SMC Takumar 35mm 3.5

Impressions: Takumar 35mm is another of my favorite lenses.  Besides its beautiful colors, this tiny little lens is biting sharp.  As I was researching this lens for today's blog, I came across an interesting snippet of information on mflenses stating that the Takumar "is a copy of the Voigtlander Skoparex 35mm" and that "Meyer Primagon 4.5/35 is very similar in design to the Skoparex - they basically took a 4 element Tessar type and stuck a large extra element in front to give it a wider fov".  This snippet explains why I love the pictures from both Takumar and Primagon and why there is so much difficulty in adopting these lenses to Canon 5DII.  One big difference between Takumar and Primagon is in their extreme corners where Takumar is sharp and Primagon is not.   Takumar 35mm typically sells for around $40 on ebay.

Here are some pictures with Takumar 35mm and Canon 5DII:

Mod:  This lens is not compatible with Canon 5DII.

Top Tip:   The lenses with infinity focus / mirror interference issues can still be used on 5DII in live view mode.  Here is how: Focus the lens at the closest focusing distance, engage live view, focus, take picture, focus at the closest distance, turn off live view.

I no longer own this lens because it was too difficult to use on 5DII.  It now serves duty on my brother's Fuji camera.  Below please find a picture from web.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Find of the day

This auction is for a PORST 50mm f1.2.  Even though I already own the Fujinon branded version of this lens, I want this one too.  My Fujinon is no good at 1.2 but from 2.0 to 5.6 this lens is really shines.  The seller claims the glass to be super clean.   She/he fails to mention the lens mount but more than likely it is a Fujinon-X mount.  Currently the auction is at $99 + $9.50 for shipping.

Meyer Primagon 35mm 4.5 V

Impressions: I bought this lens based on mflenses pictures and recommendation.  The lens has far exceeded my expectations.   It produces lively colors even in the dullest light.  This lens is quite sharp everywhere except at extreme corners of full frame.  The extreme corner softness stays the same even when one closes the aperture all the way down.  Regardless this lens is one of the my favorite lenses especially since I was very very lucky to find it for $31.

Here are some pictures with the Primagon and Canon 5DII.

Mod: This lens was also one the most difficult lenses to adapt to Canon 5DII for two reasons:

1) The upper half of Exakta mount interferes with 5DII's mirror and needs to be filed down (please refer to my blog re 58mm Topcor for more details)

2) Additionally, to gain infinity focus the flange around the rear element has to be severely filed down.   In fact I still need to file down mine some more.  So far I can focus mine down to 5'.

Below please find pictures of this lens:

Top tip:  Most old primes use 49mm filters.  A Takumar 28mm 3.5 lens hood works with most of these lenses.   Please see the picture above.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Find of the day

This auction is for a Super Multi Coated Takumar 50mm 1.4.  The seller claims that this lens is in “Perfect working...perfect glasses...CLA'd...super clean...super lens...”.   Currently the lens is at $16.50 plus $8 for shipping.

Top Tip:  Some old lenses such as this Takumar use trace radioactive elements in their glass.  As these lenses age, they will turn yellowish.  According to web, one can expose them to UV light (e.g. putting them in the window frame for a few days) to undo the effect of aging.  

SMC Takumar 50mm 1.4

Impressions: Many consider this lens the best lens ever.   I consider it to be a very lovely lens but certainly not the most loved lens in my collection.  Don't take me wrong this is an amazing lens but in the tough tough tough company of Zeiss 45mm, Topcor 58mm and Takumar 55mm, it has to be relegated to second tier.  One thing that this lens has on Zeiss and Topcor is its great construction.  The silky smooth focus mechanism of all Takumars is second to none.  I dont remember how much I paid for this lens but I see them go for around $70.

Below please find some of picture with SMC Takumar 50mm 1.4 and my Canon 5DII:

Mod:  No mod was necessary for my SMC Takumar but other versions of this lens can interfere with 5D's mirror.  Choose wisely.

Below please find some pictures of this lens:

Rating: 8 out of 10

Find of the day

This auction is for a Nikon Micro-Nikkor-P Auto 55 mm f3.5.  The seller claims that this lens is in excellent shape.

Top Tip:  Even though the condition of barrel does not deter me from considering any Nikkors (the uglier they are, the better they perform), the dings on the barrel do.  A filter on the lens and original caps are always good signs as well (though this seller does not mention any caps)

Mamiya Sekor SX 135mm 2.8

Impressions: It took me a while to find one these lenses at a reasonable price ($37 in 2014).  This lens and the Mamiya SX 35mm are both very hard to come by.   Now that I have the 135mm, I also want the 35mm.

I sold both my Takumar 135s (SMC 3.5 and Super 2.5 5 element) after I bought this lens.   Takumars were warmer; Mamiya may be a little sharper.  Takumars did not need any work to adapt to Canon.  Cant go wrong either way.

Here are some pictures from the Mamiya 135mm SX on my Canon 5DII:

Mod: Adapting Mamiya M42 lenses to Canon 5D2 has similar issues as the Fujinon (please refer to the Fujinon 50mm 1.4 article)

Below please find some pictures of this lens:

Rating: 7 out of 10