juju01 Posted June 6, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted June 6, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just came across the 2 lens below: Â Super-Takumar 50 1.4 Super-Takumar 28 3.5 Â 2 questions: Â Can it be used on a Leica M240? Do I need an adapter? Which one? What is the performance of each of these lenses on the Leica M? Would love to see some pictures. Â Â Thanks!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 6, 2014 Posted June 6, 2014 Hi juju01, Take a look here Opinions on Super-Takumar Lens. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TomB_tx Posted June 6, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted June 6, 2014 M42 Screw Lens to Leica M LM Mount Adapter Ring for M9 M8 M7 | eBay It can be done, using live-view to focus. The S-Ts are quite sharp in center, nice lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
epand56 Posted June 6, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted June 6, 2014 I think this is what you need: M42 Screw Lens to Leica M LM Mount Adapter Ring for M9 M8 M7 | eBay Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juju01 Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share #4 Â Posted June 6, 2014 Is there any difference in quality / performance between the one on ebay and this: Â Novoflex LEMCO Universal Screw Mount (M42) Lens to Leica LEM/CO Â Â Â The bh one seems so expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted June 6, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted June 6, 2014 Is there any difference in quality / performance between the one on ebay and this: Â Novoflex LEMCO Universal Screw Mount (M42) Lens to Leica LEM/CO Â Â Â The bh one seems so expensive. Â The LEM/CO from B&H is by far better machining and manufacture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted June 6, 2014 Share #6 Â Posted June 6, 2014 No way to focus ? Â If you could focus, the lenses are not bad for color at 5.6 or smaller. On black and white film, Leica had better tone quality I could never get from and of the 12 Takumars I owned. Â My wife could pick out the Leica photos effortlessly and she knows zero about photography. Â I had several 1.4`s and they are about 5 steps below my 50 lux ASPH. I considered it unuseable at 1.4 . All were bought new Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juju01 Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share #7 Â Posted June 6, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) tobey: Â Can you elaborate on the focus bit? You mean focusing doesn't work? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJWhite Posted June 6, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted June 6, 2014 You can adjust the focus on the lens, but unless you have the M 240, you can't be sure of accurate focus. SLR lenses have no focusing cam for M bodies to activate the rangefinder, and using an adapter doesn't provide one; it only makes it possible to physically mount the lens to a Leica M body. The M 240 makes it possible to accurately focus an SLR lens, using "Live View". But it's the only M body that does. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted June 7, 2014 Share #9 Â Posted June 7, 2014 You can adjust the focus on the lens, but unless you have the M 240, you can't be sure of accurate focus. SLR lenses have no focusing cam for M bodies to activate the rangefinder, and using an adapter doesn't provide one; it only makes it possible to physically mount the lens to a Leica M body. The M 240 makes it possible to accurately focus an SLR lens, using "Live View". But it's the only M body that does. Â Pretty much correct. However I did see an adapter that had a focus cam on the net a few weeks back. I believe some machining adaption was required and it was probably long discontinued. Â It must also be understood that the rf lens has two helicals, one to focus and a proportional travel one for the RF cam. Every RF lens moves forward differently and the proportion must be set properly. Therefore every SLR lens would require a separate adapter for focus to work. This would be expensive skilled work if it could be done. Â More than you wanted to know, I know. Â An adapter can be made if you are willing to scale focus only. Probably ok for zone focus street work or landscape only. I still say don`t bother. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 7, 2014 Share #10  Posted June 7, 2014 But, as I recall, these were very good lenses, well worth a try on the 240. I recall that I gave up my 135 very reluctantly when I switched to Olympus OM. Otherwise just get a Spotmatic and some film… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted June 7, 2014 Share #11 Â Posted June 7, 2014 Most of the adapters with RF cams don't actually couple the lens to the rangefinder. Rather, they have their own focusing ring and focusing scale. You focus by first using this ring until the images in the RF are aligned; then you take the camera away from your eye and set the lens's focusing ring to the distance shown on the adapter. Â The only exceptions I know are (a) adapters for Contax RF and Nikon RF lenses, which couple the Leica rangefinder to just about any lens that worked on the Contax or Nikon; and ( ones for the old Alpa Reflex lenses, some of which couple the Leica rangefinder to the 5cm Alpa lenses (which were suited for this because some of the 1950s and early 60s Alpa SLR bodies also had a built-in 50mm viewfinder and rangefinder). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juju01 Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share #12 Â Posted June 7, 2014 Most of the adapters with RF cams don't actually couple the lens to the rangefinder. Rather, they have their own focusing ring and focusing scale. You focus by first using this ring until the images in the RF are aligned; then you take the camera away from your eye and set the lens's focusing ring to the distance shown on the adapter. Â Is this a general occurrence when using any old lens that requires an adapter? Sounds tedious if you ask me. However, the Novoflex LEM-CO adapter recommended for the takumars doesn't seem to have a focusing ring / scale. - See link above. ( I am just looking at the pictures so I may be wrong). Â So on the M240, I can only use live view for accurate focusing of these lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 7, 2014 Share #13 Â Posted June 7, 2014 Or the EVF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted June 7, 2014 Share #14  Posted June 7, 2014 I had several 1.4`s and they are about 5 steps below my 50 lux ASPH.  Of course they are, they must be about 40 years old now. The comparison with the Summilux of the day would be fairer. In their time, the Super Takumar lenses were reasonable.  Another M42 lens to look out for is the Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8.  I have also tried using a Meyer Optik Goerlitz Domiplan 50mm f2.8. It cost me less than £5 secondhand and it's interesting to compare with the 1000 times more expensive Leica APO 50 ASPH... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted June 7, 2014 Share #15 Â Posted June 7, 2014 Those Pentax SMC lenses are superb. Have used both of them. Hope you find the right adapter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted June 7, 2014 Share #16 Â Posted June 7, 2014 An M42 adapter with EVF can bring lot of interesting opportuinities... I have definitely decided NOT to buy one because : 1) I have not M42 lenses 2) If I had one... ... I could be at risk to stop making real pictures and end up spending money, home space and time, with dozens of intriguing lenses (from Russian fisheyes and catadioptrics 1000mm , to 20mm for Praktica, aliene macros , tilt&shift etc... ) Beware of passion for glass... my set of Zeiss for Contarex (18 to 250) is more than sufficient to give a vent to it, time to time... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
juju01 Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share #17  Posted June 7, 2014 Another M42 lens to look out for is the Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8.  I have also tried using a Meyer Optik Goerlitz Domiplan 50mm f2.8. It cost me less than £5 secondhand and it's interesting to compare with the 1000 times more expensive Leica APO 50 ASPH...  I am intrigued by the possibility of trying several other types with an M42 to M adapter. I may just go for the Novoflex adapter. Any M24 lenses I should be looking for ? The real gems - to be used on a 240. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted June 8, 2014 Share #18  Posted June 8, 2014 Is this a general occurrence when using any old lens that requires an adapter? Sounds tedious if you ask me. However, the Novoflex LEM-CO adapter recommended for the takumars doesn't seem to have a focusing ring / scale. - See link above. ( I am just looking at the pictures so I may be wrong). So on the M240, I can only use live view for accurate focusing of these lenses?    That's right. In principle you can also use a measuring tape or a separate rangefinder. But few lenses outside professional cinematography have sufficiently accurate focusing scales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
helged Posted June 9, 2014 Share #19  Posted June 9, 2014 I happen to have a Super-Takumar 50 mm f/1.4 (the 7-element version I guess, the one with the infrared focusing mark to the left of the numeral '4' on the DOF scale).  It's much to like. Minimum focus distance is 0.45 m. The bokeh is smooth and pleasant. The sharpness is fine and delicate. There is a certain glow that I like. And the focussing is easy on the M240.  On a possible downside are loss of contrast against intense highlights; lack of the micro-contrast/-sharpness compared to the technically "best" of the current 50 mm (like 50 APO og 50 Lux); that the lens elements turn yellow with time; and that both focus and aperture rings move opposite to the Leica lenses (can be confusing).  The glass in the version I have is cured from the yellowing; the previous owner put the lens in the sun for some time...  I add a few examples showing the min focus distance (the coffee cup); the rather smooth bokeh (the cup, the old fire car and the tree chunk); and the loss of contrast against (intense) highlight (the parking sign). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/228445-opinions-on-super-takumar-lens/?do=findComment&comment=2607370'>More sharing options...
juju01 Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share #20 Â Posted June 9, 2014 Finally, some pictures to look at! Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.