Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Share #1 Posted June 12, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) Quick testing my Asahi Takumar lenses with my 1980's M lenses and they are remarkably similar. This is using a Sigma FP, but I can test again with an SL601 soon. The only adjustment I made is to match better the exposure. All shot at f8. I also tested at f5.6 but the results were more or less the same. Elmarit M 28mm f2.8 (at f8) serial 348xxxx 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/333435-80s-m-lenses-vs-takumar/?do=findComment&comment=4452614'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 12, 2022 Posted June 12, 2022 Hi Chris W, Take a look here 80's M Lenses vs Takumar. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share #2 Posted June 12, 2022 SMC Takumar 28mm f3.5 (at f8) 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/333435-80s-m-lenses-vs-takumar/?do=findComment&comment=4452615'>More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted June 12, 2022 Leica M Summicron 35mm f2 (at f8) Serial 345xxxx 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/333435-80s-m-lenses-vs-takumar/?do=findComment&comment=4452616'>More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share #4 Posted June 12, 2022 SMC Takumar 35mm f3.5 (at f8) 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! 1 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/333435-80s-m-lenses-vs-takumar/?do=findComment&comment=4452617'>More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share #5 Posted June 12, 2022 The SMC Takumar lenses can be bought for less than £100 each. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 12, 2022 Share #6 Posted June 12, 2022 I have a few lurking somewhere. How do you adapt them? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share #7 Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Novoflex M42 screw mount to L mount adapter Edited June 12, 2022 by Chris W 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 12, 2022 Share #8 Posted June 12, 2022 Takumar lenses had some nice characteristics. I bought a Pentax H1a with lowly 55mm f2.0 in about 1966, and a Leica-using friend was amazed at both the image sharpness and mechanical build, very light & smooth focus and diaphragm action without any looseness. After I moved to Leica, the cost of R lenses skyrocketed, so I added tiny Pentax MX and a collection of the small SMC-M lenses as an affordable "carry-around" system. As Asahi shifted to plastic in the mechanical parts of the lenses I liked them less, but the optics were still good. I still have that collection, and they work well adapted to my Sony A7. They still are usable without adapters on the Pentax dSLRs, so I credit them for keeping some compatibility with their older lenses. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted June 12, 2022 Share #9 Posted June 12, 2022 It would be more telling to try them wide open. A lot of classic lenses 'even up' at f/8 - which is not to say the Takumar lenses aren't good - I would assume a lot of that r&d either trickled up or down from their medium format line, which is excellent value. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 12, 2022 Share #10 Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, charlesphoto99 said: It would be more telling to try them wide open. A lot of classic lenses 'even up' at f/8 - which is not to say the Takumar lenses aren't good - I would assume a lot of that r&d either trickled up or down from their medium format line, which is excellent value. Yes, they got their optics reputation from their 35mm cameras, then introduced the 6x7 and its lens line. I’ve read that these lenses caused other companies to improve med format performance. Edited June 12, 2022 by TomB_tx 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share #11 Posted June 12, 2022 1 hour ago, charlesphoto99 said: It would be more telling to try them wide open. A lot of classic lenses 'even up' at f/8 - which is not to say the Takumar lenses aren't good - It’s a little unfair as the Leica M’s are f2, f2.8 and the Takumars are f3.5. I did test them at f5.6 and the results were the same as these at f8. The M lenses are no doubt sharper and more accurate wide open, but I try not shoot with any lens at it’s lowest aperture…and the difference in price is quite huge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted June 12, 2022 Share #12 Posted June 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Chris W said: The M lenses are no doubt sharper and more accurate wide open, but I try not shoot with any lens at it’s lowest aperture…and the difference in price is quite huge. Shooting M lenses wide open, where they have been optimized for best image quality (many M lenses diffraction sets in by f/8) is the only reason (other than some ergonomics) to pay that huge price difference. Of course that's a hold over from the film days when one truly needed a 1.4 or 2 lens. Now one can just ramp up the iso without experiencing the golf ball size grain of TMAX 3200. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tri_fom Posted June 12, 2022 Share #13 Posted June 12, 2022 Some of the Pentax Takumar lenses are truly special and incomparable to other (Leica) lenses. The exceptional ones aren’t cheap though. I think it is fair to say that several companies have made legendary lenses that stand on their own; Topcor, Minolta, Pentax, Contax, Nikkor, Canon, Meyer-Optics, Zeiss, Cosina as well as Leica! It’s just that adapting them to ltm/m mount is hard hence the lack of interest. Of course with L mount it’s much easier. (Pentax made a lot of lenses so buyer research is required). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 13, 2022 Share #14 Posted June 13, 2022 7 hours ago, tri_fom said: Some of the Pentax Takumar lenses are truly special and incomparable to other (Leica) lenses. The exceptional ones aren’t cheap though. ... The Limited Edition lenses are exemplary. I have the 43mm and 77mm which I am longing to try on my CL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share #15 Posted June 13, 2022 15 hours ago, charlesphoto99 said: Shooting M lenses wide open, where they have been optimized for best image quality (many M lenses diffraction sets in by f/8) is the only reason (other than some ergonomics) to pay that huge price difference. I disagree. before adapters you had to shoot M lenses on M bodies. I shot film with my M6 for years and used a variety of f stops, depending on my film speed and the subject matter. I don't think 'street shooters', who made Leica famous, exclusively shot at F1.4 and f2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share #16 Posted June 13, 2022 Leica M35 at f5.6 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/333435-80s-m-lenses-vs-takumar/?do=findComment&comment=4453216'>More sharing options...
Chris W Posted June 13, 2022 Author Share #17 Posted June 13, 2022 Takumar 35mm at f5.6 Barely any noticeable difference IMO. 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! 1 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/333435-80s-m-lenses-vs-takumar/?do=findComment&comment=4453217'>More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted June 15, 2022 Share #18 Posted June 15, 2022 On 6/13/2022 at 12:23 AM, Chris W said: I disagree. before adapters you had to shoot M lenses on M bodies. I shot film with my M6 for years and used a variety of f stops, depending on my film speed and the subject matter. I don't think 'street shooters', who made Leica famous, exclusively shot at F1.4 and f2 No, of course not. But Leica themselves have always said their lenses were optimized quality wise for the wider apertures. What you choose to shoot at is up to the look you want, and if lots od depth of filed is what you need great, then there's a lot of classic lenses, like the Takumar's, that are very good. Personally I think more modern 'street shooters' would often be better off shooting more wide open, as that can better delineate a subject from the background. It's harder to nail the focus in that case, but imo often makes for a better photo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted June 15, 2022 Share #19 Posted June 15, 2022 (edited) Am 12.6.2022 um 11:53 schrieb Chris W: Quick testing my Asahi Takumar lenses with my 1980's M lenses and they are remarkably similar. ... All shot at f8. I also tested at f5.6 but the results were more or less the same. Most lenses will give very similar results at f5.6 or f8. I have a bunch of Pentax K, M and A series lenses, and while they are good lenses, most of them are no match against contemporary Leica lenses. My Pentax-M 1.4/50 for example is exceedingly soft at f1.4 and still soft at f2, whereas my Summilux-R 1.4/50 of similar vintage (55mm filter thread) is amazingly good already at f1.4, and improves from thereon. At f8, however, the Pentax lens is performing very well (and very similar to the Leica lens). Edited June 15, 2022 by wizard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 15, 2022 Share #20 Posted June 15, 2022 Limited Edition Pentax lenses perform well wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now