth a lot more than I paid for it, physically this lens is also a gem. At least my copy is ! Made from all metal it's a little heavy, but it balances well on my K-5 II. The focusing ring is buttery smooth throughout and the aperture stops are snappy, but well damped. What more can I say ? I know it's not AF but the focusing aid on the K-5II helps a lot, to the point where you can easily catch moving objects once you get used to it.
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