• From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Topic: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Hello from Maine, USA.

I am getting into the old inexpensive and interesting manual focus lenses. I like M42 lenses with an adapter smile

Right now I have a Nikon based dSLR (Fuji FinePix S1) that won't meter my old lenses, but I will see about getting a Canon 10d dSLR so I can use the old adapted lenses in aperture priority mode.

Here is the Takumar 55mm f/1.8 super-multi-coated. About 36 years old as far as I've read. I like it smile

http://www.postimage.org/PqbdiA0.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/Pqbdnzi.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/aVbbf49.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/Pqbdq3r.jpg

Here is a sample pic! This picture was actually taken with the Takumar lens :

http://www.postimage.org/Pqbdv2J.jpg

But we must compare it to something to decide if it is good. I took almost the same picture with my 13 year old Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 lens using the same settings :

http://www.postimage.org/PqbdF1i.jpg

So there you have it. One lens costs about $90 while the other costs about $20. Both are from Japan. One is 36 the other is 13. While I have compared many pics and feel the Nikon gathers a little more light, I would not hesitate to recommend the Takumar. I think it's groovy smile

Thanks for looking,
Craig

edit - I just took this one the other day when I was testing this lens again. It is so agreeable and has such a warm tone. I like it smile

http://www.postimage.org/PqCBqzA.jpg

Last edited by spystyle (2008-10-04 21:02:58)

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  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Hmmmm... Are my pics showing?

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  • From: Battle Ground, WA
  • Registered: 2007-01-13
  • Posts: 1,254

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

I'm told I need to login to view those. You may wish to host them at flickr, your own webspace or another location.

Happiness is a loaded camera.

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Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Sorry but I can't see them.

  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Can you see them now?

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  • From: Columbus, OH (US)
  • Registered: 2006-07-19
  • Posts: 1,519

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

yes..  can see now..

nice results...  this lens is has very favorable rating at this forum..

-Ballu
http://balyanpage.blogspot.com/
  • From: South Glos, UK
  • Registered: 2008-08-27
  • Posts: 270

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

I have just won one of these on the fray to use on my M42 film cameras. 

Impressive lens.  I think it will get a fair bit of time on my 40D.

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Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

I have been one of the frequent proponents of this lens. It probably gets more use on my camera than any other 50/55. It's one of the few remaining true bargains out there in the MF marketplace, and value aside it has wonderful tonal qualities  that are hard to find at any price. You use the term "warm," and I know what you mean. But warmth is just a matter of color temperature, and is easy to tweak or simulate. I prefer "richness." Rich, complex tonality is much less easy to achieve in software, and it needs to come from the glass. This lens delivers it consistently. (I picked the Tak images out of your post at a glance).

If you like to "paint" in rich, smooth pastels, this lens is a must.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2326085816_8afb41c844_o.jpg

  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Well said smile

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  • Registered: 2009-02-05
  • Posts: 2

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Spystyle,
...just found MFF Googling an old piece of gear, my  Super-Multicoated Takumar 1:1.8 55mm lens, and linked your posting. I got this lens as a gift in art-school in 1974, mounted on a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic II camera-my favorite camera of all time... funky through-the-lens metering, screw-on lenses requiring one-thousand turns...It was my first SLR, and I loved it. In college, I used lots of TRI-X in the dorm for cool, grainy mood shots-Very moody in college... I took this camera everywhere-home was NYC; I walked about with it glued to my forehead. I travelled with it, froze it, burned it, dropped it (cameras were made of metal then, mostly), dinged it until a fatal accident-my Spotmatic's body was crushed (Thanks United Airlines) beyond repair.
I've always missed this camera/lens combo. and would buy another body if I could find a decent one-The Takumar 1.8 55mm is a really nice set of optics, I think, with warm qualities. I had a telephoto(200mm?) and a wide angle (28mm) as well. I've had some great cameras since-but there's nothing like your first SLR...

  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Hi Sputnik,

Nice story smile It's true, there is nothing like our first camera

I bet you could get a any Canon dSLR (like "10D" for an affordable price) and an "AF confirm adapter" (very cheap) and buy all your old favorite lenses off eBay to use again smile

I think I've read that Pentax dSLR can use M42 lenses as well ....

Did you ever find a digital camera as good as your old Spotmatic II ?

Have fun!
Craig

spystyle's Website

  • From: Nuremberg, FRG
  • Registered: 2008-09-10
  • Posts: 101

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Do I guess right that you use this lens on a "crop" DSLR? Corners are weak and soft on a fullframe sensor like my EOS 5D. I tested 3 Takumars: two 1.8/55, one 2.0/55, all to sale ...

my lens set
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  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

I was using a crop sensor, "Canon 10D", it's the same sensor as "Canon Digital Rebel"

1.5X crop I think

spystyle's Website

  • Registered: 2008-03-03
  • Posts: 336

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Excelent lens this takumar!!

  I prefer the 50 mm over the 55mm, so I use Pancolar. But if I change to 55 mm, the Takumar 1,8 will be my option. Sure.

  Very nice pics.

Last edited by juan leonardi (2009-02-05 18:02:16)

  • Registered: 2009-02-05
  • Posts: 2

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

Thanks Spystyle,
"AF" I assume stands for auto-focus but, what would I look for in a "AF confirm adaptor"? Can you say more about this RE: the Spotmatic/Takumar 55mm? Never used one...
Thanks-

  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

OK, let's see ...

Canon camera to M42 lens adapter, "AF confirm" adapter will give confirmation i the viewfinder when you are in focus! It's like autofocus but you have to manually focus ...

Look here :

http://search.ebay.com/m42-canon-af_W0Q … QQsbrsrtZd

(I like "BIG-IS" seller best)

I use them all the time so feel free to ask questions. Also most anything can be adapted to Canon. I think Pentax 10D dSLR can use M42 glass as well. I should get one of those smile

Cheers,
Craig

spystyle's Website

  • From: Maine, USA (New England)
  • Registered: 2008-09-27
  • Posts: 100

Re: Takumar 55mm f/1.8, super-multi-coated. Sample pics.

oops, there is no such thing as Pentax 10D, it's "Canon 10D" and "Pentax K10"

I get excellent results with my Canon camera and M42 lenses, also Nikon lenses. But Pentax dSLRs work with no adapter, apparently, I've never used one. See this :

http://photo.net/pentax-camera-forum/00OfAc

In that thread the guys says his Pentax doesn't expose with his M42 lenses correctly. My Canon exposes perfectly with my M42 glass, as far as I can tell smile

Most of these pics were taken with my M42 lenses on my Canon (oops, I need to use custom white balance!!!!!!!!!!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79594440@N … 81/detail/

I actually prefer my old Nikkor glass these days.

Cheers,
Craig

Last edited by spystyle (2009-02-05 23:35:16)

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