DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> are Takumar good lenses?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 8 of 8, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 07/31/2010 08:39:18 PM · #1
Ive seen a bunch of old Takumar lenses floating around on craigslist for cheap. Are they good quality lenses? Worth using on a DSLR?
 07/31/2010 11:38:05 PM · #2
I believe those would be Pentax lenses. I think Pentax lenses are very highly regarded, but you'd be hard pressed to get them on your Canon.

I used a Pentax back in HS and College...I had a Pentax 50mm 1.4 lens which once, when cleaning out the basement years before digital, and I stupidly got rid of it (for free). Would have been a nice one to keep, use in reverse for macros, or to sell!
 08/01/2010 05:31:42 AM · #3
Originally posted by nshapiro:
I believe those would be Pentax lenses. I think Pentax lenses are very highly regarded, but you'd be hard pressed to get them on your Canon.



takumars are highly regarded lenses if they are on m42 mount. The k mount takumars are not considered good (compared to reputation of m42 takumars)

All m42 takumars could be used on canon via adapter.
 08/01/2010 05:37:42 AM · #4
Originally posted by kawana:
Ive seen a bunch of old Takumar lenses floating around on craigslist for cheap. Are they good quality lenses? Worth using on a DSLR?


most of the m42 takumars are really very good lenses and are build very very well.

I have three takumars with me.

55mm F1.8

very sharp from wide open F1.8:

55mm at F1.8


55mm at F1.8


Then i have 50mm F1.4

Very good, here is one of the test shots i took from first 1 hour with the lense:

50mm at F1.4


Then i have super multi coated 28mm F3.5

amazingly sharp lense.

But i have nothing of flickr at the moment.

Takumars are usually very good buys.

Message edited by author 2010-08-01 05:38:15.
 08/01/2010 11:25:17 AM · #5
I agree with the posts regarding the M42 Takumars. They are easily adapted to Canon, and many of them are really quite good. When you spot one you are interested in, do some internet research on that lens. There is a fair amount of info out there, though it is scattered about. You may learn that there are multiple versions of a lens, and that some are better than others; this can be excellent guidance to what to look for in a purchase.
IN every case when you look at lenses this old, look carefully for signs of fungus on internal elements. One danger sign is if there is corrosion on the barrel; that is a sure sign the lens has been improperly stored. A properly stored lens will never show external corrosion, even if the body is unprotected aluminum, as many old lenses are. I have several lens that are over 50 years old, and are still in excellent shape, even though they have seen extensive use.
 08/01/2010 12:14:46 PM · #6
hmmm, going to go through my old Taks to see if I got something interesting in there I could use. I think I have a 50mm 1.8 and a zoom but I forget which one. I use my very old 50mm f1.4 OM Zuiko lens and the DOF is outstanding and I can't believe how sharp it is. It seems sharper with my digital camera than my OM2 film cameras from back then.
 08/01/2010 01:45:52 PM · #7
Originally posted by Jac:
hmmm, going to go through my old Taks to see if I got something interesting in there I could use. I think I have a 50mm 1.8 and a zoom but I forget which one. I use my very old 50mm f1.4 OM Zuiko lens and the DOF is outstanding and I can't believe how sharp it is. It seems sharper with my digital camera than my OM2 film cameras from back then.


The zoom you may find underwhelming... zoom lens technology was in its infancy.
Your observation on the sharpness of the 50/1.4 OM Zuiko on digital vs film is probably spot on. It likely has much more resolution to offer than color film could record, and you are also only using the central portion of the image circle with the E3, so you don't see issues with corners.
 08/01/2010 01:57:26 PM · #8
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by Jac:
hmmm, going to go through my old Taks to see if I got something interesting in there I could use. I think I have a 50mm 1.8 and a zoom but I forget which one. I use my very old 50mm f1.4 OM Zuiko lens and the DOF is outstanding and I can't believe how sharp it is. It seems sharper with my digital camera than my OM2 film cameras from back then.


The zoom you may find underwhelming... zoom lens technology was in its infancy.
Your observation on the sharpness of the 50/1.4 OM Zuiko on digital vs film is probably spot on. It likely has much more resolution to offer than color film could record, and you are also only using the central portion of the image circle with the E3, so you don't see issues with corners.


Thanks for that. I'm always on the look-out for good old prime lenses. I'm hoping that the zoom lens will still give some good results with my digital camera compared to film for the reasons you wrote like using the center of the lens only. Crosses fingers.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 11/07/2025 05:23:55 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 11/07/2025 05:23:55 PM EST.