| Latest Review Posted | Super-Takumar 50mm F1.4 (8-element variant)
Got that puppy for $30 and was unaware at the time about being different versions.
I also had a 7 elements to compare it with.
Bokeh wise, I prefer the 7 elements as it is a bit rounder.
Apart from the yellow in the 7 elements, the 2 versions are pretty similar. You'd
really need to be pedantic or look at them with a microscope to not be satisfied with either.
What I have found is that it is a very unforgiving lens. You really need to get your exposure right otherwise you'll get a weird aura around things that wont be easy to post-process. As suggested in one of the above posts it's safe to slightly underexpose to avoid that effect.
As an old manual lens it's small. Small enough to always have it in your bag.
It's all metal and glass, so the only maintenance it needs is some dust removal and lubricant. I can't see why these lenses wouldn't last another 100-150 years.
It's a fantastic lens for detaching your subject, I use it for portrait, close-up, weddings and candid. The size doesn't make it too obvious, on my canon 50D it nearly looks like I use a pancake lens.
I plan on getting a broken 7 elements with an 8 blades aperture and make a hybrid with the 2, effectively making an 8 elements with a pleasing bokeh :) |
