85mm f/1.9 Super-Takumar

Hi everyone,

 

This lens apparently fits into a small group of lenses that are described

as 'magical' (because of there outstanding qualities) according to a well

known, experience photographer who's book (one of many) i just recieved as a

present. _"Quality in Photography"_ By Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz

 

It was apparently picked up for 'next to nothing', but it was coming from

someone who owns cameras by the brand leica and contax (amongst many others).

 

Just wondering if anyone has anything on its availability as i havent seen any

site of one at all, but i havent been looking long. Anyone used this lens, or

got an idea on the price of it?

 

I'll appreciate anything anyone has to say on this.

 

Thanks,

Richard

I have used this and many other Takumar lenses for quite some time but would not say any lens is magical, except maybe the superwides and macros that I use the most when I shoot 35. It is a great Takumar lens, as are some others. I think I dropped one once and it survived.

 

In focal lengths close to that, I have more experience with the 100 macro and 105. I learned portraiture with the 105 in the 70s. All those are a joy to use and the early Pentax cameras fit the hand perfectly.

 

The 85s are not especially rare and they appear often on eBay, where they sell for more than most other Takumars, so they clearly are highly regarded. Some test reports must still be available.

The f1.9 Super Takumar (early version) is not particularly rare or expensive but (like its derivatives) is considered a classic. It isn't Super-Multi-Coated, although it has very good coatings: the 85mm f1.9 SMC and later f1.8 SMC are comparatively scarce (in Britain anyway). I have a 85/1.9 Super Takumar, which is a very nice lens, sharp enough wide open and really sharp when stopped down a bit, there's a little flare in some conditions, so the deep lens hood is important.

 

Good Pentax M42 web resources are a bit tricky to find (especially amongst all the junk) but there are some decent sites: the only one I have currently bookmarked is:

 

http://www.m-fortytwo.info/firstpage.htm

 

AC

Roger at least posts here on photo.net (maybe Francis too). I would like to see a short list

of their magic lenses!

Thanks for the information. Its great to know that theres a affordable 85mm lens out there thats a solid performer.

 

I would have thought the SMC is quite expensive then, i wont bother looking at that. I can still focus at infinity with a m42 adapter on a minotal af camera cant i?

 

Off the top of my head the other lenses that were mentioned as being 'magic' in the book were a nikkor 58mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2.8 Zeiss PC-Distagon, 100mm f/2.8 Makro Planar, 38 f/4.5 Zeiss Biogon.

 

Looking at it now he refers to the 85mm Supe-Takumar as being 'magic' in black and white, rather than colour.

 

I'll be on the look out for a 85mm f/1.9 Super-Takumar in the future then. Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pentax-85mm-F1-8-original-Asahi-lens-for-Spotmatic-etc_W0QQitemZ120045997651QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4688QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A 85/1.9 Super Takumar in "exc" condition (actually means 'good') has just turned up on a UK online shop at 100GBP - seems a bit overpriced to me, but who knows ....!

hmmm, it certainly does! it depends what sort of store it is though. i find that stores that have a high turn around have great prices. for example www.ffordes.com prices that often rival risking ebay. a store like www.mrcad.co.uk has absolutely rediculous prices on their minolta gear, dont know how successful they are though. i'll keep my eye out on ebay for that takumar lens most likely.

Hi Richard,

 

Here is a link to a superb resource on Pentax/Takumar 83/85mm lenses:

http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_85mm.html

 

According to Frank Mechelhoff (the author of the above web page), the best lens is not the 85/1.9, but the SMC Takumar (M42) or SMC Pentax (K mount) 85/1.8, which has a slightly different optical formula.

 

Cheers,

 

S颡stien