How is the Pentax Super-Takumar 35mm F3.5?

Markok765 · Dec 29, 2006

I'm wondering how is this lens in terms of sharpness, image distortion, contrast. ect.
Can someone inform me?

mawz · Dec 31, 2006

Extremely sharp and contrasty, for a single-coated lens (It's the most contrasty single-coated lens I've ever seen). very little distortion. It's weakness is susceptibility to flare due to the single coating, but even there it's quite good for a SC lens.

A superb lens. If flare is a concern, the SMC-Takumar version is extremely flare resistant due to the SMC coatings.

Markok765 · Jan 1, 2007

I saw somewhere that is has extemely high resolving power

Nick Merritt · Jan 7, 2007

I have the Super-Multi-Coated version, and bought it because it has an excellent reputation (even though it's pretty slow for a 35). But it's a fine lens -- very sharp indeed, very low distortion as far as I can tell. And it's quite compact.

Uncle Bill · Jan 7, 2007

Nice lens, I have that, a Takumar semi automatic version and the Super Multi Coated 35 f2, its nice glass, nice and contrasty.

Bill

Roger Hicks · Jan 7, 2007

Markok765 said:
I'm wondering how is this lens in terms of sharpness, image distortion, contrast. ect.
Can someone inform me?

Dear Marko

One of the best of its day -- but of course quite hard to focus, especially on the murky screens of yesteryear. Scale/zone focusing is sometimes a better idea than visual focusing.

Cheers,

R.

mawz · Jan 8, 2007

Roger, I've not had any problems focusing my ST 35/3.5, even on the wee tiny viewfinder on my K100D digital. It's surprisingly easy to focus for a slow, wide lens.

Roger Hicks · Jan 8, 2007

mawz said:
Roger, I've not had any problems focusing my ST 35/3.5, even on the wee tiny viewfinder on my K100D digital. It's surprisingly easy to focus for a slow, wide lens.

Fair enough -- unless you're used to anything faster. I've just been using a 35/2 Zeiss on a Nikon F and even with the old screens it fairly snaps in and out of focus. Of course f/3.5 also covers up focusing errors with depth of field...

Cheers,

R.

Markok765 · Jan 8, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
Fair enough -- unless you're used to anything faster. I've just been using a 35/2 Zeiss on a Nikon F and even with the old screens it fairly snaps in and out of focus. Of course f/3.5 also covers up focusing errors with depth of field...

Cheers,

R.

I Find that a lens (50mm 1.8) on a 350D is brigher at f5.6 that my pentax lens on my Spotmatic.

Steve Roberts · Jan 9, 2007

Markok765 said:
I'm wondering how is this lens in terms of sharpness, image distortion, contrast. ect.
Can someone inform me?

An excellent lens. I have one in near-mint condition and as well as the fine optics (which you asked about) the mechanical actions (which you didn't ask about) are, in my opinion, second to none.

Steve

How is the Pentax Super-Takumar 35mm F3.5?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency